This week's cold snap has caused trouble for the Yukon's two airlines.

Joe Sparling, owner and president of Air North, said Tuesday that although the cold has only caused minor delays in the airline's southern routes, the northern flights have been "a little more challenging.”

The airline has not been able to fly into Inuvik, N.W.T., since Monday because of fierce winds, blowing snow and poor visibility. Sparling is hoping the aircraft will be able to land today.

He said aircraft don't have to de-ice at -40 C temperatures and employees usually just have to scrape away frost. Ice fog hasn't been a problem, either.

"But when it's this cold, equipment doesn't always function properly,” he said.

Air North doesn't have a cut-off temperature when pilots don't fly, but Sparling said they try to avoid travelling when it's colder than -45.

The airline has been accommodating Air Canada Jazz passengers who were unable to to get to their southern destinations this week.

According to an e-mail from Jazz spokesperson Debra Williams, most of the airline's delays and cancellations have been to to the cold weather.

Williams said there was a mechanical issue with the airline's Vancouver-bound plane Tuesday.

Maintenance employees travelled from Vancouver to Whitehorse and have repaired the problem.

However, an extra Air Canada Embraer 90 aircraft was sent to Whitehorse to pick up the Vancouver-bound passengers Tuesday morning.