Hamilton International Airport

[JakeLRS]

Originally Posted by YYCguys

Hamilton has sort of branded itself as a low cost carrier hub so I don’t think AC or Porter would fit in there. AC and Porter are going after business travellers who like to be pampered. Hamilton is definitely not set up for that!

I have to disagree. We did have 2x daily AC service to YUL and was about to be bumped to 3x daily. It ended up getting pulled due to aircraft restraints tho, but it’s proven to have worked.

[shoelessjoe]

YVR would definitely be nice...the lack of that service is really a function of Swoop's large operation at YHM as Swoop serves YXX and not YVR. Westjet's stated strategy for Swoop has been to keep it out of its mainline hubs -- initially YYC and YVR -- and now that Westjet has deployed a strategy of building Edmonton back up, Swoop has essentially been reduced to almost no presence there. Swoop is present at YYZ owing in part to Westjet mainline reductions there -- for us to see YVR it's going to have to be something/someone other than Swoop -- it's unlikely Westjet mainline would want to compete with itself -- that leaves AC, Lynx or Flair as the likely contenders (should Flair ever chose to make an attempt to return).

[JakeLRS]

Currently flying out of YHM once again, first of many this year. Noticed some new changes since the last time I flew last August.

The Security area is now larger with 4 different screening lanes. They turned the old storage area and gallery area into the extra lane and they moved the security line out to the pre-security area.

There are now two new family-friendly washrooms in the departures lounge. Located in the area where there use to be a window that separated the lounge and the check-in area.

The departure lounge Tim Hortons line no longer starts right where security ends and now goes along the wall.

Detour has more snack offerings.

I’ve noticed the departure lounge felt a little bit cramped with two departures happening, the narrow lane of seats wasn’t very comfortable; I can imagine it’s worse during morning rushes with 3 or more departures.

The detour bar is a hot commodity but the bar area for people to enjoy their drink is relatively tight with lots of people wanting to congregate in that area. Also the two pre existing washrooms aren’t enough; only two toilets for up to 4 flights at once? Criminal.

If the airport continues to gain more flights, the departure lounge needs to be expanded.

[Innsertnamehere]

The whole airport needs to be rebuilt. Like all infrastructure in Hamilton, it’s substandard for a developed country.

[LikeHamilton]

As to washrooms, they have, at the same time they put in the family washrooms, expanded the women’s washroom to 10 stalls. They have added two water bottle filling stations outside of the women’s washroom also. Next the men’s room is getting an expansion that is supposed to start soon. They have known this was problem for a while.

[Fruitloops]

the sound system, dont forget the sound system in the departure lounge. 4th country system.

A quick tip. If you check in on line and are not checking baggage you can go directly through to security line. You will have to go to the gate prior to border to confirm your ID etc. though.

[JakeLRS]

So I did some digging on the daily departures happening this summer at YHM.

There are some schedule changes, but for the most part, this is consistent for both July/August.

YHM_Summer2023_Rev by freerealms454, on Flickr

[Fruitloops]

thanks for that, easy to read and covers all the pertinent info.

Quick fun math so assume (bad bad word) 90% capacity, and the same number of arriving flights and capacity should shake out 1.3m passengers yoy

[JakeLRS]

Originally Posted by Fruitloops

thanks for that, easy to read and covers all the pertinent info.

Quick fun math so assume (bad bad word) 90% capacity, and the same number of arriving flights and capacity should shake out 1.3m passengers yoy

If only we had the same amount of frequency year-round lol. Frequency and offerings drop exponentially after Labour Day!

[LikeHamilton]

Originally Posted by JakeLRS

So I did some digging on the daily departures happening this summer at YHM.

There are some schedule changes, but for the most part, this is consistent for both July/August.

YHM_Summer2023_Rev by freerealms454, on Flickr

Great graphic!

Everyone has to remember that for every plane that departs, one plane has to arrive. So, the number of people through the terminal per week will be double. You could see 29,000 or more people a week through the terminal.
If they could do that rate all year, we could see 1.5 million passengers per year go through the terminal.

[JakeLRS]

Originally Posted by JakeLRS

So I did some digging on the daily departures happening this summer at YHM.

There are some schedule changes, but for the most part, this is consistent for both July/August.
YHM_Summer2023_Rev by freerealms454, on Flickr

Here is a look at the preliminary summer 2024 schedule from CYHM. This is depressing.


