History
When the oil companies started exploring in the Arctic, Borek followed. It was while Borek was in the Arctic that he started his airline, Kenn Borek Air Ltd., in 1970 with one twin otter. Now, Kenn Borek Air Ltd. has one of the largest Twin Otter fleets in the world.
Some of Borek’s success is attributed to his insatiable curiosity and his constant search for doing things more efficiently. Borek owned Borek Construction, Kenn Borek Air Ltd., a large farming operation, a John Deere dealership and a few hotels before his death in 2005. Yet you’d never know it by meeting him. Kenn Borek was an intensely private, humble and hard working man ... he was a man of honor and integrity.
Now owning and operating over 50 aircraft, bases in Calgary, Iqaluit and Resolute Bay, Kenn Borek Air Ltd. provides services worldwide on all seven continents. Kenn Borek Air Ltd. is also recognized worldwide for its spectacular rescue missions, including in the Antarctic (see achievements). Read about the Kenn Borek Memorial Scholarship.
About Kenn Borek Air Ltd.
Kenn Borek Air Ltd. covers the globe with sophisticated aviation equipment and instrumentation, with the professionalism that has made us the world's best. Here are some of the ways Kenn Borek Air Ltd. flies every day of the year:
- Air support for the UN peacekeeping missions in Pakistan and Mauritania.
- Transport for scientific teams and adventure charters in both Polar Regions.
- ACMI operations worldwide.
- Leasing aircraft and equipment to scheduled carriers in the Maldives and Canada.
- Air support for oil company drilling projects.
Our expertise in operating under difficult conditions and in remote areas has made Kenn Borek Air Ltd. the preferred air service contractor for scientific research projects worldwide. Thirty-five years of real world experience has taught Kenn Borek Air Ltd. to match aircraft and personnel to the conditions of the job.
Kenn Borek Air Ltd. was initially incorporated as a subsidiary of Borek Construction Ltd. to enhance services on contracts carried out in the Canadian Arctic for the petroleum industry. Our first DHC-6 Twin Otter began operating in 1970 providing air support for these exploration activities. Although still specialists in Arctic travel, Kenn Borek Air Ltd. now offers worldwide support to all seven continents.
Air services for exploration activities have been a large source of revenue for Kenn Borek Air Ltd. In past years we have expanded our focus on expanding our air service into other areas - scheduled routes, international charters, and aircraft leasing and aircraft maintenance/overhaul. One of the more successful areas of expansion is the provision of air support for scientific research throughout the world.
Kenn Borek Air Ltd. maintains permanent fixed wing base facilities in the Northwest Territories at Inuvik, Resolute Bay, Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit, in British Columbia at Sandspit, and in Alberta at Edmonton and Calgary. The company holds domestic and international licenses for all these locations to provide a variety of charter and scheduled services, as well as a complete maintenance and overhaul facility in Calgary.
We take pride in our ability to meet any challenge related to air travel and understand the importance of choosing the right aircraft for the right place and the right job while always maintaining the highest safety standards.
Kenn Borek Air Ltd. has been and continues to be one of the most professionally operated and managed airlines in Canada.
