Chrono Jet (MB, Québec) will terminate its scheduled operations between Montréal Metropolitan and Iqaluit after being unable to source a B737-800 to run the route during the winter, Canada's CBC News reported.
The route, which was launched earlier in the year using a wet-leased B737-800 from Sunwing Airlines (WG, Toronto Pearson), was ACMI/charter specialist Chrono Jet’s inaugural operation in the scheduled segment. It will be terminated on December 1. Chrono had also wet-leased a B737-800 from Flair Airlines (F8, Kelowna) for the flights.
Chrono Jet and Baffinland Iron Mines had agreed to operate the route and transport the latter's employees, with the Canadian carrier striking an agreement to sell the extra capacity to the public. However, to sustain the route Chrono Jet needed to upgauge its capacity from its 120-seater B737-200 to a 189-seater B737-800.
"As far as the aircraft, we need an aircraft to do this route or this flight, and without having that aircraft anymore, we can't continue it,” said the company’s vice-president of operations, David Sade. He explained that a new wet-lease agreement with either Sunwing or Flair is not possible at this point, as both carriers need their airframes for the winter season.
Chrono Jet’s parent, Chrono Group filed for bankruptcy at the Quebec Superior Court in November and seeks a CAD45 million Canadian dollar (USD32.2 million) investment from Starlink Aviation (TLK, Montréal Trudeau).
The ch-aviation fleets module shows Chrono Jet's fleet comprises five aircraft - two B737-200s, one B737-200C, one B737-800(SF), and one DHC-8-100.
ch-aviation has reached out to Chrono Jet for comment.
