A new report by the Goose Bay Airport Corporation has found that the price of airfare to and from Labrador has jumped by nearly three times the national average.
Happy Valley-Goose Bay Mayor George Andrews says it’s cheaper for him to fly to Costa Rica than it is to St. John’s.
“The increases for my community, Happy Valley Goose Bay, are in the 33 per cent range. And what’s even more upsetting is in Labrador West is 43 per cent. So, you know, both regions are faced with very oddly high changes in airfare since 2019. As the mayor of Happy Valley Goose Bay, I’m left shaking my head wondering why, as many residents are as well,” he said.
Perry Trimper, the MHA for Lake Melville, says residents in Labrador are beyond frustrated.
He says air transportation is crucial for medical and other essential needs.
“It’s essential that the airline industry, the airports, and the passengers are all taken care of. As it is with the wholesaler of our fuel, the retailers, and the people filling up their tanks. These are essential services for us. We can’t let sort of normal market pressures dictate how the price may occur. There needs to be some protection and some realization. And that’s everything from our regulatory world through to perhaps a consideration of subsidies,” he said.