Frank Kelner was born in Alma, Quebec and grew up in nearby Chibougamau. He fell in love with flying as a boy and soloed in his father’s floatplane at the tender age of 12. He worked as a pilot in the Arctic for a number of years and joined Austin Airways in Pickle Lake in the mid 80s.
A critic of the poor customer service characterizing the air transportation business at the time, Frank knew he could do a better job and eventually founded Kelner Airways, which grew rapidly under his leadership. The business was renamed Wasaya Airways in 1993 and sold in 1996.
Frank shifted his base of operations to Newfoundland, but returned to northwestern Ontario after a number of years and invested in North Star Air, a small floatplane operation that once again experienced rapid growth owing to his investment in new aircraft and an obsessive commitment to reliable, on time performance.
To win over the isolated Indigenous communities, he entered into revenue sharing agreements with them, but it was the reliability of North Star’s service that really ensured their loyalty.
Revenue sharing is a win-win business practice that provides the Indigenous communities the extra funds for much needed community development and helps North Star build enduring customer relationships.
In this interview, Frank explains why it is so important for the isolated Indigenous communities of Northern Ontario to have an air transportation service they can rely on and be part of through employment and business opportunities. Having worked with First Nation people for so many years, he understands their culture, gets along with them and has earned their trust.
In 2017, he sold North Star Air to the North West Company, but remained at the helm as president and still serves as chairman and CEO.
Today, North Star Air serves 54 remote Northern communities, operates with a fleet of 17 aircraft and employs more than 250 people.