The Bathurst Regional Airport is expanding service to Quebec at the end of the month as it adds a new airline. Propair will begin operating flights from Bathurst, N.B., to Montreal and Quebec City, with connections to Ottawa, Sudbury and Rouyn-Noranda, starting Jan. 31. The airline will begin with seven flights weekly from Bathurst to Montreal. Four of these will be non-stop, while three will have a short stop in Quebec City. Flights will increase to 14 per week by the middle of March, with plans to expand to 21 flights weekly during the summer, if there is enough demand. “Flight access is a critically important component of regional economic development,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Gilles LePage, who is also minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation, in a news release Tuesday. “The addition of Propair flights will provide new options for business travellers making connections, as well as visitors looking to explore the region.” The service will use an 18-seat Beechcraft 1900 aircraft. The average cost of a one-way ticket is expected to be between $300 and $350. “We are very excited to bring this new air service to Bathurst,” said Justin Lemieux, general manager of Propair. “Our goal is to provide reliable, efficient and affordable regional air travel. Bathurst has strong potential, and we are confident that this route will meet the needs of both business and leisure travellers while strengthening connectivity within Eastern Canada.” The New Brunswick government says it’s spending up to $500,000 to support new passenger air services in the province. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
