Prince Edward Island (March 3, 2026) – Hope Air, a national charity providing non-emergency medical travel support to patients in financial need, requiring specialty medical care far from home, announced its record-breaking 2025 impact results in the province of Prince Edward Island. In 2025, Hope Air supported 1810 patient and escort trips for Prince Edward Island (PEI) residents, representing 5928 medical travel arrangements. This includes 314 airline flights, 1462 Confederation bridge passes, 72 ferry passes, 1538 gas cards, 1637 nights of accommodation, 797 meal vouchers, and 108 airport ground transportation trips.

Demand for Hope Air programs have increased substantially in PEI over the last three years. Hope Air delivered 17% more travel arrangements in 2025 than in the prior year, and more than 3.3 times the number of travel arrangements as compared to just 3 years earlier in 2022.

For thousands of Islanders, timely access to critical health care depends upon one essential element: the ability to afford the costs of long-distance travel. Hope Air’s travel support is booked in advance at no cost to patients, removing barriers of distance and expense. In 2025 Hope Air served residents from communities across the province, including patients from O’Leary, Summerside, Borden-Carleton, Stratford, and Montague driving via bridge or ferry to Halifax, Moncton or Saint John, NB or patients flying from Charlottetown to Montreal or Toronto.

Through a long-standing partnership with the government of PEI, Hope Air delivers programs to support equitable access to healthcare, for those in financial need and required to travel long distances to reach specialty medical care.

“Hope Air was launched 40 years ago, inspired by the need of so many vulnerable Canadians, including those living in communities across PEI, who are unable to afford the costs of long-distance travel to reach critical medical care unavailable at home.” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer. “We are grateful for the commitment of the government of Prince Edward Island, and to generous corporate, foundation and individual donors, to ensure that everyone receives access to the best health care possible.”

“Without Hope Air, we would have been forced to dip into the savings set aside for our infant’s future education or a future home due to the frequent need to travel and take time off work,” explains Katie, mother to Hope Air Patient Elliot from Summerside, PEI who required regular treatment at the IWK Hospital in Halifax from birth. “We are very grateful for the financial support that they have provided us to help us get the best treatment/resources for our son.”

“When travel is necessary to access specialized medical care, Hope Air provides financial support to those who need it the most,” said Minister of Health and Wellness, Cory Deagle . “We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Hope Air, which helps reduce stress for individuals and families facing a medical crisis, improves health outcomes and expands equitable access to care.”

Background Information:

Founded in 1986, Hope Air enters its 40th year of service with a singular mission: ensuring equitable access to health care for Canadians who would otherwise be unable to afford travel costs.

Hope Air programs are provided to eligible individuals and families 100% free of cost, including roundtrip airline tickets, hotel accommodations, meals, and airport ground transportation. All travel expenses are paid for in advance by Hope Air, with all travel bookings (and any required changes) managed by Hope Air staff.

Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 250,000 travel arrangements across the country for patients regardless of age or medical need. For people living on a low income in rural and underserved communities, distance and cost are very real barriers to accessing vital medical care. Hope Air is a unique and essential part of the Canadian healthcare system.

Travel assistance is provided for all provincially recognized medical conditions when diagnosis or specialty care is unavailable in the patient’s community, such as treatment for cancer, cardiovascular disease, organ transplants, pediatric conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, reproductive disorders, and many more.

The average median gross household income of a Hope Air patient is $30,000. Hope Air’s programs support low-income and vulnerable individuals and families, including children, seniors, people with disabilities and single-parent families.

Over 50% of Hope Air patients require an escort to travel, including children and seniors with mobility or other issues. Many patients travel more than once.

Without Hope Air, low-income patients would be forced into debt or deplete their savings to pay for essential travel services. Nearly half of Hope Air patients nationally say they would delay or cancel their medical appointments due to cost, leading to poor health outcomes.

Hope Air patients report a 36% decrease in hospital admissions and 27% decrease in emergency room visits, due to timely access to medical diagnosis and treatment provided through Hope Air travel programs.

Equitable access to health care is directly related to life expectancy. Delays in accessing treatment are associated with significantly worse survival rates.

Hope Air is accredited by Imagine Canada, which recognizes exemplary governance and reporting standards in the charitable sector.

People seeking support for medical travel can apply online to Hope Air at hopeair.ca or call 1-877-346-4673.

Interview Opportunities Available.

Hope Air Media Contact:
Jodi Lumsden
Director of Marketing & Communications
Jlumsden@hopeair.ca