Quebec government promises to slash cost of air travel in far-flung regions

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillardsaid the spring budget will containa series of measures aimed at reducing the cost of air travel outside of major urban centres in the province.

"Choosingto live in a region shouldn't mean a lesser quality of life," Couillardtold mayors from across Quebecwho met in Lvis, Que., Friday to look for solutions to the prohibitive cost of flying in and out of their communities.

"We have to look at air transportation as a tool of economic development," the premiersaid.

The Liberal government plans to launcha program to encourage tourism, subsidizingflightsto Quebec's far-flungregions andto remote provincial parks, including the newTursujuqpark in Northern Quebec.

"We're not set on a name, but it could beDcouvrons notre Qubec, let's discover our Quebec," Couillard explained.

The government is also looking atexpanding a program that subsidizes the cost of travel from the Magdalen Islands to other regions,including theAbitibi, the Lower Saint-Lawrence,Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Gasp and the North Shore.

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The details ofthe new measures are to be laid out in the budget.

Air Canada 'monopoly'questioned

Couillardquoted a study published last springby the Union of Quebec Municipalities which estimated that the cost of a regionalairline ticket is55 per cent higherfor intraprovincial travel in Quebec than in other provinces in Canada.

The study found the average cost in Quebec works out to $1.20 per nautical mile, compared to 77 cents elsewhere in the country.

Elected officials attending the summit identifiedseveral reasonsfor this gap, said Couillard, including the lack of competitionin Quebec's airline industry servicing regional centres.

"There is one big player. There needs to be more. That seems obvious to me," he said, suggestingthe government would also be willing to providefundsfor otherairlines to compete.

"The main problem is Air Canada's monopoly," complainedQuebec City MayorRgisLabeaumeearlier Friday, calling that the "elephant in the room."

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Labeaume's comments came after theFederation of Quebec Municipalities (FQM) announced at the summit thatit had reached a deal with Air Canada.

Passengers flying to Quebec's regional airportswill be able to buy a series of 10 one-way tickets for $324, or 20 tickets for $249, includingtaxes.

The tickets must be used within a 12-month period. They can be used for a flight toany destination in Quebec,as well astoWabush, N.L.

Labeaumewas unimpressed, saying Air Canadaoften drops prices when new carriers try to break into theirmarket.

"They are going to hike up the prices in two weeks," he said.

Advance tickets don't help: MNA

After discussions with theFQMlast fall, Air Canada also offered reduced prices for ticketsbought in advance, from 21 to 60 days before the travel date.

Do you really think people who need to travel for medical reasons will buy their tickets 12 months ahead of time?- Lorraine Richard, MNA for Duplessis

Lorraine Richard, the MNA for the Duplessis ridingon Quebec's North Shore, said suchadvance-purchase deals don't reflect the needs of the population.

"Do you really think people who need to travel for medical reasons will buy their tickets 12 months ahead of time?" Richard asked. "It makes no sense."

More flights, fewertaxes

Jonathan Lapierre,mayor of the Magdalen Islands and vice-president of the FQM,welcomed the new agreement with Air Canada.

"It's a step in the right direction, and it's what had to be done," Lapierre said, stressing that there also needs to be an increase in the number offlightsin and out of small airports.

"Regional air transportation is an essential service for the MagdalenIslands," Lapierre said, adding many other regions are also reliant on airlines.

"For example, in emergency situations, or to support the tourism industry, we need a better collaboration between the different carriers to answer everyone's needs."

Lapierrealso suggested provincial and federal governments could help passengers by lowering or abolishingtaxes on airplane tickets.

Minister of Transport Vronyque Tremblaysaid Friday a permanent committee will be set up to consider this proposal.

The committee will also look into the possibility of establishing a floor price for tickets to prevent companies from dropping their prices.

Cheapest tickets found Feb. 2 for flights on Feb. 11

• Gasp - Montreal one-way: $401.40; taxes and fees: $74.40.

• Gasp - Quebec City one-way: $369.21; taxes and fees: $70.21.

• Sept-les - Rouyn-Noranda one-way: $447.39; taxes and fees: $65.39.

Cheapest tickets found Feb. 2 for flights on April 15

• Gasp- Montreal one-way:$253.09; taxes and fees: $55.09.

• Gasp - Quebec Cityone-way:$217.44; taxes and fees: $50.44.

• Sept-les-Rouyn-Norandaone-way:$264.58; taxes and fees: $41.58.