Atlantic Canada airport thread

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by J81

Porter is not the same as swoop or flair. This is an odd statement as Porters service is head and shoulders above Flair or Swoop when it operated.

When Porter operated out of YSJ there was nothing that put them head or shoulders above Flair or Swoop. Did they have more available flights or something? I usually just went with whatever was the cheapest and most convenient.


The full service airlines need more competition like Porter, but ULCC are the real game changers, imo.

Flair is cheaper to fly round trip Saint John to Orlando than Porter for a round trip between Fredericton and Ottawa. That’s all I’m saying, with regards to Porter not being as good of a value.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

When Porter operated out of YSJ there was nothing that put them head or shoulders above Flair or Swoop. Did they have more available flights or something? I usually just went with whatever was the cheapest and most convenient.


The full service airlines need more competition like Porter, but ULCC are the real game changers, imo.

Flair is cheaper to fly round trip Saint John to Orlando than Porter for a round trip between Fredericton and Ottawa. That’s all I’m saying, with regards to Porter not being as good of a value.

It depends on your use case. The ULCCs tend to fly few routes, don't have many connections available, and often don't have daily service. So if they happen to have flights that work for you, great.

[Pugsley]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

The full service airlines need more competition like Porter, but ULCC are the real game changers, imo.

Oh yeah, the ULCC's in Canada are the bomb when it comes to fixing our air service issues. My favourite is Canjet.

Oh wait, nevermind.

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

Oh yeah, the ULCC's in Canada are the bomb when it comes to fixing our air service issues. My favourite is Canjet.

Oh wait, nevermind.

While I understand your point, CanJet was not a ULCC.

[Pugsley]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

While I understand your point, CanJet was not a ULCC.

"CanJet was a Canadian low-cost air carrier headquartered in Enfield, Nova Scotia and based at Halifax International Airport. In addition to initially flying scheduled passenger service, CanJet operated charter flights using its own brand as well as flying contract and ad hoc charters for other tour operators and airlines throughout Canada and the United States. CanJet was wholly owned by IMP Group International and had 572 employees as of March 2007. The airline ceased operations in 2015."

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

"CanJet was a Canadian low-cost air carrier headquartered in Enfield, Nova Scotia and based at Halifax International Airport. In addition to initially flying scheduled passenger service, CanJet operated charter flights using its own brand as well as flying contract and ad hoc charters for other tour operators and airlines throughout Canada and the United States. CanJet was wholly owned by IMP Group International and had 572 employees as of March 2007. The airline ceased operations in 2015."

I don't see the word ultra there.

[J81]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

When Porter operated out of YSJ there was nothing that put them head or shoulders above Flair or Swoop. Did they have more available flights or something? I usually just went with whatever was the cheapest and most convenient.


The full service airlines need more competition like Porter, but ULCC are the real game changers, imo.

Flair is cheaper to fly round trip Saint John to Orlando than Porter for a round trip between Fredericton and Ottawa. That’s all I’m saying, with regards to Porter not being as good of a value.

Daily flights, free booze, no charge carry on baggage and connections to the rest of their network to name a few. Lol

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by J81

Daily flights, free booze, no charge carry on baggage and connections to the rest of their network to name a few. Lol

Totally, but for getting to Toronto and back, the only time I’ve ever taken Porter, didn’t really notice any difference.

It’s still not a great value compared to the ULCC’s, which is all I’m sayin’

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Totally, but for getting to Toronto and back, the only time I’ve ever taken Porter, didn’t really notice any difference.

It’s still not a great value compared to the ULCC’s, which is all I’m sayin’

Horses for courses. ULCC's work for leisure travelers with a flexible schedule, wanting to fly one point to point leg at the best price possible.....who are willing to accept a lower level of service and a higher possibility of delayed or cancelled flights. They obviously aren't for all air travelers (or even most).

The number one focus for YSJ should be to get another "regular" airline in here who will force AC to compete on price and schedule.

The only possible candidate, given Westjet's decision to focus on the west, is Porter. .....and that's assuming that their major expansion designed to transform the airline into one serving routes across North America doesn't crash and burn.

[cliff2121]

Originally Posted by J81

Daily flights, free booze, no charge carry on baggage and connections to the rest of their network to name a few. Lol

Porter actually does charge for carry on bags, in that they are not included in their Basic fare, so you usually need to pay $20-40 more if you want that benefit.

Free checked bags for active/retired meilitary, though, which is a nice perk... (like AC and WJ).

[Bishop2047]

June 4th is the first day of Fredericton's additional flight to Ottawa (continuing to Toronto). This is a permeant route. Meaning that Porter now has the following out of Freddy.

• Twice daily service to Ottawa and on to Billy Bishop Airport.
• Non-stop daily service to Billy Bishop Airport in downtown Toronto.

