People watch an Air Canada plane take off from Montreal Trudeau Airport in Montreal, December 5, 2021. Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press
The Quebec government said on Tuesday it would limit the cost of plane tickets for all trips within the province to the regions, as a way to increase tourism in rural areas far from major cities.
From June 1, everyone – residents and visitors – traveling to Quebec will not have to pay more than $ 500 out of pocket for round-trip tickets to places like the Gaspe Peninsula, Transport Minister Francois Bonardel told reporters.
Speaking at Mont-Jolie Regional Airport, about 570 kilometers northeast of Montreal, in the lower St. Lawrence region, Bonardel said the $ 500 cap on ticket prices also applies to travel that requires connecting flights. The discount, he added, will apply at the time of purchase and airlines will have to ask the government for the price difference.
Asked whether airlines would be encouraged to increase their prices as the government subsidizes tickets, Bonardel said prices would be “negotiated annually” depending on the price of inflation. The government’s regional air transport plan, he said, was funded by $ 261 million over five years.
All Canadian carriers are eligible for the program, but must serve destinations year-round to qualify for the grant. For example, Bonardel said, Air Canada flights to Iles-de-la-Madeleine will not be subsidized, as the airline currently offers this route only in summer.
The transport department did not specify how often the carrier must fly to a place in order for the route to be considered year-round.
Tourism Minister Caroline Prue told reporters that the flight subsidy program opens up new opportunities for Quebec residents to discover their province, especially regions that are struggling to attract tourism.
Opposition Party Quebecois, meanwhile, has been skeptical of the government’s plan, raising questions about the price of one-way tickets and how taxes will be applied in light of the rebate. PQ transport critic Joel Arseno also questioned the apparent lack of conditions for airlines other than year-round flights.
Will the frequency (of flights) that will be offered change? Will the seating capacity increase according to demand? ”Arseno said at a press conference.
Guy Caron, mayor of Rimouski, Quebec, which is also part of the Quebec Municipal Union, welcomed the new program, noting that his association has long called on the government to subsidize flights to the regions.
The association, which represents chambers of commerce across the province, said it was pleased with the announcement of the subsidy, but the government needed to make sure the routes remained profitable for the regional airlines involved. The Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec said in a press release that due to the vast territory of Quebec, air travel remains the most efficient option, but the costs are often high.
“What carriers want and are looking for is the volume of their planes,” said association president Charles Billion. “If they could reduce their prices without working at a loss, they would do so, but unfortunately this is not possible given the reality of the market.
“Therefore, government intervention is needed so that Quebecers are more encouraged to use regional air transport to reach large centers or reach remote regions.”
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