The Air Transportation Assistance Program reflects the government’s intention to:
maintain the regional service network ;
promote the expansion of air transportation by the development of new routes or new services;
improve knowledge of regional markets;
maintain a network of airports in good, safe condition;
reconcile the economic expansion of air transportation activities with the environmental challenges the industry must face.
Through this program, the government supports the eligible applicants:
by sharing the financial risk related to the start-up of new air services or the resumption of an abandoned service, when such services are deemed essential by the community;
by contributing to the performance of market studies for the implementation of a new service, to develop new niches in aviation or to find methods and procedures more respectful of the environment;
by funding a portion of the costs of infrastructure projects and projects improving access to airports.
The program has four components:
Component 1 – Maintenance of Essential Air Services
Component 2 – Improvement of Air Services
Component 3 – Studies
Component 4 – Capital Projects for Small Airports Playing an Essential Role
Component 1 – Maintenance of Essential Air Services
This component allows the government to establish an emergency plan to ensure the continuity or reinforcement of an air service that is deemed essential, while waiting for the establishment of new regular air services.
Objective
The objective of this component is to ensure the maintenance or reinforcement of an air service deemed essential for people living in Québec’s regions following the abandonment or insufficiency of a carrier’s regular services.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants are regional air carriers and local organizations.
MTQ Contribution
Budget balancing grant offered to eligible applicants during the first year of operations, up to a limit of $400,000.
Component 2 – Improvement of Air Services
This component allows the government to contribute to the creation of a fund, which will serve to support the start-up or improvement of a regular public regional air transportation service, offering a medium and long-term self-financing outlook.
Objective
Improve air services and service to Québec regions that are remote from the major urban centres of Montréal and Québec City.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants are regional air carriers and local organizations.
MTQ Contribution
Contribution up to 50% of the funds that will be used to cover the operating deficits of the air transportation service during the start-up period, up to a limit of $200,000.
Component 3 – Market Studies
This component allows the government to support the eligible applicants in their efforts to establish an air service, develop new aviation markets for the airports, or find new procedures targeting energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Objectives
Deepen knowledge of a market prior to launching a new air transportation service.
Find growth opportunities for airports.
Promote sustainable development of air transportation.
Contribute to local concerted action in planning air services offered in the region.
Eligibility
The eligible applicants are local organizations and air carriers (for the market studies targeting development of a new regular or chartered air transportation service or for research projects regarding energy efficiency or GHG emission reduction in the activities associated with air transportation ) .
MTQ Contribution
For a market study targeting the development of new regular or chartered air transportation services and for research projects regarding energy efficiency and GHG emission reduction: 75% of the cost of the study.
For a market study targeting the development of any other aviation market for Québec regional airports: 50% of the cost of the study.
The maximum amount granted to the applicant may not exceed $30,000.
Component 4 - Capital Projects for Small Airports Playing an Essential Role
This component allows the government to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants for the performance of “runway-side” infrastructure projects and projects improving access to airports.
Objectives
Ensure maintenance and improvement of airport infrastructures and equipment.
Ensure and improve airport accessibility for aircraft.
Eligibility
The eligible applicants are local organizations, non-profit organizations (NPO) and public airport operators.
The eligible “runway-side” infrastructure projects are reconditioning of runways, taxiways and aprons, and improvement of the manoeuvring area and lighting.
The eligible projects improving accessibility are acquisition of automated weather observation systems ( AWOS, LWIS, etc.) and development of approach procedures allowing use of GPS.
MTQ Contribution
For “runway-side” infrastructure projects, the MTQ’s financial contribution is established at a maximum of 30% of the eligible expenditures related to the project.
For projects improving airport accessibility for aircraft, the MTQ’s financial contribution is established at a maximum of 50% of the eligible expenditures related to the project.
The maximum amount granted to the applicant may not exceed $300,000.
Financial Assistance Application Guide
This guide was designed to help applicants to prepare and present an application for a financial contribution under the Air Transportation Assistance Program. The objectives and the eligibility criteria for the grants are presented for each component, as well as the definitions and general conditions of the program.
Specifications are provided for the financial contributions, project appraisal criteria and information required.
Grant Application Form
An applicant interested in submitting a project must fill out the grant application form and provide the information and documents required for the appropriate component.
The form is presented in PDF format. It can be completed on the screen and saved in a file. However, it cannot be transmitted online.
The application must be sent to the following address :
Service du transport aérien
Direction du transport maritime, aérien et ferroviaire
Ministère des Transports du Québec
700 Boulevard René-Lévesque Est, 24th floor
Québec, Québec G1R 5H1
Fax: 418-646-6196
Additional Information
Any requests for information should be addressed to:
Service du transport aérien
Direction du transport maritime, aérien et ferroviaire
Ministère des Transports du Québec
Telephone: 418-643-4649
Documentation
The documents are available in PDF format and must be opened using Acrobat Reader.
