Maritime provinces partner with PAL Airlines to boost regional air travel

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

The Maritime provinces are collaborating on a new plan to enhance regional air connectivity.

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have announced new provincial funding as part of a partnership with PAL Airlines. The goal is to enhance access between the provinces, making it easier for travellers to move around the region.

The program is expected to offer daily flights connecting Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Fredericton and Moncton, with seats expected to go on sale later this year.

Passengers are expected to fly with the service later this year, although exact dates aren’t yet known.

The joint funding includes $5 million from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, $2.9 million from Nova Scotia, $840,000 from P.E.I. and $458,000 from New Brunswick

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The Atlantic Canada Airports Association is applauding the announcement, saying the funding will help level the playing field for smaller regional airports.

P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz and Island MP Sean Casey made the announcement Friday at the Charlottetown airport with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Gilles LePage, minister responsible for New Brunswick’s Regional Development Corporation.

The announcement comes after the Council of Atlantic Premiers formed a working group in February 2023 on regional air travel that included government and airport authority representatives.

With files from The Canadian Press.