Also the new WestJet route direct to Calgary starts June 20th. This is a season route for now ending Oct 28th.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Bishop2047

June 4th is the first day of Fredericton's additional flight to Ottawa (continuing to Toronto). This is a permeant route. Meaning that Porter now has the following out of Freddy.

• Twice daily service to Ottawa and on to Billy Bishop Airport.
• Non-stop daily service to Billy Bishop Airport in downtown Toronto.

This is exactly the same as Porter's frequency out of YQM Moncton.

[Pugsley]

Originally Posted by OliverD

I don't see the word ultra there.

ULCC is a "new " term. They are basically all in that category now if not a full-service airline. Canjet competed on price and was a disruptor. Like Jetsgo, Zoom, and all the others. ULCC is a new term, but not a new concept. It is the same model, updated name.

[J81]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Totally, but for getting to Toronto and back, the only time I’ve ever taken Porter, didn’t really notice any difference.

It’s still not a great value compared to the ULCC’s, which is all I’m sayin’

Agree to disagree. I love Porter and will choose it over WJ AC and all of the ULCCs everytime.

[J81]

Originally Posted by cliff2121

Porter actually does charge for carry on bags, in that they are not included in their Basic fare, so you usually need to pay $20-40 more if you want that benefit.

Free checked bags for active/retired meilitary, though, which is a nice perk... (like AC and WJ).

Ive never paid for a carryon on Porter even traveling on a basic fare. I usually do book the standard fare anyway. More qualifying miles and a free carry on

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by Bishop2047

June 4th is the first day of Fredericton's additional flight to Ottawa (continuing to Toronto). This is a permeant route. Meaning that Porter now has the following out of Freddy.

• Twice daily service to Ottawa and on to Billy Bishop Airport.
• Non-stop daily service to Billy Bishop Airport in downtown Toronto.

Also the new WestJet route direct to Calgary starts June 20th. This is a season route for now ending Oct 28th.

I wonder if Billy Bishop will turn out to be a weakness for some of Porter's schedule as they continue to expand? Their plans are to eventually have 60+ E195 E2's, none of which can fly in or out of Toronto Island. If you are coming from the Maritimes and want to connect onward to many of the new destinations you would have to travel out to Pearson, recheck bags if you have any, and lineup to go through security again.

I was thinking Porter might try and use YHU as a hub for passengers connecting off Maritime flights but it has no preclearance for the US.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I was thinking Porter might try and use YHU as a hub for passengers connecting off Maritime flights but it has no preclearance for the US.

I think this is exactly what is going to happen. Both YHU and YOW would make decent hubs for connections to Porter jet service to and from western Canada. YHU might also become a hub for service to some US destinations as well.

I personally don't consider Billy Bishop to be a liability for Porter. I really like flying into there. It is much less chaotic than Pearson, and, is right downtown. Access is easy. If my terminal destination is Toronto, I will fly Porter 100% of the time. It is only if I have to make connections that I will look at other airlines. Hopefully Porter will be able to negotiate some good US connections out of YHU (and YOW).

As for preclearance, it was discussed earlier in this thread that this might come if US flight volume out of YHU becomes great enough to justify it.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I think this is exactly what is going to happen. Both YHU and YOW would make decent hubs for connections to Porter jet service to and from western Canada. YHU might also become a hub for service to some US destinations as well.

I personally don't consider Billy Bishop to be a liability for Porter. I really like flying into there. It is much less chaotic than Pearson, and, is right downtown. Access is easy. If my terminal destination is Toronto, I will fly Porter 100% of the time. It is only if I have to make connections that I will look at other airlines. Hopefully Porter will be able to negotiate some good US connections out of YHU (and YOW).

As for preclearance, it was discussed earlier in this thread that this might come if US flight volume out of YHU becomes great enough to justify it.

From what I've read Porter keeps referring to YHU as being developed as a domestic hub I wonder if they might use Ottawa for Maritime passengers wanting to connect to the US routes being served by jets? I read somewhere that Billy Bishop was getting preclearance next year so that would handle Q400 service to the US east coast.

https://www.portstoronto.com/portstoront...ly%20offer,hub%20markets%20in%20the%20US.

While Billy Bishop is great for Toronto bound passengers it does complicate things for Porter in their new incarnation as a North American airline

I wonder if there would ever be a chance of them being allowed to run an express bus airside to airside connecting YYZ and YTZ?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I wonder if there would ever be a chance of them being allowed to run an express bus airside to airside connecting YYZ and YTZ?

Interesting thought.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Interesting thought.

I suppose the biggest question would be whether or not CATSA would OK it.

I think I have been at airports in the past that did it between terminals (via public streets) without having to go through security again. (Years ago at Logan maybe?)

I even seem to recall doing it once at Pearson while things were under construction after arriving from overseas.