A year after the announcement with much fanfare by the Legault government for $500 plane tickets, The unreliability of flights discourages many people in the province.
Whether in Gaspésie, on the North Shore and even in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, repeated delays and flight cancellations hurt. Sept-Îles businesswoman Mirka Boudreau has bitter memories of her recent trip to Denver, Colorado.
“It’s chaos! It’s hell! I arrived two days late. I lost an important business meeting, an important opportunity, I had impossible expenses! testifies the president of Intelle Corporation, which has branches in South America.
Not reliable enough
Launched in June 2022, the Regional Air Access program basically allows round-trip airfare to Quebec’s regions for $500 or a 30% to 60% refund of airfare for travel in one’s own region.
A program that does not live up to its promises, according to testimonies collected as part of the program JE, which will be broadcast tonight at 9.30 p.m.
“Let’s say I want to go to my own region, Anticosti island, I can’t buy a $500 ticket. So if I do the exercise and leave Sept-Îles, it will cost me more than $1,000,” explains Joannie Francœur-Côté, Director of Tourisme Côte-Nord.
In Gaspé, entrepreneurs prefer to take the car because of the unreliability of PASCAN Aviation and Provincial Airlines.
“Economic development takes place outside. We have a one in two chance that the plane will not depart, so for the moment we have decided to take the vehicle,” explains Jean-David Samuel, CEO of Chantier Naval Forillon, one of the largest employers in Gaspésie. .
lost workdays
The businessman estimates that he lost around fifty working days last year due to travel.
“Flying is like gambling! Are we giving up or not? We do not know ! »
The lack of planning ability also affects the implementation of major events.
“I’m the president of a festival and when the artists tell us they’re thinking of taking the plane, we’re a little wary! Also that we ask them to drive on the road because we don’t know if they will be on time, ”illustrates Joannie Francœur-Côté.
A new standing committee was set up by the government and tasked with finding solutions to improve regional air service. A first meeting took place last Tuesday.
Operations canceled for Madelinots
Photo Marie-Claude Desfossés-Paradis
Richard Arseneau, whose knee surgery was postponed because of a canceled flight.
The citizens of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine have serious problems with the flight service. In 69 days, from January 31 to March 8, 86 flights were canceled, a situation particularly affecting the health of the islanders.
Richard Arseneau missed knee surgery he had waited two years for. His flight, scheduled for the morning of January 23, was canceled due to a mechanical failure, postponed in the afternoon and canceled again, this time due to the weather. The plane did not take off the next day either.
“Flights are delayed every day. Of course I’m not alone in that! […] It’s not famous. »
staff shortage
Even professionals who travel to the archipelago for healthcare are at their wits end. dr Chantal Delorme, the only ophthalmologist on the islands, has decided to reduce her professional activities from 2024.
“I literally live in hell. It creates enormous stress for me, a lot of frustration, a lot of helplessness towards my patients. »
The Head of Professional Nursing, Dr. Jean-François Bellemare, recognizes that the stakes are high.
“We’re somewhat at the mercy and dependency of our repair doctors, so no, for certain services we don’t have the luxury of losing them. »
PASCAN Aviation attributes the current situation to the post-pandemic recovery. In addition to the difficulties in supplying parts and equipment, there is a lack of personnel. Two more SAAB aircraft should have been delivered last year.
“When we cancel a flight or delay a flight, it’s not light-hearted. […] It costs us very, very dearly. »
Air Canada was satisfied with a written response: “The vast majority of flights are operating on schedule. »
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