Regional air travel between Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island is set to make a comeback, thanks to a $9 million partnership between the three provincial governments, the federal government, regional airports and PAL Airlines.

Announced today (August 8), the three-year pilot program will restore daily flights connecting Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Fredericton and Moncton. Halifax will serve as the hub, with PAL Airlines basing regional aircraft in the Maritimes.

The initiative is funded jointly by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the provinces, and participating airports, with ACOA contributing $5 million, Nova Scotia $2.9 million, PEI $840,000 and New Brunswick $458,000. Flights are expected to go on sale later this year.

Officials say the move addresses years of service reductions caused by pandemic impacts and economic shifts, which left many communities without interprovincial flight options.

The project stems from a 2023 Council of Atlantic Premiers working group strategy to restore regional air service. PAL Airlines was selected through a competitive process led by provincial governments and airport authorities.