Hamilton International Airport

[JakeLRS]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

I see 14 flights a week for YYC – YHM in the schedule. Is this change still to come? Westjet is supposed to release YHM schedule on February 4 or 5th. They have changed their mind a few times already on the release date and destinations. I am predicting:

No mention of Hamilton in todays Westjets summer press release.
It could be one of the releases where they give Hamilton its own release, which I find annoying.

[Zmonkey]

Originally Posted by JakeLRS

No mention of Hamilton in todays Westjets summer press release.
It could be one of the releases where they give Hamilton its own release, which I find annoying.

It probably won't happen for 2024. We are under 90 days away for when these routes would likely start. The only new route announced this week was Deer Lake, rest were announced months ago.

While there is a chance something comes, likely scenario is nothing will be added for Summer 2024.

[LikeHamilton]

Apparently, the new date is February 15. I suspect they are putting planes on other routes that are already selling better because they were in the system 6 to 8 months ago. We will get what is left of aircraft space. If any!

[JakeLRS]

PLAY schedule update shows 5x weekly in April & May. Daily in March and June onwards

[craftbeerdad]

Selfishly and strategically WJT should add Kelowna. It's such a big tourist destination and literally the only place in Canada that's got that style of cache (amazing summer weather, nice beaches, beautiful lakes, mountains, etc).

[HamAviMech]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

Apparently, the new date is February 15. I suspect they are putting planes on other routes that are already selling better because they were in the system 6 to 8 months ago. We will get what is left of aircraft space. If any!

Is this date for what westjet will release? or that Hamilton Airport will release the summer schedule with all the airlines servicing YHM?

[JakeLRS]

Originally Posted by HamAviMech

Is this date for what westjet will release? or that Hamilton Airport will release the summer schedule with all the airlines servicing YHM?

Westjet. Usually it’ll be uploaded to OAG the weekend prior or after the announcement. If anything is posted on OAG I’ll post it here.

The airport releases their summer schedule after the airlines announce it.

[LikeHamilton]

Originally Posted by HamAviMech

Is this date for what westjet will release? or that Hamilton Airport will release the summer schedule with all the airlines servicing YHM?

Never before the airlines officially releases!

[JakeLRS]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

Apparently, the new date is February 15. I suspect they are putting planes on other routes that are already selling better because they were in the system 6 to 8 months ago. We will get what is left of aircraft space. If any!

Expect nothing less from WS. Wonder if we’ll get anything. But God forbid if another carrier jumps on our underserved routes, westjet will cry wolf and bring back the service to compete. Exact situation that happened in 2015.

[LikeHamilton]

On another note. Lynx and Flair are in talks to merge.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

On another note. Lynx and Flair are in talks to merge.

Flynx?

Given Flair's service out of Waterloo, I wonder how things will play out between the two airports. There is probably not enough market to duplicate services.

And is this a last-gasp desperation move... WestJet pulling the ripcord on Swoop says a lot. But I think they'll be quick to re-enter smaller airports if they think the younger ULCCs are making money flying out of them.

[Zmonkey]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Flynx?

Given Flair's service out of Waterloo, I wonder how things will play out between the two airports. There is probably not enough market to duplicate services.

And is this a last-gasp desperation move... WestJet pulling the ripcord on Swoop says a lot. But I think they'll be quick to re-enter smaller airports if they think the younger ULCCs are making money flying out of them.

Westjet didn't pull ripcord out of swoop. The pilot agreement changed the landscape. Swoop pilots were going to geta 25% raise increase, matching WestJet pilots. That just the model and those planes went back into the WestJet fleet.

Swoop makes no sense when major costs are the same between the two.

But from someone who knows the back end of the aviation world, a few years ago Pearson was offering lower landing fees to Flair than Hamilton. Trade off was poor gate selection and some bad flight times, but Flair didn't care. Flair went to Toronto, got a bigger market and lower costs.

Waterloo region is throwing subsidies at Flair to operate and build out there so they will remain. Flair was offered free landing fees for a year plus marketing money at Waterloo. Porter received certain breaks in Ottawa too.

Porter probably won't want a third airport in the region for a long time, so doubtful they will come to Hamilton.

Hamilton has to find a way to bring back Westjet for domestic services.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Given Flair's service out of Waterloo, I wonder how things will play out between the two airports. There is probably not enough market to duplicate services.

Someone commented in one of the other threads this is mentioned in that they see this as basically a purchase of planes and pilots by Flair, not really a merger of the airlines.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Zmonkey

Westjet didn't pull ripcord out of swoop. The pilot agreement changed the landscape. Swoop pilots were going to geta 25% raise increase, matching WestJet pilots. That just the model and those planes went back into the WestJet fleet.

Swoop makes no sense when major costs are the same between the two.

But from someone who knows the back end of the aviation world, a few years ago Pearson was offering lower landing fees to Flair than Hamilton. Trade off was poor gate selection and some bad flight times, but Flair didn't care. Flair went to Toronto, got a bigger market and lower costs.

Waterloo region is throwing subsidies at Flair to operate and build out there so they will remain. Flair was offered free landing fees for a year plus marketing money at Waterloo. Porter received certain breaks in Ottawa too.

Porter probably won't want a third airport in the region for a long time, so doubtful they will come to Hamilton.

Hamilton has to find a way to bring back Westjet for domestic services.

Thanks.

