YYC will finally get a runway with centreline lighting when the new 34R/16L is built. I wonder if they will upgrade 34L/16R at some point?

NavCanada has indicated that 34L/16R will be getting a new ILS system in conjunction with the parallel runway going in.

http://www.navcanada.ca/DirectRoute/Story_6_en.html

New O.C.-Canada flights coming from WestJet

By GARY A. WARNER
Register Travel Editor

http://www.ocregister.com/travel/ser...ort-wayne.html

Westjet did a proving flight down there a month or so ago, so this wasn't too surprising to us avgeeks. What was surprising was how quick they were to announce service from both YVR and YYC.

^ They keep taking new deliveries, I guess they pretty much have to announce new service unless availability is failing much as airframes age.

Anyone been on one of their new interiors yet? The new monitors are wide screen it looks like - I have to wonder if touch screen as well?

Old:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MlcIJtVqC0...YM/s400/15.jpg
Source:http://airplane-pics.blogspot.com/20...r-picture.html

New:
http://www.airlinefan.com/photos/mem...wm_2094196.jpg
Source: http://www.airlinefan.com/airline-ph...oeing/737-700/

airport geeks might like this - its a site that um analyzes carpets in airports

http://www.carpetsforairports.com/

That a site like that exists, while not surprising, is astounding nonetheless.

I've been on one, the new bigger screens are nice. The controls are still on the armrests.

It's always fascinating to check out the "Trip Reports" section of airliners.net:

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/

I love my planes and flying, but the level of detail most of those reports go into is just crazy. However quite a lot of them are flights in business or first class, so it is really cool to see how those sections compare to good ol'cattle class in the back.

Not to be a grammar Nazi, but it can't be both "not surprising" and "astounding".

Article in The Herald today about the expansion project for YYC:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/to...437/story.html

Too bad our airport traffic in Winnipeg is actually shrinking.....

YVR reported full 2010 passengers stats a couple of days ago.

2010 total: 16,779,709
2009 total: 16,179,312

Growth of only 3.7%, not too good.

It's no where near the 2008 high of of nearly 17.9 million. Most other major airports in Canada have at least matched their 2008 numbers while 1-2 might be posting an all time high.

Quebec City (YQB) grew by 15% in 2010.

2009: 1 035 000
2010: 1 190 000

This is because of all the people heading down to Grand Forks to take advantage of cheaper airfare. If it weren't for this, Winnipeg would have much higher passenger counts. And the "shrinkage" is of very minimal amounts anyways; it's more stable than anything else.

Same thing in happening with regards to Vancouver and Abbotsford's airports. This is the disadvantage of living close to the border. But like everything else, this trend won't last forever.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story...r-flights.html

St Johns is in the running for flights to Greenland.

Things are back on track in Ottawa after a slight dip in 2009 due to the recession. Numbers for the last 5 years:

2006-3,807,756
2007-4,088,528
2008-4,339,225
2009-4,232,831
2010-4,473,894

Moving ever closer to the elusive 5M mark that will move us from a small airport to a medium-size one.

Along with the parking structure expansion (almost complete), Ottawa will be renovating and expanding our international arrivals area. It's the one area I don't think they did a very good job with when they built the new terminal so it is a welcome change.

Interesting I never heard anything about that.