Minister responds to Air Nova's fall schedule announcement 

Works, Services and Transportation Minister Percy Barrett has reviewed the fall/winter schedule for Air Nova operations in Newfoundland and Labrador announced by the regional carrier yesterday. He is relieved all airports in the province will continue to be served by Air Nova with no major reductions in schedules.

"I'm pleased Air Nova is keeping this year's schedule similar to last year's and that we won't see the significant cuts in service being experienced by other parts of the country," said Barrett. "With the exception of the discontinuance of the Deer Lake to Gander route, which is unfortunate, all other routes have continued service. Some will operate with smaller aircraft but with increased frequencies."

Air Nova's service from Deer Lake to Gander will be discontinued, however, flights from Gander to Halifax will be serviced via St. John's or Stephenville. A new daily Dash 8 service from Gander via Stephenville onto Halifax has been added.

No reduction in the number of flights to Labrador is anticipated. One proposed change in service would see a direct daily flight from Deer Lake to Wabush. The current stop in Happy Valley-Goose Bay will be eliminated. Service from Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Wabush will be available on weekends only.

Two BAe 146 jet flights from Deer Lake to Halifax will be replaced with three daily Dash 8 aircraft service. Dash 8 aircraft are smaller turbo prop aircraft.

The number of daily Beech 1900 flights from Gander to St. John's will increase from five to six.

There is no anticipated change in service from St. John's to Halifax until the BAe 146 aircraft are retired in January 2002.

"Air Canada has yet to release its schedule, but I have written CEO Robert Milton and requested service not be reduced. Air Nova has demonstrated they believe the demand exists in this market. I'm hoping Air Canada will follow the lead of Air Nova and not make significant reductions to service in Newfoundland and Labrador, which would be extremely detrimental to our economy," said Barrett. "My department will continue to closely monitor the province's air service and whether or not capacity problems arise from these changes."

Media contact: Lynn Evans, Communications, (709) 729-3015.

2001 10 10                                4:00 p.m.