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

Nov 2024

 

On Tuesday, August 27, LNCC CEO Julianne Griffin met virtually with Ashlynn Burry (VP Commercial Operations) and Janine Browne (Senior Director, Business Development) to discuss the growing concerns of air transportation in Labrador.

On October 24, LNCC CEO Julianne Griffin sent a letter via email to PAL Airlines President Calvin Ash, copying several municipal, provincial, and federal representatives, inviting him to discuss our concerns and solutions surrounding air transportation across the Labrador region. Mr. Ash has committed to visiting Labrador soon to meet with regional stakeholders.

On Tuesday, October 29, the LNCC met with members of the PAL Airlines management team in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. In attendance was Ashlynn Burry (VP Commercial Operations), Dave Hickey (VP Charters), and Philip Earle (VP Air Borealis).

Affordable and reliable air access is critical to the movement of people and goods from a tourism, medical, emergency and business perspective. Particularly for a rural and remote region such as Labrador, air transportation is an essential – and often the only – mode of transportation and is a crucial element to fostering economic development and growth within the province.

Recognizing that Labrador’s economic growth is closely tied to air transportation outcomes, the LNCC will continue to work collaboratively to find solutions to shared challenges including rising costs and reliability.

 

Challenges:

• There is a sustained national aviation staffing shortage

• The user pay system currently in place in Canada disadvantages Northern communities given the smaller aircraft and smaller aircraft size required in these regions.

• Flight Crew Fatigue Management regulations instituted by the federal government are meant to reinforce aviation safety, but there are unintended consequences for regional airlines related to these regulations.

• Given that aviation in Canada is funded by the user pay principle, the total charges for a passenger flying to Labrador is approximately $300; this includes taxes, fees, and regulatory compliance costs.  

Solutions:

• PAL Airlines is open and engaged to work with regional partners such as the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, the Goose Bay Airport Corporation and the LNCC to identify opportunities and changes to current systems and processes.

• Partner to further develop the tourism sector in the region including offering trip packages to encourage more traffic to Central Labrador.

• Advocate to the federal government for a reduction on additional taxes, fees and regulatory compliance costs to avoid further rising air transportation costs to Labradorians.

• Advocate for a review of current regulations so as not to cause negative consequences for northern rural communities.

• Work with regional partners and the provincial and federal governments to identify and examine existing models to improve air travel affordability.

 

The LNCC considers the recent meeting on October 29 as both constructive and productive and is committed to ensuring frequent and ongoing engagement with PAL Airlines and regional stakeholders. The goal of our discussions is to be solutions-based in cooperation and with support from other stakeholders.