Oversized & Special Cargo

With decades of experience serving northern communities, we’ve become experts in transporting chilled and frozen products. From fresh seafood and produce to medical supplies and floral shipments, we understand that proper handling is essential every step of the way.

Perishable cargo requires careful packaging and timely transportation to help maintain its quality throughout the journey. Common perishable shipments include;

• Produce
• Seafood
• Floral products
• Fruits
• Medical supplies
• Water samples

Because these items are sensitive to temperature and transit times, all perishable shipments must travel as Priority Cargo. This ensures they receive the expedited handling and attention needed to arrive in the best possible condition.

Learn more about shipping perishable goods and how you should pack them here.

We’ve developed these requirements to help ensure your shipment arrives safely and in the condition you expect. While our team takes great care in handling all cargo to help protect against leakage, spillage, and contamination from other shipments, perishable goods must be properly packaged to withstand the conditions of air transport.

Perishable shipments should be packaged to endure;

• Up to 48 hours of domestic transit time (if connecting to another carrier to travel beyond our network within Canada),
• Up to 12 physical handling points,
• Pressure of up to 60 lbs. per square foot,
• Movement across various surfaces, including sliding during handling,
• A drop of up to 12 inches onto a hard surface,
• Exposure to rain for up to 30 seconds.

Please note that Styrofoam outer packaging is not acceptable.

Learn more about shipping perishable goods and how you should pack them here.

A little planning goes a long way when shipping perishable items. Since drop-off and pick-up times vary by location, we recommend contacting your local cargo office in advance. Refrigerated storage is available at select stations, subject to space, but cannot be guaranteed. To help avoid delays, please ensure your shipment can be picked up during the destination office’s regular business hours. Please note that perishable shipments are not currently accepted to Victoria.

During difficult times, our Cargo team is here to provide caring and professional support when transporting departed loved ones to their final resting place.

We work closely with funeral homes and mortuaries to ensure arrangements are handled with dignity and care. Through our Compassionate Travel program, arrangements can also be made for family members to travel on the same flight whenever possible.

For assistance, please contact your funeral director or mortuary, or reach out to our Cargo team directly. 

Transport Canada requires that all cargo travelling on passenger flights through CATSA-regulated airports be screened. In our network, this applies to Whitehorse, Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, and Yellowknife. What this means for your shipment;

• From CATSA locations: Cargo must either be shipped by a Known Consignor (businesses only) or be screened by Air North Cargo upon receipt, in accordance with regulations.

• From non-CATSA locations: Screening is generally not required for direct shipments between non-CATSA airports (e.g., Dawson City to Whitehorse). However, if your shipment connects through a CATSA-regulated airport (e.g., Dawson City to Vancouver via Whitehorse), it will be screened in transit before continuing to its final destination.

Known Consignors (Businesses Only)

Businesses may apply to become a Known Consignor through Transport Canada’s Air Cargo Security (ACS) program. A valid Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number and an established business relationship with a freight forwarder or airline are required.

For all other shippers, if you are not a Known Consignor, your shipment must be screened or physically searched before acceptance. A security screening fee applies of $10 + applicable taxes, or $0.10 per pound per waybill (whichever is greater).

For regulatory questions, you may also refer to Transport Canada’s Air Cargo Security (ACS) program.

Dangerous goods are articles or substances that may pose a risk to health, safety, or property when transported by air. To help protect our travellers, crews, aircraft, and communities, these items are regulated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Transport Canada, which classify dangerous goods into nine categories. Please refer to the table below for the different classes.

Please note that Air North does not accept shipments containing infectious substances or radioactive materials.

Shipping Dangerous Goods

If you are shipping dangerous goods, it is important that all applicable regulations are followed. Before offering a shipment for air transport, shippers are responsible for ensuring that;

• The item is permitted for transportation by air,

• The goods are properly identified, classified, packaged, marked, labelled, and documented,

• Everyone involved in preparing the shipment has received the appropriate dangerous goods training,

• Dangerous goods are properly declared using a completed IATA Shipper’s Declaration, where required.

Failure to properly declare dangerous goods is a serious offence. It is the shipper’s responsibility to determine whether a shipment contains dangerous goods and to ensure all requirements are met.

Dangerous Goods To Limited Access Communities

Some northern communities rely exclusively on air service for essential supplies. Old Crow (YOC), for example, is considered a limited access community because it is only accessible by air.

To help support these communities, certain dangerous goods may qualify for exemptions from some standard regulations, making it possible to transport essential items safely and affordably when other shipping options are not available.

A list of dangerous goods eligible under the limited access provisions can be found here.

If you have questions about shipping dangerous goods or are unsure whether your shipment qualifies, our Cargo team is always happy to help.

Dangerous goods are articles or substances that may pose a risk to health, safety, or property when transported by air. To help protect our travellers, crews, aircraft, and communities, these items are regulated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Transport Canada, which classify dangerous goods into nine categories. Please refer to the table below for the different classes.

Please note that Air North does not accept shipments containing infectious substances or radioactive materials.

Shipping Dangerous Goods

If you are shipping dangerous goods, it is important that all applicable regulations are followed. Before offering a shipment for air transport, shippers are responsible for ensuring that;

• The item is permitted for transportation by air,

• The goods are properly identified, classified, packaged, marked, labelled, and documented,

• Everyone involved in preparing the shipment has received the appropriate dangerous goods training,

• Dangerous goods are properly declared using a completed IATA Shipper’s Declaration, where required.

Failure to properly declare dangerous goods is a serious offence. It is the shipper’s responsibility to determine whether a shipment contains dangerous goods and to ensure all requirements are met.

Dangerous Goods To Limited Access Communities

Some northern communities rely exclusively on air service for essential supplies. Old Crow (YOC), for example, is considered a limited access community because it is only accessible by air.

To help support these communities, certain dangerous goods may qualify for exemptions from some standard regulations, making it possible to transport essential items safely and affordably when other shipping options are not available.

A list of dangerous goods eligible under the limited access provisions can be found here.

If you have questions about shipping dangerous goods or are unsure whether your shipment qualifies, our Cargo team is always happy to help.