You don’t need a hit international TV show to see that Yellowknife’s Buffalo Airways is the world’s coolest airline. With a fleet of over fifty planes, including a dozen DC-3’s and DC-4’s, no other airline can transport you back to the Golden Age of Flying. Once the stalwart of World War II-era airforces and airlines, Buffalo’s tail-wheel DC-3’s look like props from an Indiana Jones movie. Tilting upwards, the lime-coloured interior features large windows and an open cockpit.
Length of Trip : 2-3 hours if you’re visiting the hangar. It’s a 45-minute flight to Hay River, and you’ll have to spend the night before taking the return flight.
Cost : Adult $200.00 One-way or $327.00 Return Child $120.00 One-way or $210.00 Return Senior $120.00 One-way or $210.00 Return Weekend $244.00 Return
Best time to go : The hangar is open year-round. Flights from Yellowknife to Hay River depart in the late afternoon, and return the following day early morning (except Sunday).
Wheelchair friendly : Yes
Family friendly : Yes
Where to eat : In Yellowknife: The Black Knight Pub Fuego Boston Pizza Bullocks
Official Site : www.buffaloairways.com
Where to Stay : In Yellowknife: The Explorer Hotel The Discovery Inn Days Inn In Hay River: Ptarmigan Inn
Getting There : The Buffalo Airways passenger terminal is located on 108 Berry St, adjacent to the hangar and across from G&G Expediting.
Note from Robin : Whether you’re a fan of the TV show or not, Buffalo Air is well worth visiting. The planes really do take you back to an era when flyboys ruled the sky, and a tube of nuts and bolts could take you just about anywhere. The flight to Hay River is fun (where else can you visit the cockpit of a commercial airline in flight) with some amazing views of Great Slave Lake. From Hay River you can rent a car in and drive to Wood Buffalo National Park. They also have some great merchandising back at the hangar.