There are no more flights directs Mont-Joli–Montréal
It is always possible to connect Mont-Joli to the metropolis by air, but a stopover is necessary, often in Quebec or Wabush, near Fermont.
It therefore takes three to seven hours to get to Montreal by plane.
According to the chairman of the board of directors of the Mont-Joli airport intermunicipal board, Bruno Paradis, these direct links ceased to be offered by Pascan and PAL Airlines before the holidays.
However, these airlines have not announced this publicly.
Bruno Paradis foresees a loss of efficiency, especially for business people in the region.
We would like to have daily flights mainly for our business clientele who would like to go to Montreal. […] In our market research, we think we would get a very positive response. You just have to make sure you have something that is reliable and everyday
he says.
The MP for Matane-Matapédia, Pascal Bérubé, as well as the mayor of Rimouski, Guy Caron, have defined that the termination of the direct link is a blow for the region.
The member talks about a very bad news
.
A stop to be made in Quebec lengthens the duration of the journey. People will take their car if it’s not faster. It’s a loss of efficiency
deplores Mr. Bérubé.
Pascal Bérubé wants to get answers from the airlines.
How to make sure to bring back a direct link? I wish the airlines could tell us so we can work on it
he adds.
As for Air Canada, the airline stopped offering flights from Mont-Joli during the pandemic and never reactivated its service offer at this airport.
Guy Caron wants Ottawa to act to restore the connection offered by Air Canada to Montreal from Mont-Joli.
I would say that Air Canada had been wanting to get rid of this route for a while. They couldn’t until they used COVID-19 as an excuse. This is unacceptable. On a need for this link. […] Currently, the federal government is not assuming its responsibilities and is not forcing Air Canada to serve regions like ours
launches the mayor.
Radio-Canada tried to reach the leaders of Pascan and PAL Airlines on Sunday but was unable to speak to them.
Mont-Joli airport says it is waiting for the new director general to take office at the end of January to question airline managers about the end of this direct link to Montreal.
With information from Marie-Christine Rioux