The Honourable Paul Oram, Minister of Business, today
announced the release of a report on air transportation in the province.
The report, titled Setting Direction: Study of Air
Transportation, Newfoundland and Labrador, was prepared for the
Provincial Government by Atlantis Aviation Consulting in partnership
with Aviation Strategies International, with the purpose of identifying
potential opportunities to encourage greater air transportation capacity
and enhanced levels of service for passengers and cargo to and from the
province.
"Air access is a key factor affecting quality of life
and economic competitiveness," said Minster Oram. "As a province, we
must continue to explore opportunities that might enhance air
transportation capacity in Newfoundland and Labrador, from the point of
view of tourism, business and leisure passenger travel as well as cargo
transport."
The report contains six recommendations that are
focused on the potential for increasing air transportation capacity in
Newfoundland and Labrador based on the province�s existing strengths in
airport infrastructure, routes, and airline partnerships, as well as by
investing strategically in activities and economic sectors that would
support increased capacity.
The Provincial Government will continue to assess the
recommendations put forward in the report. As part of this process,
community, business, economic development, aviation industry and other
stakeholders are invited to provide comments on the report and its
recommendations to the Provincial Government.
"This study includes insight and input from key users
and providers of air transportation services in Newfoundland and
Labrador," said the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation
and Works. "That insight is of critical use as government considers ways
to improve air access in our province."
Delivering this report fulfills a commitment made by
the Williams Government to explore ways to encourage more air
transportation capacity and more direct and frequent air services in
Newfoundland and Labrador.
"Our government is committed to
identifying balanced, workable measures that address air access needs
from a province-wide perspective," said Minister Oram.
Setting Direction: Study of Air Transportation,
Newfoundland and Labrador can be found at
//www.business.gov.nl.ca/publications.asp.
Those wishing to submit comments on the report are
asked to do so by April 3, 2009 by e-mail at
business@gov.nl.ca or by
mail to: Department of Business, c/o Air Transportation Study,
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, P.O. Box 8700, St. John�s, NL,
A1B 4J6.
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