Transwest Air (ICAO: ABS) was a Canadian regional airline that played a significant role in connecting communities within Saskatchewan before its merger in 2021.
Transwest Air was established in 2000 through the amalgamation of Athabaska Airways, founded in 1955, and La Ronge Aviation Services, which began operations in 1960. Both precursor airlines initially started with a single Cessna 180 aircraft before expanding their fleets. In 2016, Transwest Air became a subsidiary of West Wind Aviation, and in early 2021, it officially merged with West Wind Aviation to form Rise Air, a new entity that continues to serve the region.
The airline's primary operational base and headquarters were located at Prince Albert Glass Field Airport (YPA) in Saskatchewan, Canada. Other significant hubs included La Ronge and Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport. As of August 2020, Transwest Air's fleet comprised a variety of aircraft suitable for regional and bush operations, including Beechcraft 1900, Cessna 185, DHC-2 Beaver, DHC-3 Turbo Otter, DHC-6 Twin Otter, King Air 100, King Air 200, King Air 300, King Air 350, and Saab 340 aircraft. Previously, it also operated British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31, Beechcraft Model 99, Beechcraft Baron, Beechcraft Travel Air, Cessna 441 Conquest II, Mitsubishi MU-2, and Piper PA-31. The aircraft had seating capacities ranging from 3 to 34 passengers, depending on the type.
Transwest Air primarily operated a regional route network within the province of Saskatchewan, serving up to 9 destinations. Key destinations included Prince Albert, Saskatoon, La Ronge, Fond-du-Lac, Stony Rapids, Uranium City, Buffalo Narrows, Wollaston Lake, Pinehouse Lake, and Southend. In addition to scheduled passenger flights, the airline provided essential services such as fishing charters, surveying work, forest fire fighting, and medevac operations. Transwest Air was not a member of any major airline alliances such as Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld. In June 2020, the airline restructured its fare system, offering BASIC, FLEX, and PREMIUM categories with varying benefits and restrictions, including baggage allowances (50-100 lbs) and change/refund policies. The airline also had a frequent flyer program named "Northern Sky Rewards," which ceased in June 2020. Online check-in was not available; passengers were required to check in at the airport, with counters closing 30 minutes before scheduled departure.
Due to Transwest Air ceasing independent operations in 2021 and merging into Rise Air, specific recent traveler reviews directly pertaining to Transwest Air's flight services are limited on common review platforms. For instance, KAYAK reported "0.0 Poor, 0 verified ratings" for Transwest Air customer reviews.
What Travelers Love:
Common Complaints:
Overall Sentiment Summary:
A definitive overall sentiment summary based on direct traveler reviews of Transwest Air's services cannot be provided due to the scarcity of such data in the public domain following its operational cessation. The available information primarily focuses on the airline's history, operations, and eventual merger rather than customer experience.
Factual safety information regarding Transwest Air is not extensively detailed in the publicly available search results.
| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LBV → POG |
Port-Gentil
Port Gentil
|
182 | 93 mi | ATR | Dec 9, 2025 |
| DLA → LBV |
Leon M'Ba Int'l
Libreville
|
78 | 246 mi | AT72 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| DLA → SSG |
Malabo
Malabo
|
68 | 72 mi | AT72 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| PHC → LBV |
Leon M'Ba Int'l
Libreville
|
61 | 358 mi | AT72 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| LBV → DLA |
Douala Int'l
Douala
|
59 | 246 mi | AT72 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| LBV → MVB |
M'vengue
Franceville
|
58 | 315 mi | AT72 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| BZV → LBV |
Leon M'Ba Int'l
Libreville
|
55 | 519 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| SSG → DLA |
Douala Int'l
Douala
|
54 | 72 mi | AT72 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| LBV → PNR |
Pointe Noire
Pointe
|
48 | 403 mi | AT72 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| COO → LBV |
Leon M'Ba Int'l
Libreville
|
46 | 634 mi | A320 | Dec 2, 2025 |
| LBV → OYE |
Oyem
Oyem
|
45 | 168 mi | AT72 | Dec 6, 2025 |
| PNR → LBV |
Leon M'Ba Int'l
Libreville
|
45 | 403 mi | AT72 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| TMS → LBV |
Leon M'Ba Int'l
Libreville
|
43 | 187 mi | AT72 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| TMS → PCP |
Principe
Principe
|
41 | 101 mi | AT72 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| MVB → LBV |
Leon M'Ba Int'l
Libreville
|
40 | 315 mi | AT72 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| LBV → TMS |
Sao Tome Int'l (Salazar)
Sao Tome
|
40 | 187 mi | AT72 | Dec 6, 2025 |
| COO → SSG |
Malabo
Malabo
|
35 | 471 mi | A320 | Dec 7, 2025 |
| DLA → BSG |
Bata
Bata
|
34 | 145 mi | AT72 | Dec 6, 2025 |
| NSI → LBV |
Leon M'Ba Int'l
Libreville
|
30 | 270 mi | AT72 | Nov 14, 2025 |
| SSG → LBV |
Leon M'Ba Int'l
Libreville
|
24 | 233 mi | A320 | Dec 4, 2025 |
| PNR → FIH |
N'Djili Int'l
Kinshasa
|
22 | 247 mi | CRJ9 | Dec 6, 2025 |
| BGF → LBV |
Leon M'Ba Int'l
Libreville
|
19 | 686 mi | CRJ9 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| FIH → PNR |
Pointe Noire
Pointe
|
18 | 247 mi | CRJ9 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| LBV → SSG |
Malabo
Malabo
|
18 | 233 mi | AT72 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| LBV → NSI |
Yaounde Nsimalen Int'l
Yaounde
|
18 | 270 mi | AT72 | Oct 8, 2025 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.