Buffalo Airways – Yellowknife, NWT

Buffalo Airways is an airline based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Buffalo Airways was founded by Joe McBryan (aka “Buffalo Joe”) in 1970. Since then Buffalo Airways is operating as a family business.

Buffalo Airways History

History courtesy Buffalo Airways website.

Buffalo Airways was founded by Joe McBryan (aka “Buffalo Joe”) in 1970. Since then Buffalo Airways is operating as a family business. The airline operates scheduled passenger, charter passenger, charter cargo, firefighting and fuel services. Buffalo Airways main base is at Yellowknife Airport (CYZF).

They also have two other bases in Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada and at Red Deer Regional Airport (CYQF) in Alberta, Canada. The Red Deer base is their main storage unit and maintenance hangar. 

Buffalo Airways is also the subject of the History television reality series Ice Pilots NWT.

Buffalo Airways also operates its courier service Buffalo Air Express since 1982. It is the largest courier service in the Northwest Territories and also has a door-to-door network with over 400 communities in Northern Alberta.

By working with the Global Interline Network, they are able to ship nationally and internationally from their bases in Yellowknife, Hay River and Edmonton.

Buffalo Airways also operates and maintains aircraft used in the aerial firefighting program, under the contract of the NWT Government.

Visiting Buffalo Airways

This past March I had the opportunity to visit Yellowknife, NWT and take a tour of the Buffalo Airways hanger. 

Buffalo Airways Hangar Tours in Yellowknife are available by appointment only.

Tours are guided around the Buffalo Airways fleet in the hangar and outside (weather permitting). Tours are free and can be booked by calling 867-765-6023 or by emailing info.buffaloairwear@gmail.com. 

Important: Make sure to contact Buffalo Airways at least a day before you want to participate in a hangar tour.  Hangar Tours are only available for their hangar in Yellowknife. The bases in Red Deer, Edmonton and Hay River are not open to public and there are no tours on Mondays.

Photos of Buffalo Airways

Getting to Yellowknife, NWT

My to Yellowknife was arranged by Journeys by Escapes. Journeys is a 100% Canadian Owned and Operated company and they did an amazing job helping plan and book this 4 day trip to Yellowknife and I can highly recommend them if you are planning your own adventure to Yellowknife!

For further travel inspiration in Yellowknife check out my posts on photographing the Northern Lights and follow along the Northwest Territories tourism board Instagram accounts:

Instagram – @spectacularnwt
Best Northwest Territories Hashtag – #SpectacularNWT

Yellowknife: @visityellowknife
Best Yellowknife Hashtag – #yellowknife