Starting June 1, anyone travelling by plane within the province to several Quebec regions won’t have to pay more than $500 for a round-trip ticket beginning June 1. The $500 cap on ticket prices also applies to trips that require connecting flights and is designed to help boost tourism to rural areas located far from the big cities.
The rate applies to both residents and visitors and includes such destinations as the Gaspé peninsula, Transport Minister Francois Bonnardel said.
The discount will be applied at the time of purchase, and airlines will be required to claim the difference in price from the government.
Questioned whether airlines would be incentivized to increase their prices because the government is subsidizing tickets, Bonnardel said prices would be “negotiated annually” according to the cost of inflation.
All Canadian carriers can participate in the program but must serve destinations year-round to qualify for the subsidy. For example, Bonnardel said, Air Canada flights to the Iles-de-la-Madeleine wouldn’t be subsidized because the airline currently offers that route in the summer only.
The Transport Department did not specify how often a carrier has to fly to a location for the route to be considered year-round.
Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx told reporters that the flight subsidy program opens new opportunities for Quebecers to discover their province, particularly the regions that have difficulty attracting tourism.
Bonnardel says the regional air transport plan is funded with $261 million over five years and adds the government will negotiate with air carriers to ensure there are enough subsidized flights to meet demand.
Guy Caron, mayor of Rimouski, Que., who is also part of the union of Quebec municipalities, welcomed the new program, noting that his association has long called on the government to subsidize flights to the regions.
The association that represents chambers of commerce across the province said it was pleased with the subsidy announcement, but the government needs to make sure the routes remain profitable for regional airlines that participate. The Federation des chambres de commerce du Quebec said in a news release that due to the vastness of Quebec’s territory, air travel remains the most efficient option, but the costs are often high.
“What carriers want and demand is volume in their aircraft,” association president Charles Milliard said. “If they could lower their prices themselves without operating at a loss they would do so, but unfortunately, this is not possible given the reality of the market.
“This is why government intervention is necessary so that Quebecers are more encouraged to use regional air transport to reach major centres or reach remote regions.”