When the perks are gone, will the "new" Flair-Lynx combo survive.

I remember how much enthusiasm there was when WestJet really started to draw passengers to Hamilton and the hope was the airline would make YHM its permanent eastern hub (I recall a much larger terminal, built in phases, being in the airport master plan). But the city's dreams were once again dashed when most of the flights were shifted to Pearson, and the ambitious expansion plans were put away.

Personally I don't think we'll see major growth until Pearson can no longer grow. It may be a while.

[HamAviMech]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Thanks.

When the perks are gone, will the "new" Flair-Lynx combo survive.

I remember how much enthusiasm there was when WestJet really started to draw passengers to Hamilton and the hope was the airline would make YHM its permanent eastern hub (I recall a much larger terminal, built in phases, being in the airport master plan). But the city's dreams were once again dashed when most of the flights were shifted to Pearson, and the ambitious expansion plans were put away.

Personally I don't think we'll see major growth until Pearson can no longer grow. It may be a while.

I was told by a manager of YHM that during the last wave of growth before Swoop was announced to be absorbed, was that the management/board of YHM would not expand the terminal until it was 100% at capacity at all hours. They were trying to get the airlines to space out their times so they were not all flying at those peak times that we saw. My opinion is that Airlines see this as the airport can't handle the growth especially with more than 2 airlines with ambitious plans. We all know this and have saidnthis before but YHM needs to build a terminal to attract airlines. The city needs to cut ties with Vantage and keep the money that Vantage is taking and reinvest it into the airport. Make it "not for profit" and GTAA to take over the management of the airport.

Just saw this in the news today: Air Canada offer bus service from YHM and YKF starting in may. Just a snippet of the article below:
Landline will operate six, non-stop round trips daily to Toronto Pearson from each of the Hamilton and Region of Waterloo airports in southern Ontario. Air Canada customers beginning their journey at Hamilton or Region of Waterloo airports will check in as normal for their flight and obtain boarding passes for all segments of their trip. At a designated departure point at the local airport, they will board a luxury, Air Canada-branded motorcoach and their checked baggage will be loaded. Upon arrival at Toronto Pearson, customers will proceed directly through security screening, while checked bags will be automatically transferred to the onward connecting flight.

In the event of coach or flight delays, customers travelling on Landline will be automatically offered the same protections as customers travelling on air-only itineraries. Members of Air Canada's Aeroplan program will earn points for both ground and air segments, as on any normal connecting flight itinerary. For more information see

[SteelTown]

Here's the link to start booking via Landline. I know I'll use this service next time.

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...andline.html#/

[urban_planner]

Hamilton won't seen any further passenger growth. Fom any existing airline. Anyone one that would fly from Hamilton will just go to Toronto instead and fly with that same airline. The airlines know this is the case.

[JakeLRS]

Us: We want AC service

AC: We'll give you bus service

Us: Not that service...




Look, I hope it does well, but it seems... expensive and tedious. Also 6 daily trips? this is an ambitious start.

I did a dummy booking, YHM-YEG on June 1st
YYZ-YEG: $164
YHM-YEG: $232
Bus ride is about $70.

If you're traveling alone, I think its a decent perk, but once you start flying with multiple people, it would be way cheaper for other ways of transit to YYZ.
The only way it would be worth it is if you have someone drop you off at YHM (or HSR). YHM parking rates are absurd if you're thinking of parking at YHM for this service when it'd be cheaper to drive to YYZ and use a parknfly.

Kind of surprised they didn't try and let non AC passengers book this to try and pull in extra revenue.

I do find it cool that they'll utilize check-in counters inside the terminal. Good thing we have lots of extra's since we cant retain any airlines!!

[SteelTown]

For me, this is a great plan; my job pays for the flights. I used to take Las Vegas from Hamilton, but that route is gone, so back to Toronto. Vegas hosts most of the conferences I attend. It'll be suitable for business travellers.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by JakeLRS

Us: We want AC service

AC: We'll give you bus service

Us: Not that service...




Look, I hope it does well, but it seems... expensive and tedious. Also 6 daily trips? this is an ambitious start.

I did a dummy booking, YHM-YEG on June 1st
YYZ-YEG: $164
YHM-YEG: $232
Bus ride is about $70.

If you're traveling alone, I think its a decent perk, but once you start flying with multiple people, it would be way cheaper for other ways of transit to YYZ.
The only way it would be worth it is if you have someone drop you off at YHM (or HSR). YHM parking rates are absurd if you're thinking of parking at YHM for this service when it'd be cheaper to drive to YYZ and use a parknfly.

Kind of surprised they didn't try and let non AC passengers book this to try and pull in extra revenue.

I do find it cool that they'll utilize check-in counters inside the terminal. Good thing we have lots of extra's since we cant retain any airlines!!

On the other hand, I checked YXU-YEG and it was 250 more than just YYZ-YEG to take a plane into Toronto. But at least you are cleared through security before Toronto which has to be a plus lol.

Does Hamilton not have a shuttle service to YYZ already? London has had a company (Robert Q) doing this for years and I used to see another company out of Kitchener on the highway all the time. Smaller vans with maybe 12 or 15 people, lots of departure options, and you weren't tied to a specific airline (or even any airline if you wanted to just take them to the airport and transit to wherever else. I did this once over 30 years ago). Plus you didn't have to find your way to the airport to start with.