Hope Air celebrates 100,000 flights for Canadians in need

Richard Giroux and his wife Joanne make an emotional thank you to Hope Air and Porter Airlines for significantly reducing their travel time from Sudbury to Toronto for specialist doctor visits and consultations. Richard is preparing for a liver transplant.

Hope Air, the unique national charity that arranges free flights for Canadians who are in financial need and must travel to healthcare far from home, celebrated its 100,000th flight on Dec. 3.

The milestone was recognized at a press conference at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport with Ports Toronto, Porter Airlines and Hope Air officials present, among others.

Established in 1986 as Mission Aviation Fellowship, the charity has helped thousands of Canadians living in small and remote communities get to their crucial medical appointments in large centres.

Offering increased health care options for the financially challenged has proven to be a growth business. Flying 56 trips in its first year, Hope Air is now operating over 10,000 customer flights a year. Working with airlines, commercial flight operators, and in some cases volunteer private pilots, Hope Air has grown substantially since its beginning.

Hope Air’s 100,000th flight was provided to 56-year-old Richard Giroux of Hanmer, Ont., (near Sudbury). Giroux suffers from liver disease and is on the waiting list for a transplant.

He must travel from Sudbury to Toronto every few weeks to see his doctors, but because of his condition he cannot sit for long periods of time. Pain and fluid build-up make travel by car intolerable for Giroux, who must lie on a mattress in the back of the vehicle.

Through Hope Air’s charity service and its gift of flight, Giroux is able to reduce his travel time from an onerous and uncomfortable five hours by car (often longer in winter conditions) to only 45 minutes by plane. This ensures he arrives for his hospital appointments in a more rested state.

Hope Air staff (from left to right):  Allan McKee (communications assistant), Taghreed Chowdhury (client care coordinator), Johanna Kubetschka (client care and flight operations manager), Vera Kharas (development analyst), Meredith Lilly, (development coordinator).

Hope Air arranges for clients to fly with an escort, often a family member, when the client’s doctors deem it medically necessary. Giroux’s wife, Joanne, is able to accompany him to Toronto to help him manage the travel.

“It’s truly been a blessing,” she said. “We are both on fixed incomes, so flying was never an option for us due to the costs. But now, with free flights from Hope Air, so much pain, stress and hassle has been lifted.”

Hope Air executive director Doug Keller-Hobson said families like the Girouxes are why Hope Air exists.

“Our clients live long distances from the vital healthcare they need. When you’re ill, worrying about how you will manage a painful, hours-long bus ride to get specialized care is a burden that we believe Canadians shouldn’t have to bear. But for many low-income Canadians, this is a reality they face. The financial cost of being sick and getting to treatment is huge for many families and adds to an already stressful situation,” he said. 

Hope Air’s client surveys show that without the service, many clients would cancel or reschedule their appointments, postponing vital medical treatment that could have a significant impact on their health.

Hope Air’s airline partner, Porter Airlines, flies the Girouxes between Sudbury and Billy Bishop airport, close to his doctors at Toronto General Hospital.

The Girouxes departed Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on Porter Airlines flight 533 to Sudbury aboard a Bombardier Q400.

“Porter flights make it that much easier,” said Joanne. “We get off our plane in Toronto and it’s a short ride to the hospital. We couldn’t ask for more than a quick 45-minute flight and a fast taxi ride to Richard’s appointments. We are so thankful for Hope Air!”

Porter Airlines president and CEO Robert Deluce is proud to help Canadians like Giroux get to their medical appointments.

“Stories like Richard’s are why Porter has contributed to nearly 2,000 Hope Air flights in the last two years alone. We know that a flight can make a huge difference to a family in need,” he said.

Deluce is a native of Northern Ontario, and is very familiar with the challenges of living far from major centres, with limited access to medical resources. He grew up in White River, and lived in Sudbury and Timmins for 14 years. He still flies floatplanes, a legacy from his Northern youth.

Keller-Hobson is grateful for Porter Airlines’ support. “Hope Air is fortunate to have so many wonderful partners who truly believe in our mission. Porter’s dedication to helping Canadians get to healthcare is admirable and we are so thankful for their continued support,” he said.

Hope Air helps individuals from across Canada, of all ages and with any illness.

“Arranging 100,000 flights is an enormous accomplishment,” said Keller-Hobson. “We have a lot to be proud of, but there is still a lot of work to be done to make healthcare accessible to all Canadians. Hope Air will continue to do its part.”