Fly-In Fly-Out Labour and Airport Infrastructure in Canada’s North: A Case Study on the Rankin Inlet and Mayo Airports

This case study looks at the increasing impact of Fly-In, Fly-Out labour on the Mayo Airport in Yukon and the Rankin Inlet Airport in Nunavut.

Document Highlights

Important discussion and awareness taking place around the economic impacts of Fly-In, Fly-Out (FIFO) labour in Canada’s Northern regions. Northern governments are concerned about jobs and wages being lost to residents from other regions of the country.

But there are other important impacts of FIFO that go largely unexamined. For instance, the transportation needs of FIFO workers can put additional strain on Northern transportation systems, such as airport services and infrastructure. Fly-In-Fly-Out Labour and Airport Infrastructure in Canada’s North: A Case Study on the Rankin Inlet and Mayo Airports examines the effects of FIFO labour on airport infrastructure, maintenance, and services. It also examines secondary effects including the impact of FIFO traffic on a Northern community’s use of the airport, airfare cost, and availability of flights. The Mayo Airport in Yukon and the Rankin Inlet Airport in Nunavut were chosen as case studies because of their proximity to mining projects.