What Rise Air does

Rise Air is a 100% Indigenous-owned regional airline headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, that provides essential air connectivity across northern Saskatchewan. The company operates a fleet of 24-26 fixed-wing turboprop aircraft — including Canada's first ATR 72-600 (68 seats, Pratt & Whitney PW127XT engines), ATR 42-500/320, Beechcraft 1900D, Twin Otter, King Air 200, and Pilatus PC-12 — across 35 airports and seven staffed operational bases, with unique capability to operate from pavement, gravel, floats, and skis including a seasonal La Ronge waterbase. Founded in 1955 (rebranded from Transwest Air to Rise Air in March 2021), the carrier is jointly owned by Athabasca Basin Development and Prince Albert Development Corporation, collectively representing 12 First Nations and four municipalities.

The business operates five interlocking revenue streams: scheduled passenger service (Premium/Flex/Basic/Seniors fares sold via website, call center, partner agencies, and airport counters), long-term workforce transportation contracts (anchored by a 15-year, ~$500 million Cameco/Orano agreement signed August 2025), custom charter (mining, energy, MEDEVAC, tourism, government), tiered cargo/freight (3-day, 7-day, 14-day options by weight), and MEDEVAC. Pricing is publicly disclosed for scheduled fares and cargo rates; charter is quote-based, and temporary fuel surcharges of $150-$221 per passenger apply.

Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales for resource-sector contracts, inside sales through a 1-800 reservations call center, direct-to-consumer online booking (book.riseair.ca), and a community-led engagement model anchored by the Santa in the North program, Dziret'ai Indigenous Pilot Training Program, and KCDA career fairs. Distribution is supported by an agent portal, real-time cargo and flight tracking tools, and sister company Snowbird Aviation Services for ground handling across Rise Air facilities.

Name

Rise Air

Legal name

Rise Air

Website

https://riseair.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rise Air is a 100% Indigenous-owned regional airline operating 24-26 turboprop aircraft across 35 airports in Saskatchewan, providing scheduled passenger, workforce transportation, cargo, charter, and MEDEVAC services to remote northern communities and major resource-sector customers, most notably a 15-year, ~$500 million Cameco/Orano contract.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Air Transportation

NAICS

Scheduled Air Transportation (4811), Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation (481111), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Air Courier Services (4513)

akta.pro primary industry

Turboprop Regional Airlines (THABACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Essential Air Service (EAS) & Subsidized Regional Operators (THABACAC), On-Demand Scheduled Commuter (Part 135/Small Aircraft Scheduled) (THABACAN), Charter Air Freight Forwarding (Full/Part Charter, ACMI Brokerage) (TLACAAAC), Air Freight Consolidation (Air Consol) (TLACALAB)

Keywords

• Regional airline services
• Workforce transportation
• Cargo freight services
• Charter flights
• Scheduled passenger flights

Headquarters

HQ city

Saskatoon

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Scheduled Passenger Services: Public scheduled flights to 35 airports across Saskatchewan. Revenue generated through ticket sales across multiple fare types (Premium, Flex, Basic, Seniors). Sold via website, call center, travel agencies, and airport counters.
2. Workforce Transportation Contracts: Long-term workforce transportation contracts with major resource companies. Flagship agreement is a 15-year, ~$500 million contract with Cameco and Orano for transporting workers to northern Saskatchewan operations. Includes dedicated workforce shuttles, crew change programs, and direct-to-site charters.
3. Charter Services: Custom charter services for mining, energy, exploration, tourism, health, justice, corporate, and government sectors. Chartered for corporate travel, mining/exploration support, MEDEVAC, filming, aerial survey, and community service flights.
4. Cargo and Freight Services: Daily freight service to northern Saskatchewan communities with three shipping tiers (3-day, 7-day, 14-day). Revenue based on weight and shipping speed. Envelope rates, per-pound rates, and dangerous goods handling fees. Includes cooler and freezer space at bases.
5. MEDEVAC Flights: Non-emergent medical evacuation flights using Beechcraft King Air and Pilatus PC-12 aircraft configured for medevac operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Rise Air operates a regional fixed-wing turboprop airline providing scheduled passenger flights to 35 airports across Saskatchewan, dedicated workforce transportation and charter services for resource companies (notably a 15-year, ~$500 million agreement with Cameco and Orano), daily cargo and freight services with multiple shipping tiers, seasonal float plane operations, and MEDEVAC flights. The airline serves both individual consumers and enterprise customers through booking portals, call centers, partner travel agencies, airport counters, and dedicated commercial sales teams.

