Central Labrador is a hub of activity and is set in one of the most beautiful regions of our province and country.

May 2025

 

May 1, 2025

 

The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland & Labrador
Government of Newfoundland & Labrador
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6

 

cc:
The Hon. Lisa Dempster, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Hon. Steve Crocker, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Mr. Perry Trimper, MHA Lake Melville
Mr. Philip Earle, Member of Parliament for Labrador
Mr. John Hogan, Newfoundland & Labrador Liberal Leadership Candidate
Mr. John Abbott, Newfoundland & Labrador Liberal Leadership Candidate
Mr. Calvin Ash, President, PAL Airlines

 

Re: Request for Meeting to Discuss Ongoing Concerns Surrounding Air Transportation Services in Labrador 

 

Dear Premier Furey:

 

On behalf of the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce (LNCC) and the Labrador West Chamber of Commerce (LWCC), we are writing to formally request an urgent meeting with you to discuss the recent announcement of a new air service agreement with PAL Airlines to provide an “intraprovincial air travel loop” between St. John’s, Gander and Deer Lake. It is extremely disappointing and alarming that Labrador is yet again excluded from such an initiative.

 

For many years, and particularly in the fall of 2024, regions across Labrador continue to advocate for efficient and affordable air transportation. For Labradorians, air transportation is an essential – and often the only – mode of transportation, and is a crucial element to fostering economic development and tourism growth throughout the region. Despite repeated efforts to communicate challenges regarding air service and affordability between Labrador and the island portion of the province, the provincial government moved ahead with yet another initiative that excludes the region of Labrador.

 

Both cost and reliability remain critical concerns for Labradorians surrounding business and medical travel. Air travel is a vital lifeline for communities, and Labradorians continue to raise the alarm regarding inequitable service and the need for immediate reform to our provincial air transportation system. The province must focus internally on creating an effective provincial-wide transportation network, and respect the perspectives of those living and operating in Labrador.

 

Since the fall of 2024, several organizations and municipalities across Labrador have requested meetings, distributed letters, submitted proposals and provided reports and data to provincial government officials regarding challenges to the air transportation system. While those calls go unanswered, the government continues to support non-stop subsidized connections from Newfoundland to international destinations, new air access investments, and now stronger connections between three airports in Newfoundland. There is no effort to address issues in Labrador, such as a current airfare from Wabush to St. John’s that consistently exceeds $1,200 per trip.

 

These recent investments indicate examples of the disconnect of air access within our own province. Tuesday’s announcement was yet another disappointing blow for business and tourism stakeholders across Labrador, and another warning that concerns of regional stakeholders are not being acknowledged or considered.  After several years of advocacy, this latest announcement is yet another setback for the region, and we deserve an explanation as to why Labrador has not been included in this initiative.

 

We appreciate the government’s aim to enhance tourism and create a “more connected, convenient and traveller-friendly Newfoundland and Labrador.” Unfortunately, this announcement ignores Labrador and the issues that confront people in Labrador daily through high airfares and lack of connectivity. While the three regions included in Tuesday’s announcement can be connected by road in mere hours, it would take an individual two days to drive from Central Labrador to Central Newfoundland.

 

The concerns of Labrador stakeholders continue to go unheard, including concerns from Labrador airport partners, who continue to await responses from government on proposals to enhance air transportation. Labrador’s economic and tourism growth is currently hampered and businesses remain at a disadvantage by the disconnect to air access throughout the province.

 

We deserve a real commitment from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador – not one that places blame on the federal government – to frequent and ongoing engagement with Labrador stakeholders. If effective intraprovincial air access remains a priority for the Government, the perspectives of Labradorians must be valued and reflected when developing future initiatives.

 

We are also copying this letter to several public officials, including Mr. Hogan and Mr. Abbott, one of whom will soon assume the office of Premier.  We request a meeting in Happy Valley-Goose Bay at the government’s earliest convenience for a solutions-based discussion to improve air access in Labrador.

 

Sincerely,

Julianne Griffin Chief Executive Officer Labrador North Chamber of Commerce

Lydia Rickards Executive Director Labrador West Chamber of Commerce

Mayor George Andrews and Town Council of Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Mayor Belinda Adams and Town Council of Labrador City

Mayor Ron Barron and Town Council of Wabush