Iqaluit garage owners frustrated by long wait for cargo shipments

There is growing frustration among some Iqaluit garage owners about how long it's taking to get parts flown in from Ottawa.

Michael Gilbert, co-owner of Upper Base garage, says he's been waiting four weeks for a cargo shipment.

He says the parts he needs to fix clients' vehicles are sitting at a First Air facility in Ottawa.

In a statement to CBC News, the airline places the blame on the garages. First Air vice-president Bert van der Stege says if a garage requires parts urgently then they should pay for priority shipping.

"Everything is being carried by First Air within the delivery dates that we guarantee and communicate to our customers," wrote van der Stege.

But Gilbert says paying priority fees would drive up costs.

"At seven bucks a kilo, how can you manage to sell parts at seven bucks a kilo?"

The co-owner of Pai-Pa garage, Craig Dunphy, agrees shipping cargo priority is cost prohibitive.

"Yeah we could start bringing everything in priority, and charge our customers twice as much," he said. 

He says right now he has 30 customers waiting for parts and that means, for now, many can't drive their vehicles. 

​Van der Stege says the airline cannot comment on garage owners not being able to pass on the extra expense.

"At First Air, we look after running an airline. We believe we offer the best possible value and an excellent product, in line with what our customers expect from us and pay us for."

First Air says it is flying in extra aircraft this week to help move cargo. The airline declined CBC News's request for an interview, stating it would not comment on specific complaints.