Product overview

Rise Air is an Indigenous-owned airline operating as Saskatchewan’s largest regional carrier, offering a portfolio of interconnected aviation services. The core offerings include Scheduled Services (public scheduled flights to 35 airports), Workforce Transportation and Charter Services (dedicated crew shuttles and charters for mining, energy, and corporate sectors), and Cargo Services (daily freight with 3/7/14-day options). The airline operates a diverse fleet of 26 fixed-wing aircraft spanning from 7-seat turboprops (King Air, PC-12) to the new 68-seat ATR 72-600, enabling right-sized capacity for missions ranging from remote medevac to large workforce rotations. Digital platforms include customer-facing booking (book.riseair.ca) and an agent portal. The fleet serves northern Saskatchewan from operational bases in Buffalo Narrows, Fond du Lac, La Ronge, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Stony Rapids, and Wollaston Lake.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scheduled Passenger Services Public scheduled passenger flights to 35 airports throughout Saskatchewan, providing regular transportation with multiple fare types (Premium, Flex, Basic, Seniors) and baggage allowances ranging from 50 to 100 lbs. Targeted at individuals, families, seniors, and travelers connecting from remote northern communities to the provincial transportation network.
• Workforce Transportation and Charter Services Custom chartered air transportation for mining, energy, exploration, tourism, health, justice, corporate, and government sectors, including dedicated workforce shuttles, crew change programs, and direct-to-site charters. Targeted at enterprise customers — notably mining and uranium operators like Cameco and Orano — and government clients requiring reliable remote-site or personnel transportation.
• Cargo and Freight Services Daily freight service to northern Saskatchewan communities with three shipping tiers (3-day, 7-day, 14-day), priced by weight and shipping speed, including envelope rates, per-pound rates, dangerous goods handling fees, and cooler/freezer storage at bases. Targeted at mining operations, remote communities needing groceries and medicines, tourism outfitters, and businesses shipping to fly-in camps.
• Float Season Services Seasonal float aircraft services from La Ronge waterbase (May–October) using Beaver, Otter, and Twin Otter on floats, with three pricing tiers for workforce transportation, exploration, sight-seeing, freight and supply runs, cultural tours, and tourism/hunting/fishing expeditions. Targeted at remote lodge operators, outfitters, mining explorers, and tourism clients needing seasonal water access.
• MEDEVAC Flights Non-emergent medical evacuation flights using Beechcraft King Air 200 and Pilatus PC-12 aircraft configured for medevac operations, serving patients needing urgent transport from remote northern communities lacking road access to medical facilities.
• Online Booking Platform Self-serve web platform at book.riseair.ca enabling customers to book scheduled flights, manage reservations, track cargo shipments, view real-time flight status, and manage notification preferences, with safety features including MFA and identity verification.
• Travel Agent Portal Agent login portal at agent.riseair.ca enabling partner travel agents to manage bookings on behalf of customers and access corporate booking tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% less fuel burn and CO2 per trip vs similar-sized regional jets with ATR 72-600
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Cameco Corporation (Gift Partner for Santa in the North)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 November 2025Cameco is the official Gift Partner for the 25th Annual Santa in the North program in 2025, making a considerable investment in gifts for students in the Athabasca Basin. Rise Air and Snowbird Aviation Services operate the program delivering gifts to northern communities.
• Saskatchewan Roughrider FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 November 2025Sponsor of the 25th Annual Santa in the North program. Sending a Saskatchewan Roughriders player to join Santa's team for the northern community visits.
• Cameco CorporationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2025Cameco and Orano signed a landmark 15-year agreement worth approximately $500 million with Rise Air to provide workforce transportation services for northern Saskatchewan operations. This is the most significant commitment to date, building on a relationship dating back to 1993. Previous agreements typically spanned three years or less. The agreement allows Rise Air to plan confidently, invest in modern equipment, and expand hiring and training.
• Orano Canada Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2025Joint 15-year, ~$500 million workforce transportation agreement with Cameco. Orano has been partnered with Rise Air (and its predecessor) since 1993 when it operated as COGEMA. Orano is committed to maintaining successful operations in northern Saskatchewan and views Rise Air as essential to their supply chain.
• ATR (Avions de Transport Régional)flagshipTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2024Rise Air signed a three-aircraft agreement in November 2024 to become the Canadian launch customer for the ATR 72-600, the latest generation ATR-600 series. The $98 million order includes the first aircraft delivered January 2026 and two more under lease in 2026. ATR is the world's leading regional aircraft manufacturer.
• Keewatin Community Development Association (KCDA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2023Rise Air participated in KCDA's annual fly-in career fair alongside Orano, Cameco, Athabasca Health Authority, RCMP, and others. The fair targets Indigenous youth and graduates seeking employment in Black Lake, Wollaston Lake, and Fond du Lac communities. Rise Air sponsored freight shipping and planning support for the event.
• Snowbird Aviation ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRise Air's sister company providing full-range ground support across Rise Air facilities in Saskatchewan, including ground handling, fuelling, logistics, de-icing, and cargo support. Snowbird Aviation Services shares the Santa in the North program and other community initiatives with Rise Air. Also handles airport operations at Prince Albert and other bases.
• Pratt & Whitney CanadacoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of PW127XT engines powering Rise Air's ATR 72-600 aircraft. The PW127XT engines deliver lower maintenance costs and 45% less CO2 emissions compared to similar-sized regional jets, supporting Rise Air's sustainability goals.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Harbour Air: Canadian float-plane operator focused on scheduled and charter seaplane service, comparable to Rise Air's seasonal La Ronge float operations and remote-access use cases.
• Voyageur Airways: Canadian charter and ACMI operator providing workforce and freight services for mining and resource customers, sharing customer overlap with Rise Air's Cameco/Orano resource transportation business.
• Kenn Borek Air: Specialized Canadian charter operator with float, ski and wheeled operations in remote and polar regions, overlapping Rise Air's float-season and resource/medevac charter capabilities.

