Chorus Aviation to acquire SkyCare Air Ambulance for about C$40 million

Chorus Aviation has agreed to acquire SkyCare Air Ambulance, the largest private fixed-wing air ambulance operator in Northern Ontario, for about C$40 million. Chorus, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, announced the agreement on 19 October 2026. It expects to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, once the usual conditions are met.

Chorus will pay C$32 million in cash when the sale closes. The rest, about C$8 million, is due by 31 March 2029 if SkyCare meets set performance targets. Chorus says the purchase should add to its earnings and cash flow as soon as it completes.

Who SkyCare is

• Founded in 2006 by Frank Behrendt, with its head office in Sioux Lookout, Ontario.
• Bases in Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay and Kitchener in Ontario, and St. Andrews in Manitoba.
• About 220 staff, including flight crews and acute and primary care medical teams.
• 22 aircraft, a mix of turboprops and business jets set up for air ambulance and other special missions.
• Medevac, repatriation, organ transport and charter flights across Canada and the United States, 24 hours a day.
• Revenue of about C$48 million in 2025 (unaudited).

SkyCare has a long working relationship with Ornge, which runs air ambulance transport for the province of Ontario. Colin Copp, President and CEO of Chorus Aviation, called the purchase "a strong strategic fit for Chorus".

Why it matters

Chorus is best known as the owner of Jazz Aviation, which flies regional routes for Air Canada, and of Voyageur Aviation in North Bay, Ontario, which does special mission and contract flying. SkyCare adds a medical flight business with its own crews and bases in the north, where many communities depend on aircraft to reach a hospital. Chorus says it wants to grow its aviation, aerospace and defence business, and SkyCare is its latest step.

On the Flying Engineer

SkyCare Air Ambulance & Charters, Ornge, Voyageur Aviation and Jazz Aviation all have pages on the directory. You can compare other medical flight operators on our air ambulance page. The sector meets next at the AMTC Air Medical Transport Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, from 26 to 28 October 2026, run by the Association of Air Medical Services.

Source: Chorus Aviation, Chorus Aviation announces agreement to acquire SkyCare Air Ambulance, news release, 19 October 2026.