{{Infobox airline | airline_name = Kenn Borek Air | image_caption = A Kenn Borek Air DHC-6 Twin Otter on skis | IATA = KBA | ICAO = KBA | callsign = BOREK | foundation = 1967 | hub = Calgary International Airport (YYC) | focus_cities = Resolute Bay Airport (YRB), various Arctic and Antarctic outposts | fleet_size = Approximately 30+ (variable) | destinations = Charter operations worldwide, primarily Arctic and Antarctic regions | parent = The Borek Group | headquarters = Calgary, Alberta, Canada | key_people = Kenn Borek (Founder) | website = borekair.com }}
Kenn Borek Air is a Canadian airline based in Calgary, Alberta. Established in 1967 by Kenn Borek, the company specializes in charter operations, particularly providing logistical support and air transport in remote and challenging environments such as the Arctic and Antarctic. It is a significant provider of services for scientific research, resource exploration, and remote community support in polar regions.
History
Kenn Borek Air originated from Borek Construction's need for air support in northern Canada. Over decades, it evolved into a premier air charter service, developing extensive expertise in cold-weather operations, remote airstrip access, and maintenance. The airline has built a reputation for its specialized fleet and highly skilled crews capable of operating in extreme conditions.
Operations
Kenn Borek Air's operations are diverse, focusing primarily on charter services for:
- Scientific Research: Providing air transport and logistical support for government agencies and research institutions in the Arctic and Antarctic, including numerous Antarctic expeditions and station resupply missions.
- Resource Development: Supporting mining, oil, and gas exploration and operations in remote northern regions of Canada and other territories.
- Remote Community Support: Supplying isolated communities with essential goods, personnel, and performing critical medical evacuations (medevac flights).
- Aircraft Maintenance: The company operates its own comprehensive maintenance facilities and provides services for other operators of specialized aircraft.
The airline is particularly well-known for its extensive operations in Antarctica, often performing missions to the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station and other research bases. These missions include personnel rotations, cargo delivery, and critical medical evacuations, some of which have been carried out during the extreme conditions of the Antarctic winter, earning the company international recognition for its daring and capability.
Fleet
Kenn Borek Air operates a specialized fleet of aircraft designed for rugged operations, short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities, and the ability to operate from unimproved airstrips, often equipped with skis for snow and ice landings. Key aircraft types include:
- de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter: A versatile STOL utility aircraft, forming a significant portion of their fleet for polar and remote operations.
- Basler BT-67: A turboprop conversion of the classic Douglas DC-3/C-47, modified for enhanced performance, increased cargo capacity, and equipped for ski operations in extreme environments.
- de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver: A single-engine STOL bush plane, used for smaller-scale operations and access to very remote sites.
Recognition
Kenn Borek Air has garnered international recognition for its unparalleled expertise and daring missions, especially its medical evacuation flights from the South Pole during the austral winter, which are considered among the most challenging aerial operations globally due to extreme cold, darkness, and isolation.