Quebec renews program for discounted regional flights

Quebec Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault says the government will be launching a new version of its program to make flights to remote regions more affordable. The government has increased the budget to $55m for 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support the renewed Programme d'accès aérien aux régions (PAAR) and meet the expected increase in demand for tickets, according to a news release published on Tuesday. Guilbault's announcement comes a year after Quebec airline Pascan Aviation stopped offering flights from Mont-Joli in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region to cities including Sept-Îles in the Côte-Nord. In 2023, Pascan Aviation cut down on flights to areas that weren't financially viable, citing the Quebec government ending its aid program to support air travel in some remote regions. Guilbault told a news conference in Gaspé on Tuesday that through PAAR, Quebecers will be able to benefit from discounts of 50 to 85% on airline tickets, which will be applied directly to their purchase from a participating carrier. Changes to the program will run from Feb. 3, 2025, to March 31, 2027. PAAR will also be expanded to allow non-profit organizations to benefit from discounted tickets as of next year. Tickets will be available for sale more than six months in advance.<br/>