Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW/CYOW) 1.0

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

Anybody here used the USA's CBP Mobile Passport Control app for pre-clearance out of YOW? Wasn't available last year from YOW and looks like it is now. Wondering how much it speeds things up.

I normally fill it out on my uber ride to the airport or in the lineup for security because that's dead time I can't use for anything else. Doesn't save a significant amount of time but it's easy enough to do that I always use it anyways. Although one time the QR reader at the US CBP desk couldn't scan the code on my phone so the officer had to do my declaration the regular way.

[Dominion301]

Today’s departure count: 65 - including 5 sun flights

Today’s cancellation count (so far): 1 - AC to FLL - flight replacement later this evening AC1996

It’s interesting how for the second weekend in a row there’s been one more departure on Saturday than on Sunday, which historically is not typical. The difference being the number of sun flights.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

Anybody here used the USA's CBP Mobile Passport Control app for pre-clearance out of YOW? Wasn't available last year from YOW and looks like it is now. Wondering how much it speeds things up.

According to this link, if you have NEXUS, you don’t have to use the MPC app. As a result, I have never bothered.

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

I normally fill it out on my uber ride to the airport or in the lineup for security because that's dead time I can't use for anything else.

Do you ever get a lineup at YOW transboarder security? With the reduction in direct flights from YOW, I have always had to connect since COVID, but in the past I never saw a lineup. There was a surprisingly long line a couple weeks ago for domestic travel (though none in the Verified Traveler line).

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

Doesn't save a significant amount of time but it's easy enough to do that I always use it anyways. Although one time the QR reader at the US CBP desk couldn't scan the code on my phone so the officer had to do my declaration the regular way.

Apparently as of November 9, you will no longer need to scan the QR code.

[YOWflier]

What is the purpose/benefit of this app? Whenever I preclear I’m never asked more than a few questions (where you going, what for, for how long, anything to declare) and I’m off in about 15 seconds after taking the photo. And that’s without using Nexus, which I have, but haven’t used once this year when preclearing at YOW (not needed).

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Do you ever get a lineup at YOW transboarder security? With the reduction in direct flights from YOW, I have always had to connect since COVID, but in the past I never saw a lineup. There was a surprisingly long line a couple weeks ago for domestic travel (though none in the Verified Traveler line).

The bottleneck is at the security check before US border agents. Usually about 10-15 minute lineup from my experience.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

The bottleneck is at the security check before US border agents. Usually about 10-15 minute lineup from my experience.

Yes that's what I was wondering if the MPC helped at all. Last year just the two Florida flights was enough to make the security line quite lengthy. Sounds like it's just for the actual line at Customs which isn't too bad since like you say the bottleneck is security.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Today’s cancellation count (so far): 1 - AC to FLL - flight replacement later this evening AC1996

The CUN-YOW flight Saturday evening was cancelled with a maintenance issue, and returned this afternoon. The YOW-FLL-YOW flights replacement flights that were originally scheduled for this evening on that plane were also cancelled for maintenance issues. There is a Rouge 321 ferrying in that will operate tomorrow's originally scheduled FLL flights.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

The CUN-YOW flight Saturday evening was cancelled with a maintenance issue, and returned this afternoon. The YOW-FLL-YOW flights replacement flights that were originally scheduled for this evening on that plane were also cancelled for maintenance issues. There is a Rouge 321 ferrying in that will operate tomorrow's originally scheduled FLL flights.

Seems like FIN 279 was the 319 causing all the problems.

[Ted]

Originally Posted by fanofYOW

Amazing. What does the load look like on the plane?

Full, very pleased to see the demand.

[Dominion301]

Today’s departure count: 72 - including 4 sun flights

Today’s cancellation count (so far): 0

[MountainView]

Someone on a Boston Aviation thread posted US DOT numbers for their airport routes for August 2023 (the latest DOT stat release).

Porter was:

Route | Flights | Seats | Pax | Capacity %
BOS-YOW | 62 | 4,588 | 3,233 | 70.47%

For comparison PD on BOS-YTZ was 87%

This was likely mostly local O&D before the YVR/YEG flights began from YOW.

[fanofYOW]

Originally Posted by MountainView

Someone on a Boston Aviation thread posted US DOT numbers for their airport routes for August 2023 (the latest DOT stat release).

Porter was:

Route | Flights | Seats | Pax | Capacity %
BOS-YOW | 62 | 4,588 | 3,233 | 70.47%

For comparison PD on BOS-YTZ was 87%

This was likely mostly local O&D before the YVR/YEG flights began from YOW.

That’s really good actually considering all the feed YTZ gets for this route.

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Do you ever get a lineup at YOW transboarder security? With the reduction in direct flights from YOW, I have always had to connect since COVID, but in the past I never saw a lineup. There was a surprisingly long line a couple weeks ago for domestic travel (though none in the Verified Traveler line).

Since there is only one security lane, a lineup can form pretty easily, even if there's only one TB flight departing soon. I guess it all depends on when you arrive at the airport, but since there aren't many amenities in the TB terminal, I try to leave it as late as possible to avoid having to sit around at the gate for too long.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by fanofYOW

That’s really good actually considering all the feed YTZ gets for this route.

