The resumption of a direct flight from St. John’s to Gatwick London in the spring is drawing serious questions from people who must travel, at high cost, within this province.

Noreen Careen of Labrador West told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly, air travel in and out of Labrador is uncertain and expensive.

She says last Tuesday she left her home for the airport at 10:15 a.m. for business meetings. By 4:30 p.m., she was back home after waiting at the airport all day only to find out the flight was cancelled. The cost of the ticket to the island was $1,700.

She says the high cost of air travel and a downgrade in service is having a tremendous impact on the region—especially for seniors.

A travel subsidy is provided for those who must travel to St. John’s or elsewhere on the island for medical appointments, but Careen says the cost is still too high, and fundraisers are a regular occurrence. She says she’s getting regular calls from people still waiting to get reimbursed through the program.

She says in the last month she’s received at least five calls from people have “major issues” trying to get reimbursed for their medical travel expenses.