Flights between St. John’s, Gander and Deer Lake will run four days a week from June 15 to Sept. 20 as part of a new interprovincial air service in NLAuthor of the article: Gary Kean • The TelegramPublished May 01, 2025 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 6 minute readDeer Lake Regional Airport will be busier this summer as it will be part of a new interprovincial air service that also includes Gander and St. John’s, running from June 15 to Sept. 20. Photo by CAMERON SOUCYIt was news that the tourism industry in Newfoundland and Labrador had been waiting for, and it came just as the peak season was about to hit.The provincial government has entered into a new agreement with PAL Airlines to establish an interprovincial air travel loop between St. John’s, Gander and Deer Lake.The new routes will run seasonally, four days per week, from June 15 to Sept. 20, 2025. The connections are aimed at driving tourism and economic growth by providing travellers — whether out-of-province tourists or residents — with more flexible options for connecting flights at all three airports, whether they are arriving, exploring the province or preparing to depart.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe 2025 provincial budget allocated $15 million for tourism marketing and air access, and the province said this partnership is a part of that air access development with airport and airline partners.“It’s a valuable step forward for improving travel convenience and strengthening our tourism industry, Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation Minister Steve Crocker said in a news release announcing the new service on Tuesday, April 29.Not easy getting aroundMore interprovincial flight access is one thing that the Shorefast Foundation, which operates Fogo Island Inn, has wanted for a long time.Its operators often hear from guests at the luxury hotel wishing there was an easier way for them to fly from relatively nearby Gander to Deer Lake, so they can take in the natural beauty of Gros Morne National Park, or to St. John’s to check out everything the capital city and surrounding area have to offer.“We’re very excited about it for our business, in particular, but we really see this as an investment in community economic development … If you have healthy community economies, that turns into a healthy provincial economy,” Susan Cull, Shorefast’s executive vice-president, said during an interview with The Telegram.Article content“A lot of people are coming here on vacation and they want to see the province in its entirety, but it’s not the easiest province to get around in.”Cull said Fogo Island Inn has been relying on one flight to Gander from Halifax, and folks who fly into either Deer Lake or St. John’s are challenged to find their way to central Newfoundland so they can visit Fogo Island and the entire region.Some people, she said, are simply choosing not to come to NL at all because of the issues with being able to fly around within the province.“It’s not just about travel within the province … having this triangle flight will enable more people to get to the province as well,” she said. Fogo Island Inn is a luxury hotel that caters to world travellers, with its profits directed back to the local community through various projects and programs headed up by the Shorefast Foundation that built and operates the inn. Photo by Virginia MacdonaldHopes for expansionCull hopes the service does well and can be expanded to other parts of the province, including St. Anthony — which is near the popular Norse tourist site at L’Anse aux Meadows — or to Labrador.“The more we can invest in access for all the communities in the province, the better off we’ll all be,” she said. “Having air access is really critical for the economy of a lot of places and certainly anywhere where there’s a heavy investment in tourism. It’s incredibly important.Article content“Certainly, the Northern Peninsula and that area would benefit, so we’d absolutely love to see it (expand to there).”‘Great opportunity’The service is also being warmly received by Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador (HNL), the provincial tourism industry association that has been advocating for better air access for years.Craig Foley, HNL’s executive director, hopes this addition to travel options will enhance other new flight services like the ones soon starting between St. John’s and Dublin, London-Gatwick and Paris and between Deer Lake and Toronto.“We’re looking at this as a great opportunity and we’re hoping that it will help ensure visitors to Newfoundland and Labrador get around in a more efficient manner,” he said in an interview. Craig Foley is the executive director of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador. CONTRIBUTED‘More options to build itineraries’PAL Airlines said it understands how important connectivity is to travellers of all types and is looking forward to making this partnership successful.“This new route enhances our schedule, giving passengers even more options to build itineraries that best meet their needs,” Calvin Ash, PAL Airlines president, stated in the government news release.Article contentThe St. John’s International Airport Authority called the announcement a meaningful step toward enhancing interprovincial travel.“Our mission is proudly connecting Newfoundland and Labrador with the world and that includes strengthening connections within our own province,” Dennis Hogan, the authority’s chief executive officer, said in the release.“This new service will greatly benefit residents by improving air access and open new opportunities for visitors to explore more of what our province has to offer.”Improving access to Labrador and beyondThe provincial government noted in its prepared statements that it continues to communicate with Labrador airport partners on options to improve air access to that part of the province and continues with its advocacy to the federal government regarding the burden of federal fees, charges and other taxes that place a strain on passengers, airlines and airports.“This is a positive move in the right direction in terms of expanding air access within the province,” said Premier Andrew Furey.Article content“The more successful this seasonal service is, the more we can look toward the future and further route development options. We respect the concerns coming from the Labrador region and continue to work with Labrador airport partners on options for expanded access between Labrador and the island.”Up to the market nowFoley would also like to see more access to elsewhere in the province, but acknowledged improvements will come one step at a time and it’s now up to the marketplace to determine what’s working.“We’re constantly in a balance between supply and demand and, as the demand grows, we know that we can get the supply,” he said.“It’s always a business decision for any transportation provider, how they respond to that demand. But, certainly, I think demand is what’s required so that they respond to that.”There are other issues affecting interprovincial travel, noted Foley, including improving access and capacity for vehicular traffic via Marine Atlantic and improving the vehicle rental and sharing services that are available for visitors looking to explore destinations far beyond the airports.Article content“We do need to get people around to enjoy all that the province has to offer throughout the entire province … The more options we have to offer, the better a destination we’ll be,” he said.Read More Places to go: NL tourism eyeing busy season as anti-American sentiment adds province to many travel bucket lists Dreaming big: Can NL use its bountiful resources to become the best version of itself? Architects of collaboration: Fogo Island Inn exemplifies how place-based economic development in NL can work What are others saying about the new interprovincial air service?“For visitors, this means less time in transit, and more time in Twillingate or Tilting. There’s also the added benefit of more options and capacity that connect to robust legacy airline networks, especially at peak periods when seats are scarce.” — Reg Wright, Gander International Airport president and CEO“Deer Lake Regional Airport welcomes the new triangle route, increasing connectivity between St. John’s, Gander and Deer Lake for visitors and business travellers. This new route will allow more people to access our beautiful region for leisure and business and demonstrates the Provincial Government’s commitment to enhancing air access for our province.” — Tammy Priddle, Deer Lake Regional Airport Authority president and CEO,“The vastness of our geography is often underestimated by guests when planning travel to see the iconic landmarks and experience amazing nature-based activities. Guests want to maximize their time exploring and discovering new places. These flights give our visitors greater access to explore more of the province in a timely and efficient manner. This ultimately means more time in communities and more time to fall in love with this place we call home.” — Jill Curran, owner of Maxxim VacationsArticle content
Wheels up: NL hopes to boost tourism, economy with new interprovincial flight routes
