During a press conference on April 1, Air North president and CEO Joe Sparling, announced that the airline would be launching “Tall Tail Charters,” a set of specially curated holiday experiences just for dogs.
Some of the initial experiences on offer included splashing in the ocean at Wreck Beach in Vancouver, enjoying belly rubs under the midnight sun in Inuvik, peeing on the nicest flowers and trees Victoria has to offer in Beacon Hill Park, and—for the quietest and most respectful dogs—watching the Porcupine Caribou Herd migrate past Old Crow.
The airport experience for pets would include special greeters and their human families would be given an all-new Pet Passport.
Aircraft amenities were to include thoughtful touches, such as a puppy pit, where the most energetic dogs could play to their heart’s content, and an elder’s nook—where older dogs could enjoy some gentle scratches from the airline’s dog happiness team. The latter would have been trained and supervised by well-known Yukon Quest mushers.
Naturally, complimentary chew toys would be handed out throughout the flight.
The most significant changes were to be a hydrant in the forward lavatory and a tree in the aft lavatory—allowing discerning dogs to choose their preferred target—and retrofitted windows that could be rolled down inflight so that the sensation of speed could be enjoyed like never before.
Air North also promised that the food would be a revelation for the dogs—bacon-flavoured cookies, served warm.
The airline hoped to welcome its first Tall Tail ‘pawsengers’ this summer, and Sparling confirmed that all pets who flew with Air North would be considered very good dogs indeed!
Unfortunately, the Tall Tail flights will not be happening anytime soon, but in the spirit of doing something for animal lovers, Air North donated travel certificates to the Dawson City Humane Society and the Yukon Humane Society.
