Pascan plans to start service out of Kingston in March 2022. (Photo: Pascan Aviation, Owen Fullerton)

— By Owen Fullerton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, YGK News

Kingston will become the first Ontario location for Quebec based airline Pascan Aviation early next year.

Three flights per day during the week and two on the weekend will come in and out of Norman Rogers Airport, providing service 365 days a year out of Kingston.

In a news release, Mayor Bryan Paterson said he’s thrilled to welcome Pascan to the city.

“Air service has been impacted across the globe as a result of the pandemic and Kingston was no exception,” Mayor Paterson said.

“I applaud the outstanding efforts of airport staff and community partners in helping to bring air service safely back to the community.”

Pascan has to this point served 11 different destinations in Saint-Hubert, Dorval, Quebec City, Bagotville, Mont-Joli, Bonaventure, Magdalen Island, Baie-Comeau, Sept-Iles, Gaspe and Wabush in Labrador.

The airline operates six 33-seat SAAB340B+ aircraft and six 19-seat Jetstream32 aircraft, that co-owner and Executive Vice President Yani Gagnon says are “well designed for Canadian winters”.

Gagnon says the airline focuses on servicing regions, but also links to major hubs like Montreal and benefits from interline agreements with Air Canada and newly with Air Transat, allowing passengers from regional airports to link within the network of larger carriers.

He says the service is similar to what Kingston would have been used to with Air Canada’s prior services which were cut amid the pandemic.

“Somewhat close to what Air Canada was doing at one point in time but instead of linking Kingston to Pearson we’re linking Kingston to Trudeau or Dorval,” Gagnon said.

“Mind you the access in Montreal is somewhat easier than Pearson.”

He added that the fares should be slightly lower than what was seen under Air Canada, and the more these flights are utilized the better fares can be expected to be.

Kingston airport manager Aron Winterstein says the airport is excited to welcome Pascan Aviation, and added that he too thinks the fees for travelling by air could be less prohibitive for Kingstonians.

“The fees are just being finalized now but I think they’re going to be more competitive than they were before,” Winterstein said.

“Montreal is a less expensive airport to operate and I think that’s going to reflect in the fares as well.”

Winterstein added that the schedule as set, with a morning, midday and evening flight, could adapt based on demand as time goes on.

Pascan Aviation will start service out of Kingston in March 2022.