Summary

  • Quebec’s government decision to cut back on air travel subsidies has led to reduced operations and job layoffs at Pascan Airlines, potentially isolating specific communities.
  • Previous attempts by the government to boost tourism through subsidized flights have failed, and most carriers have already recovered or exceeded their pre-pandemic traffic levels.
  • Pascan Aviation, the sole fixed-based operator at Montreal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport, operates 12 aircraft and serves up to 10 destinations in Quebec, including Labrador and the Magdalen Islands.


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Quebec’s government decision to cut back on air travel subsidy schemes across the French-speaking province has resulted in the Quebecois carrier warning of reduced operations and laying off staff.

This could mean isolated communities become even cut off, as the carrier would need to axe flights to “certain regions which are not financially viable.”

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Post-pandemic blues

The Quebec government had offered aid to airlines operating to a deficit from the pandemic in a ploy to provide financial stability to maintain services to northern Canada. Pascan Airlines supports services to destinations including Labrador, the Magdalen Islands, and the Lower North Shore (which encompasses the northern side of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence).

The Quebecois government had approved ten million Canadian dollars (7.27 million) within its 2023-2024 budget in hopes of renewal of the scheme. However, most recently, it was decided for the fund not to be extended. Much to the disappointment of many, including Parti Québécois MP Joël Arseneau, who reiterated to broadcasters what the reduction of services could mean for the region:

“The Legault government is completely abandoning the regions and its duty to help airline services in our regions. We’re completely isolated on the Magdalen Islands and entirely dependent on maritime or airline services.”

Previous Quebec governments and parties have continued attempts to boost tourism with subsidized flights, have ultimately failed, and the current provinces transport minister, Geneviève Guilbault, noted that most carriers have ‘bounced back’ post-pandemic, as reported by ch-Aviation:

“The province’s transport minister said airlines had bounced back since the pandemic, and “two years later, most carriers have recovered or exceeded their pre-pandemic traffic levels.”

Earlier this year, the government had already decided to reduce the funding for CA$500 ($363) by over 30% for travel across the 2023-2024 calendar. However, it has been made clear the fund has since had further cuts.

Connecting Quebec and Labrador

9736140 Canada Inc, more commonly known as Pascan Aviation, operates predominantly from its hub at Montreal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport (YHU) and is the sole fixed-based operator at the airport. Its home airport is 16 km (9.9 mi) from Montreal’s city center, the world’s second-largest French-speaking city.

Transport Canada reports that the airline operates 12 aircraft, which consist of six Saab 340Bs (accommodating up to 33 passengers) and six Jetstream 32s (for up to 16 passengers). As of February this year, as reported by Simple Flying, the airline was the fourth largest operator of the 340B variant.

Read more: 40 Years Of The Saab 340: Today’s Biggest Passenger Operators.

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Photo: Noahthepilot | Wikimedia Commons

The airline was founded in 1999 by Serge Charron, and fast forward to today. The independent regional airline now serves up to 10 destinations across Quebec, including Baie-Comeau, Bonaventure, Gaspé, Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Mont-Joli, Montréal–Trudeau, Montreal Saint-Hubert Longueuil, Quebec City, Saguenay, and Sept-Îles, in addition to Wabush, Labrador, which also serves the neighboring city of Fermont, Quebec.

Sources: ch-Aviation

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