An organization that claims to represent more than 50,000 Quebec businesses is asking the Quebec government to make all interregional plane flights eligible for the fare capped at $500 per ticket, rather than just flights that connect regions to major centers.
Posted at 8:52
In a letter sent Thursday to the Minister of Transport, François Bonnardel, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec (FCCQ) affirms that the lack of eligibility for plane tickets at $ 500 limits interregional travel. The Federation recommends removing the obligation to travel through commercial airports in the metropolitan communities of Montreal and Quebec City and that the offer be open to all commercial regional air connections in Quebec regions.
The president and CEO of the FCCQ, Charles Milliard, maintains that access to regional air transport is essential to promote the vitality and economic influence of the regions.
Mr. Milliard adds that the current uncertainty about flight attendance is an additional issue that deserves to be addressed in the context of a regular forum between the Minister, his department and the stakeholders and users in the field. The FCCQ is therefore asking the government to set up a committee to monitor the impacts and benefits of the Regional Air Access Program (PAAR).
The program came into effect on 1er June has two parts: one for residents of remote regions – Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord and Basse-Côte-Nord, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean , Eeyou Istchee Baie-James and Whapmagoostui – the other to the general public.
For residents of these regions, they are entitled to a refund of 30% to 60% of the ticket price and are not subject to any maximum refund amount. For the general public, tickets are $500 round trip or $250 one way and each person is allowed six one-way or three round trips.
The maximum price of $500 includes airport and security fees, as well as taxes.
The Regional Air Access Program has an envelope of $86 million for two years.