Air North's newest member of its fleet left Vancouver shortly after noon today on the regular schedule to Whitehorse.

The Boeing 737-500 raises the company's count of 737 passenger jets to five, in addition to its four Hawker Siddely 748s powered by turbo-driven propellors.

"The big difference with the 500 is that it's a more modern aircraft with large, and more fuel-efficient engines,” Air North president Joe Sparling told the Star late this morning, minutes before departing YVR.

Sparling pointed out the wings are fitted with winglets, which provide the additional efficiency.

The company is ball parking fuel savings for the new aircraft at approximately 12 per cent, which Sparling indicated is a significant number.

Somewhat unusual today was the lineup of three Air North 737s on the Vancouver tarmac, with their unmistakable orange tails.

He said the 500 began flying in the early 1990s and has spent most of its time in China, though it was ferried over from the Netherlands.

Air North will be retiring one of its 737-200s later this year, Sparling said.

The 500, he explained, has a seating capacity of 120, just like the 200s but fewer than the 153 seats in the 737-400.

Sparling said the capacity of 120 seats is a nice fit for the Air North flight schedule.

Complete with its Air North brand painted on, the 737-500 left Vancouver with about half a load, with chief pilot Dan Kenny and Capt. Dan Quaile at the controls.

But Sparling will get his crack in the pilot seat come Thursday, when the 737-500 will fly a charter flight of Yukoners to Las Vegas.

"This acquisition was made possible by the support of Yukoners and all stakeholders,” reads a press release issued by the company this morning.

How much did it cost?

"Lots,” Sparling responded.