Boeing 737 lands in Dawson City, Yukon, for first time

Aviation history was made in Yukon this week when a Boeing 737 landed for the first time at Dawson Citys airport.

The aircraft was used for Air Norths scheduled flight from Whitehorse to Dawson City, Old Crow and Inuvik, N.W.T. This was the first time the plane landed in Dawson, but it has previously made trips to the other communities.

The airline said the jet shortens each leg of the trip by about 10 minutes.

Air Norths president, Joe Sparling, said it appears passengers appreciate the new service.

"Aviation is so important to everybody in the North, and the farther north, or the smaller the community you live in, the more important it is to you," said Sparling.

"I always like to point out that if you ask somebody in Vancouver what time the flight to Whitehorse goes, I'm sure they haven't got a clue. If you ask somebody in Whitehorse what time the flight to Vancouver goes I'm sure they all know and if you ask somebody in Dawson or Old Crow what time the flight to Whitehorse goes, probably 100 per cent of people know."

The combination cargo and passenger jet landed in Old Crow in 2009 as part of the Vancouver Olympics torch relay.

Sparling said improvements needed to be made to both the plane and the northern airports before regular service could begin.

He said the jet will only be used on days when there's enough cargo and passengers to pay for the higher cost.