Hope Air

Medical Travel Assistance

Open Skies Podcast: Flying for a Cause- The Story of
Hope Air’s Life-Changing Mission

Hope Air’s Chief Hope Officer Mark Rubinstein had the opportunity to speak with Open Skies about Hope Air’s mission: ensuring that all Canadians, regardless of financial means or geographic location, have access to life saving medical care.

On this episode, Mark shares stories with Chris Glass, host of Open Skies Podcast, about Hope Air, how and why we were founded in 1986, starting with just 15 flights for patients in need to now facilitating over 45,000 travel arrangements annually across Canada.

About the episode

In this episode of The Open Skies Podcast, host Chris Glass sits down with Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer of Hope Air, to discuss the organization’s incredible mission: ensuring that all Canadians, regardless of financial means or geographic location, have access to essential medical care. With a network of commercial airline partners and volunteer pilots, Hope Air provides free flights, accommodations, and travel support for those who would otherwise face insurmountable barriers to receiving medical treatment.

Mark shares the inspiring history of Hope Air, from its humble beginnings in 1986 with just 15 flights to now facilitating over 45,000 travel arrangements annually. He also delves into the challenges of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of partnerships with airlines like WestJet and Porter, and the growing demand for services as healthcare access disparities widen. This is an eye-opening conversation about the unseen side of air travel—the life-saving journeys happening every day, thanks to the generosity of donors, volunteers, and the aviation industry.

We acknowledge that we live and work on the unceded, traditional territories of many Indigenous peoples. We are grateful for the privilege of being on lands that these peoples have nurtured since time immemorial.