(August 26, 2022) – Craig Pardy, PC Shadow Minister of Tourism and MHA for Bonavista, says a lack of international air access during Come Home Year 2022 does not bode well for increased economic activity in the province in the coming years.

“During Come Home Year 2022, I have heard from many residents, tourists, and tourism operators who are disappointed in the lack of airline routes that come to our province from Europe. Routes such as the ones that connected St. John’s to Dublin, Ireland and St. John’s to London, England were cancelled before the COVID-19 pandemic began.” said Pardy.

Pardy says with recent announcements throughout our province on the future of green hydrogen, the importance of international air access will only increase.

“New business opportunities across the Atlantic means more and more people will need direct air access to our province. Whether it’s business leaders coming for meetings or investors pursuing new opportunities, air access will only become more important in the years ahead,” said Pardy.

“As a province, we need to ensure our air access can meet an increased demand.”

Pardy says our Atlantic Canadian neighbours are having great success in attracting new air routes, which risks Newfoundland and Labrador being left behind.

“Routes that used to land in Newfoundland and Labrador are now landing in Nova Scotia, with the Dublin route as one example. I am very hopeful business and tourism opportunities will only grow in the coming years – but we can’t meet the potential if our province is not internationally accessible,” said Pardy.

“I call on Minister Crocker to get the airlines back at the table so that we can restore these routes and further expand our province’s tourism potential.”

-30-

Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca