Regional air transportation is crucial to local economic growth, the movement of goods and the connectivity of Canadians across the country. The pandemic has had major impacts on regional air transportation ecosystems, affecting communities and local businesses from coast to coast to coast.
The Government of Canada’s Regional Air Transportation Initiative (RATI), launched in March 2021, supports access to air transportation and regional ecosystems. In particular, it enables the continuation of existing air routes and ensures airports remain operational and able to contribute to regional economic growth, while adapting to new post-COVID-19 realities and requirements.
Federal government supports operating capital, establishing routes
With this in mind, Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA, today announced $3.1 million in financial support for the Charlottetown Airport Authority Inc. (CAA).
The CAA operates the Charlottetown Airport, providing secure connections to the world that help drive economic growth. This non-repayable contribution will enable it to maintain operations and essential services and continue collaborating with various carriers to maintain or re-establish routes and create flight regularity to the region, while maintaining 21 full-time jobs.
Regional air transportation is key to the economic development of communities and businesses right across Canada. It is essential to connecting Canadians living in rural and remote communities to urban centres, delivering Canadian goods to the global market and welcoming international visitors to all parts of the country, when it is safe to do so.
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“It is important to protect our regional air transportation ecosystems for the thousands of workers employed by this sector and for the many businesses and communities that depend on it. We know that air connectivity to all regions is essential to healthy, inclusive economic growth, and supporting it is part of our plan to build back a stronger, more resilient economy.”
- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA
“Through the challenges of the pandemic, we have seen unwavering resilience in every sector of our economy. Although air travel experienced an immediate and historical downturn, the staff and Board of the Charlottetown Airport Authority never waivered in their optimistic vision for the future. With investments from Transport Canada and this RATI support, the CAA will safely welcome passengers and continue its work to drive economic growth for our province.”
- Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown
“The Charlottetown Airport is an essential part of our social and business activity here on the Island. It’s important that the Airport is ready as we start to come through the pandemic, and this funding will help make sure they’re able to work through some of the impacts that the past year-and-a-half have had.”
- The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Member of Parliament for Cardigan
“The Charlottetown Airport Authority is absolutely ecstatic to be receiving this funding support through the Regional Air Transportation Initiative. YYG Charlottetown Airport is a key pillar of our community that facilitates trade, tourism, and population growth. This funding will allow us to recover more rapidly from the impacts of COVID-19 and enable YYG to continue operating safely, bringing business to our Island and allowing families and friends to reconnect again as we grow air service and rebuild connectivity. On behalf of the board and staff, I want to thank the Government of Canada for recognizing the important role that regional airports play in our collective economic recovery efforts.”
- Doug Newson, CEO, Charlottetown Airport Authority Inc.
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