The provincial government has rolled out a pilot program to increase Schedevac flights serving coastal Labrador communities, with the stated goal of reducing delays and strengthening access to health care for residents in the region.
Extra flights through the summer
Announced on Thursday by Minister of Labrador Affairs, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and Minister of Health and Community Services Lela Evans, the extra medical-transport flights began on June 20 and will operate on Mondays and Saturdays through the end of September. The added capacity is being delivered by Air Borealis under contract with Medavie Health NL as part of the province’s medical transport network.
“Improving access to health care for residents of coastal Labrador is a key priority for me,” Evans said. “With the additional Schedevac flights, we are happy to address some of the concerns of Labradorians and support improved health outcomes for the people in this region.”
Monitoring and next steps
NL Health Services will track how the supplemental flights are used and evaluate whether the pilot helps improve scheduling and reliability of services. Officials say findings from the pilot will inform any proposal for more permanent adjustments to Schedevac operations in Labrador.
The announcement was made in partnership with Indigenous governments and organisations, Medavie Health NL and NL Health Services. It accompanies other health-care investments outlined in Budget 2026, including funding for a new MRI scanner in Happy Valley‑Goose Bay and additional transitional care beds in Labrador.
What this means for coastal communities
For residents who rely on scheduled medical evacuations to access specialist appointments or hospital services, more frequent Schedevac options could reduce wait times and create more predictable travel windows. Health-service planners will be watching utilization patterns and any changes in appointment attendance or patient outcomes tied to the expanded schedule.
- Operator: Air Borealis (under contract with Medavie Health NL)
- Start date: June 20
- Days added: Mondays and Saturdays
- Pilot period: Through the end of September
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Increase capacity and reduce delays for Schedevac services in coastal Labrador |
| Monitoring | NL Health Services to assess use and guide long-term proposals |
| Related investments | MRI for Happy Valley‑Goose Bay; additional transitional care beds in Labrador |
Residents and community health partners will want to note the altered schedule and any communications from local health services about booking or cancellations. The pilot’s results, expected after the end of the trial period, will be central to decisions about longer-term changes to medical transport in the region.