Direct peers

• Perimeter Aviation: Manitoba-based regional carrier providing scheduled, charter, and medevac services with float and wheeled operations, sharing similar fleet versatility and resource-sector workforce contracts.
• PAL Airlines: Eastern Canadian regional carrier operating turboprop scheduled and charter services in Newfoundland and Labrador, overlapping with Rise Air on regional turboprop operations and charter/medevac use cases.
• North Wright Airways: Regional carrier serving Northwest Territories communities with scheduled passenger, charter and cargo operations, directly comparable to Rise Air's remote-route, workforce, and MEDEVAC mission mix.
• Wasaya Airways: Indigenous-owned regional carrier serving remote northern Ontario First Nations communities with scheduled passenger, cargo and charter services, structurally the closest operating analog to Rise Air's northern Saskatchewan model.
• Calm Air: Manitoba-based regional airline operating turboprop scheduled and charter services to northern communities, comparable to Rise Air on turboprop fleet, route network scale, and Indigenous/remote customer base.
• Air North: Yukon-based scheduled and charter carrier serving remote communities and resource sector, operating turboprop equipment with comparable mission profile in another Canadian northern region.

Broad incumbents

• Jazz Aviation: Largest regional operator in Canada and Air Canada Express partner flying turboprops and regional jets; a broader incumbent that overlaps with Rise Air on regional scheduled service but at materially greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RiseAir.ca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riseair
• Instagraminstagram.com/riseair.ca

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rise Air