We go from up to 14 daily departures in 2023 down to 3 during peak 2024 summer season. I'm undoubtedly anticipating westjet to upgauge aircraft on YHM-YYC, but thats all I anticipate from them. In June, YHM-YYC runs 14x weekly, but it drops to 13x weekly during the peak summer at the current moment (no 2nd friday departure).


YHM_Summer24_Early by freerealms454, on Flickr

Also to add, I think it'll be interesting to watch the price of YHM-YYC on westjet over the coming days now that Lynx is gone.
YHM-YYC one way starts at $119 (competing with now-defunct lynx)
YKF-YYC one way starts at $137 (competing with flair)
YXU-YYC one way starts at $180 (no other carrier on YYC).
YYZ-YYC one way starts at $189

[Djeffery]

That's pretty damn depressing. Where is Westjet utilizing the Swoop fleet?

[JakeLRS]

Originally Posted by JakeLRS

YHM_Summer2023 by freerealms454, on Flickr

Can't even maintain peak summer service to Halifax

Just look at the contrast between 2023 and 2024. Absolutely dreadful. I never thought Id see the day where YKF is substantially busier and they have more Westjet YYC frequency. Even London (YXU) has more YYC frequency with Westjet.

Clearly something at the airport isnt working, and I'm sure the $30 AIF is apart of that.

I don't recall a summer where we've had only 2 departures a day. I think we'd have to go back to pre-westjet era for frequency this low! Prior to swoop, WS operated YEG, YHZ, YQM daily in summer consistently. Alongside the other additions, ie. YVR in 2015 a few times weekly.

YHM_Summer24_Revised by freerealms454, on Flickr

[JakeLRS]

Originally Posted by JakeLRS

DEVELOPING: Swoop to be fully integrated into Westjet by October 2024

Source: City News
[INDENT]An agreement between WestJet and the union representing its pilots could mean the end of the budget airline Swoop.
Multiple sources tell CityNews one of the terms of the agreement between the airline and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) is that Swoop must be fully integrated into WestJet by October 2024.
In a statement to CityNews, WestJet said because the agreement is not ratified, the finals terms can’t be discussed.

Oh look, YHM not catching a break... again..

If this does happen, this could will be pretty crappy for us at YHM and we would begin to see the affects starting THIS October with Swoop losing 5 tails (even though they have about 6-7 standing idle during spring ops).

Even if Westjet carries on some of the flights, they will probably be less frequent. Look at what happened to some of the unswooped routes Westjet took over, they reduced the frequencies and are charging more per flight.

Also, with Westjet focusing on primarily the west, we might not even see half of the flights return unless they create a small base in Hamilton.

[Fruitloops]

This is a bit of a head scratcher. As pointed out Westjet wants to focus on the west.
Knowing this, is the union, by pushing this, looking to eliminate members jobs?
The fine print will be interesting.

[urban_planner]

I wouldn't stress, if the airport can provide number they would likely work on bring Flair back or trying to get Lynx to expend, heck even talk with Porter.

[mattgrande]

I'll be taking one of those Lynx flights to Calgary in late July if all goes well...

[LikeHamilton]

Megabus will begin operating daily motor coach service between downtown Toronto (Union Station Bus Terminal) and Hamilton International Airport on June 22, 2023. Travellers can pre-book their bus ticket on megabus.com or purchase tickets directly from the driver when boarding the bus in Toronto or at the Airport.

Megabus YHM by R L, on Flickr

[TheRitsman]

I don't see why they can't continue to operate as WestJet out of YHM.

Does suck if closed though. Swoop was great, and Lynx sucked.

[shoelessjoe]

Westjet is not announcing what its intention with Swoop is until the contract is ratified.

The aircraft will return to the Westjet operating certificate -- that is what is known. Whether or not they operate as Westjet or Swoop (Operated by Westjet) remains to be seen. The Swoop cabin crew are currently a separate group for the mainline Westjet cabin crew -- so there are other hurdles to be crossed. The intent is to bring the Sunwing fleet onto the WS certificate by 2025. There is a case to be made for both Swoop folding entire into WS -- or -- if they wish to continue to have a beachhead against the likes of Flair and Lynx -- maintaining the Swoop operation as a ULCC brand. We'll see.