Northway Aviation and Northway Aircraft Leasing have received investment from Canada-based private equity and venture capital fund manager Westcap.

With its fleet of Cessna Caravans and Pilatus PC12 aircraft, Northway is a leading regional aviation company providing remote Manitoba and Ontario communities with scheduled and chartered passenger and freight transportation services. Founded in 1962, the company has remained owned by members of the Johnson family and, over its 60 year history serving the populations of northern Manitoba and Ontario, has developed a reputation for safety, reliability and service.

Northway is a transportation partner for more than 15 communities and First Nations, including Pauingassi, Little Grand Rapids, Poplar River, Garden Hill, Red Sucker Lake and Deer Lake. With over 10,000 scheduled flights per year, Northway provides near-daily service to these communities, connecting them with its base of operations at St Andrews airport 20 minutes north of Winnipeg. Over the past several years, the company has expanded its fleet to nine aircraft to meet the travel and freight needs of northern communities and their growing populations due to the increased mining and infrastructure opportunities in northern Manitoba.

CEO Chris Mellen says: “This investment represents the next big step in the Northway story. We are excited to partner with Westcap to begin the next phase of our growth. Over the last five years we have made significant investments in our fleet and have continually optimised our services to best meet the growing needs of our passengers. We look forward to continuing this growth trajectory alongside our new partners to provide even more Manitobans and Ontarians with competitive critical airline services.”

Westcap president and CEO Grant J Kook adds: “Westcap is excited to partner with the management team and all the dedicated employees of Northway who are committed to providing critical air transportation services to the residents of northern Manitoba and Ontario, with the utmost care for passenger safety and service dependability. We look forward to supporting the Northway team in their ambitious plans to further expand essential services to more communities across Manitoba.”