You can start to see the 'pieces' of a potential evening "bank" from YOW on Porter.

You will have YEG/YVR + YYC arrive in the 14:45-15:30 timeframe (imagine a YWG & YYJ flight in this time period too).
And they currently connect to EWR/BOS/YTZ... in the summer with a YHZ.
If they retimed an evening YYG or moved up YQM, Porter would have a nice connection setup.

I'm still not sure how folks fly EWR/BOS back to YEG/YVR right now... every time I check it's via YOW&YTZ or YTZ+YYZ change. Something they are probably working on for S24 I would think when they keep getting additional airframes.

I wonder if YOW even has the gate space for such an operation. I know in S23, WS would have two south gates (26 and 28) and if the YEG was late pushing back, the inbound YWG or YYC would have to wait.

[fanofYOW]

Originally Posted by MountainView

You can start to see the 'pieces' of a potential evening "bank" from YOW on Porter.

You will have YEG/YVR + YYC arrive in the 14:45-15:30 timeframe (imagine a YWG & YYJ flight in this time period too).
And they currently connect to EWR/BOS/YTZ... in the summer with a YHZ.
If they retimed an evening YYG or moved up YQM, Porter would have a nice connection setup.

I'm still not sure how folks fly EWR/BOS back to YEG/YVR right now... every time I check it's via YOW&YTZ or YTZ+YYZ change. Something they are probably working on for S24 I would think when they keep getting additional airframes.

I wonder if YOW even has the gate space for such an operation. I know in S23, WS would have two south gates (26 and 28) and if the YEG was late pushing back, the inbound YWG or YYC would have to wait.

This is where that potential terminal expansion YOW is studying right now comes into play, as well as my controversial opinion that YOW should hand any carrier who has not focused here the less than desirable slots/gate space. That’s pretty bad for airline-airport relations but hey, “it’s not personal, it’s just business” which is probably the excuse AC and WS use to not serve this airport properly, so they should understand.

[Dominion301]

There’s still loads of gate space even at peak times of the day. The terminal is still down a good 30-40 departures/day from 2018-19. A gate hold leads me to believe WS’ contractor didn’t have a third ground crew available. Otherwise there’d be no point in waiting for one of the two to vacate vs a gate change.

Above 70% on YOW-BOS is excellent for mostly O&D back in August.

[MountainView]

YOW will be clearing the Hunt Club Pine Plantation in the coming weeks and marketing it for development. It's pretty prime real estate. Hopefully some industrial/logistical buildings go in, with airport uses such as distribution.

link to YOW media release

[johnnystims]

Originally Posted by fanofYOW

This is where that potential terminal expansion YOW is studying right now comes into play, as well as my controversial opinion that YOW should hand any carrier who has not focused here the less than desirable slots/gate space. That’s pretty bad for airline-airport relations but hey, “it’s not personal, it’s just business” which is probably the excuse AC and WS use to not serve this airport properly, so they should understand.

Yah so if YOW needs to expand into another terminal in partnership with Porter, they should do so. They could push our Paris+Sun international flights (as well as push for a London and Frankfurt route) into an international section and give Porter more direct slots in the US pre-clearance section with that kind of expansion.

They can distribute the original terminal for all the in Canada flights moving forward. So Terminal 1 = Canada flights, Terminal 2 expansion increases more amenities and can be expanded upon that side near the US pre-clearance side.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by johnnystims

Yah so if YOW needs to expand into another terminal in partnership with Porter, they should do so. They could push our Paris+Sun international flights (as well as push for a London and Frankfurt route) into an international section and give Porter more direct slots in the US pre-clearance section with that kind of expansion.

They can distribute the original terminal for all the in Canada flights moving forward. So Terminal 1 = Canada flights, Terminal 2 expansion increases more amenities and can be expanded upon that side near the US pre-clearance side.

Nice to dream. That’ll be quite a while though. The current terminal can easily handle 8-10 million passengers a year with the remote stands available and 10-12 million with a buildout of the 4 missing gates between 7 & 10. Even with a Porter expansion as big as what they’ve done in 2023 for 2024, it’s going to be at least 2 more years before the terminal is back to the peak of 5.1 million, let alone hitting 6 million and beyond.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by MountainView

YOW will be clearing the Hunt Club Pine Plantation in the coming weeks and marketing it for development. It's pretty prime real estate. Hopefully some industrial/logistical buildings go in, with airport uses such as distribution.

link to YOW media release

Ottawa Airport Authority announces plan to clear Hunt Club forest, saying it's all about safety

Catherine Morrison, Ottawa Citizen
Published Nov 20, 2023 • Last updated 8 hours ago • 4 minute read

The Ottawa Airport Authority (OAA) is moving forward with a plan to cut down trees from the Hunt Club Pine Plantation, despite community efforts to stop the land from being developed.

In a statement Monday, the airport authority said its decision to remove the trees was motivated by its commitment to keep the community safe given the “neglected plantation’s dangerous state.”

<more>

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...announces-plan-to-clear-hunt-club-forest