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Morris returns as CEO of Wasaya Airways

Tom Morris has been named chief executive officer of Thunder Bay-based Wasaya Airways, according to reports by CBC and Northern Ontario Business, returning to the position he previously held upon retiring in 2015. The airline also named Brad Martin as chief operating officer.


September 11, 2018  By Wings Staff

Wasaya means rising sun in the Oji-cree dialect and the logo of Wasaya Airways

A statement from the airline explains Morris spent 22 years working for Wasaya, including 14 as CEO. Martin, according to Northern Ontario Business, has four decades of experience in the airline industry and has served as CEO of Bearskin Airlines since 2014. He is expected to start full-time with Wasaya in January 2019.

In April 2018, Wasaya Airways, at the time owned 100 per cent by 12 First Nations in Northwestern Ontario, entered into an agreement with the Exchange Income Corporation (EIC) of Winnipeg, whereby EIC recapitalized Wasaya by purchasing a portion of the company.

Wasaya explains the new partnership increases the level of its service in Northern Ontario for the benefit of people in its ownership and non-ownership communities. Wasaya Group, including Wasaya Airways and Wasaya Petroleum, is directly or indirectly owned by 12 First  Nations, including: Bearskin Lake; Fort Severn; Kasabonika Lake; Keewaywin; Kingfisher Lake; Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug; Muskrat Dam; Nibinamik; Pikangikum; Sandy Lake; Wapekeka; and Wunnumin Lake.  

Wasaya serves 25 destinations in Northwestern Ontario with 60 daily flights and employs 320 employees, of which more than one third are First Nation.

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