(January 22, 2026) — For thousands of British Columbians living in rural, remote or under-served communities, timely access to critical health care depends upon one essential element: the ability to afford the costs of long-distance travel.

Hope Air announced today that it had supported 5,623 patient and escort trips for B.C. residents in 2025. This represents 21,913 medical travel arrangements comprised of over 9,300 airline flights, 5,000 nights of accommodation, 3,500 meals, and 4,000 airport ground transportation trips, all provided at no cost to patients and their medical escorts. Hope Air programs ensure that patients in financial need, can reach life-saving diagnosis and treatment far from home.

Hope Air serves residents in 230 communities large and small across the province, including communities like Terrace, Fort Nelson, Kelowna, Prince George, Fort St. John, Cranbrook, Prince Rupert, Trail, Williams Lake, and Port Hardy.

Hope Air’s programs support the most vulnerable in Canada. People facing choices between economic hardship or delaying or cancelling medical care appointments. Hope Air patients include children, seniors, people with disabilities and single parent families. Travel assistance is provided for all provincially-recognized medical conditions when diagnosis or specialty care is unavailable locally—such as treatment for cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory illness, orthopaedic care, mental health services, obstetrics, autism care, organ transplants, and paediatric conditions.

“Surpassing more than 21,900 medical travel arrangements in a single year reflects the growing and urgent need for Hope Air’s services across British Columbia,” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer. “As we enter our 40th year, Hope Air is a lifeline for thousands of people who rely on our programs to reach critical care far from home. Universal access to health care—regardless of where you live or your limited financial circumstances—is a fundamental right and commitment in Canada, that must be protected and strengthened.”

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 the cost of travel. By removing barriers of distance and expense, Hope Air helps patients in rural and under-served communities access care far from home sooner—improving health outcomes and reducing stress for families already facing medical crisis.

“My experience with Hope Air has been nothing but a miracle, it has been amazing. I don’t know what I would do without them. Without the assistance of Hope Air, Alexandria would not be able to be monitored and treated as she is as I would not be able to get her to and from all the appointments on my own. Without them I might be in a way more serious situation with my little girl. I can’t thank you enough. Thinking about it now, I may have lost her if it weren’t for your support.” Hope Air Family Alexandria and Ty – Smithers, B.C.

“For nearly 4 decades, Hope Air has been a lifeline for Northern BC residents facing the dual burdens of illness and travel. Hope Air has ensured that thousands of our citizens- including children, seniors and those with chronic conditions – can access specialized care in larger centres, like Vancouver, Prince George and Kelowna, without facing impossible finance choices” Allen Courtoreille, Mayor, District of Chetwynd.

“The work done in rural communities is crucial for the overall health of our province. Yet when rural residents have a health crisis, they often have to travel long distances at significant personal cost. This could be kids needing cancer treatments, or adults requiring surgery. Barriers to accessing care lead to worsening outcomes for patients and undue financial hardship. Hope Air provides an essential service with the goal of providing equitable access to specialty medical care for rural residents. Through their free travel support programs, Hope Air reduces barriers of distance and cost for many vulnerable people across B.C. I am incredibly grateful that Hope Air does so much to support the people who help support our province.” Dr. Darren Joneson, President, BC Family Doctors

Background Information:

Hope Air patients have an annual national median household income of $27,000 (Source: Hope Air National Patient Survey), with limited ability to pay for airline and other medical travel expenses. Majority of Hope Air patients would delay or cancel their medical appointments due to cost, leading to poor health outcomes. Without Hope Air, low-income patients would be forced into debt or deplete their savings to pay for essential travel services.

Over 1 million people in British Columbia live in rural, remote or underserved communities, where diagnosis and treatment for advanced medical specialty care is unavailable close to home. Patients and caregivers are routinely required to travel over 500km+ for treatment at hospitals in the Lower Mainland, Kelowna, Victoria, and Prince George.

Equitable access to health care is directly related to life expectancy. People living in rural or under-served communities experience significant challenges in accessing healthcare and are more likely to delay seeking treatment, due to significant travel costs, worsening their health outcomes. Delays in accessing treatment are associated with significantly worse survival rates.

The costs for a patient and their escort to travel long distance for medical treatment for cancer, cardiac, organ transplant, orthopaedic and many other health conditions can exceed $2,600 or more per trip. Over 50% of Hope Air patients require an escort to travel including children and seniors with mobility or other issues.

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.

Hope Air airline travel programs are provided in partnership with national and regional commercial airlines and airports, including WestJet, Porter, Pacific Coastal Airlines, Central Mountain Air, Harbour Air and Air Canada. In addition, Hope Air operates a seasonal volunteer pilot service that provides private small aircraft service, for patients living in rural communities with limited or no commercial service.

Hope Air airport ground transportation services are provided in partnership with Uber Canada, ensuring safe, reliable and comfortable car service from arrival airport to hospital and back.

Hope Air operations are funded through the generous support of the Government of British Columbia as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors.

People seeking support for medical travel can apply online to Hope Air at hopeair.ca or call1-877-346-4673

About Hope Air

Hope Air is Canada’s national charity providing free travel support through flights, accommodations, meals and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must access medical care far from home. Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 235,000 travel arrangements for patients regardless of age or medical need. For people living on a low income in small and rural communities, distance and cost are very real barriers to them accessing vital medical care. Hope Air is a unique and essential part of the Canadian healthcare system. For more information, visit hopeair.ca

Hope Air is accredited by Imagine Canada for best governance and reporting standards in the charitable sector.

For Further Information:
Jodi Lumsden
Director of Marketing & Communications
Tel. 647-688-5634
Jlumsden@hopeair.ca