Province Applauds Icelandair Flight

TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS Province Applauds Icelandair Flight

A fourth weekly flight to Halifax for Icelandair is "wonderful news" for Nova Scotia, Transportation and Public Works Minister Ron Russell said today.

Two days after Russell met with federal Transport Minister David Collenette, the announcement was made yesterday in Ottawa. Details on when this service will begin have yet to be finalized.

"Icelandair, tourism industry officials and the province have worked hard to secure this fourth weekly flight," Mr. Russell said. "It's a unique service that further cements Halifax International as the airport gateway to Atlantic Canada."

Tourism and Culture Minister Rodney MacDonald said when the service began in 1996, Icelandair opened Nova Scotia to a brand new tourism market. Millions of dollars have been pumped into the Atlantic region economy since then, and the fourth weekly flight is expected to generate another $4 million a year for the tourism and retail sectors in Nova Scotia alone.

"Air travel is the fastest growing and highest spending segment of our tourism industry," Mr. MacDonald said. "We've been partnering with Icelandair on joint marketing initiatives to attract visitors, and our efforts continue to generate significant economic returns."

Mr. Russell said his federal counterpart's decision to permit a fourth weekly flight is an important one for Nova Scotia.

"We have to take advantage of every opportunity to ensure a growing, healthy and competitive air travel market," he explained. "We are pleased with this announcement and we hope the federal government will continue to show flexibility on this issue in future."

Mr. Russell said Ottawa should have been more adaptable and provided the option for five weekly flights or more on the Icelandair service. A fifth flight would further invigorate tourism and help make the service more viable for Icelandair.