Atlantic Canada airport thread

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

YSJ CEO, Sandy Ross, is speaking on September 12th’s episode of The Port Podcast. We may get some new info related to the airport.

The episode is live now: https://youtu.be/I7VSBZ9Jbrs?si=eJ-awACqGn5NQqFY

- They talk about wanting to enter into the air cargo business, in discussions with Air Canada and other carriers to start it off.

- Also mentions the new Pascan service and that there is room for it expand.

- He is also wanting to expand Air Canada, Pascan, and Flair’s offerings. As well as bringing in more airline carriers.

- Talked about the new interline deal between Pascan and Air Canada with Halifax connections. Saying it may turn into a code share deal if successful.

- Working on other new routes like connecting to Sydney Nova Scotia through Halifax with Pascan, a connection to Ottawa is next on the list, and he would like to get into the USA somehow.

- Talked about in the next 5-10 years, a major redevelopment of the airport is needed. Getting passengers on larger aircrafts, jet bridges, etc. Will be chatting with the board in the fall about coming up with a plan for a significant re-investment. Would like to as much as possible be a self-financed investment.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

There must be more Moroccans moving to Moncton than all of Nova Scotia combined. Moncton is the most important French speaking city east of Quebec, in Canada’s only bilingual province. A Morocco flight to NB just makes sense. And talk about a desirable winter tourism destination for New Brunswickers.

Halifax might be slightly close to Casablanca, but Moncton is the bilingual epicentre of the Maritimes, and the site of a major French university. That’s why so many Moroccans are coming to NB, many of them are bilingual in both English and French… so NB is a great fit.

[Bishop2047]

How's about we get some permanent routes to the USA before we start hunting for trans-Atlantic routes to Africa.

Even a route to Europe would make more sense for connections.

Also plenty of routes would and could be supported by a city. This is rarely the issue. A city like Saint John or Moncton could have plenty more routes and carriers and they would be well supported if the connections and times/prices were good. The issue is always trying to convince carries to add routes, make them affordable, and timely.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by Bishop2047

How's about we get some permanent routes to the USA before we start hunting for trans-Atlantic routes to Africa.

Even a route to Europe would make more sense for connections.

Also plenty of routes would and could be supported by a city. This is rarely the issue. A city like Saint John or Moncton could have plenty more routes and carriers and they would be well supported if the connections and times/prices were good. The issue is always trying to convince carries to add routes, make them affordable, and timely.

Fair enough, we should definitely have some direct routes between New Brunswick, New England, and New York.

Moroccans have to be one of the top immigrant countries in Moncton and NB as a whole. French speaking Africa has well over 150 million people, and Casablanca seems like the logical choice for one of New Brunswick’s first trans Atlantic routes.

If we’re going to get more routes to the USA, Europe, and beyond, I think the NB government will have to look at subsidizing the routes.

[Bishop2047]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-strike-pilots-1.7323676

A.C strike seems to have been averted.

[q12]

Pascan dropping the price on YSJ-YHZ route $100* each way plus taxes and fees.

YHZ-YSJ now starting at $166
YSJ-YHZ now starting at $174

Maybe YHZ and YSJ could reduce their Airport Improvement fee on these short 30 min flights. I'm not sure the fee is justified for such a short commuter flight.

YHZ charges $35
YSJ charges $42

[homebody]

Originally Posted by q12

Pascan dropping the price on YSJ-YHZ route $100* each way plus taxes and fees.

YHZ-YSJ now starting at $166
YSJ-YHZ now starting at $174

Maybe YHZ and YSJ could reduce their Airport Improvement fee on these short 30 min flights. I'm not sure the fee is justified for such a short commuter flight.

YHZ charges $35
YSJ charges $42

Good news! I also noticed unfortunately that they have dropped 2 flights per week to Bathurst. Maybe that route is showing signs of being unsuccessful. Saint John to Halifax maintains 5 days a week. EDIT: They reinstated flights in October

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by q12

Pascan dropping the price on YSJ-YHZ route $100* each way plus taxes and fees.

YHZ-YSJ now starting at $166
YSJ-YHZ now starting at $174

Maybe YHZ and YSJ could reduce their Airport Improvement fee on these short 30 min flights. I'm not sure the fee is justified for such a short commuter flight.

YHZ charges $35
YSJ charges $42

That’s not so terrible now.

[Bishop2047]

I missed this when it came out, but it came up in conversation today. Fredericton's primary airstrip to be resurfaced.

https://tj.news/fredericton-west/airport...urfacing%20work%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20said.

Airport president and CEO Johanne Gallant recently told city council the primary runway will be resurfaced in 2025 as part of a project estimated to cost between $20 and $25 million.

“We’re always reinvesting our revenue in equipment, construction, or resurfacing work,” she said.

Gallant said the airport’s runway expansion project was completed during the pandemic, and the resurfacing work is the latest capital upgrade on the horizon. She said the work is expected to take four months.

Gallant said she doesn’t expect any flights or services to be affected by the runway project.

“We have the secondary runway that can be used during the summer,” she said. “This project should go quite smoothly.”

[MonctonRad]

From the Canada section airport thread:

Originally Posted by samuelx88

It seems like Pascan will launch 9 weekly YQB-YHZ flights starting on 31st March using their SAAB 340

https://www.flightconnections.com/flights-from-yhz-to-yqb

I've often found it curious there is no direct flight connection from YQM to YQB. I would have thought this a natural. I wonder if this is something that Pascan would consider in the future?

Pascan certainly seems to be making a concerted effort to underserviced routes in Atlantic Canada.

[J81]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

From the Canada section airport thread:



I've often found it curious there is no direct flight connection from YQM to YQB. I would have thought this a natural. I wonder if this is something that Pascan would consider in the future?

Pascan certainly seems to be making a concerted effort to underserviced routes in Atlantic Canada.

9 weekly is ambitious

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

From the Canada section airport thread:



I've often found it curious there is no direct flight connection from YQM to YQB. I would have thought this a natural. I wonder if this is something that Pascan would consider in the future?

Pascan certainly seems to be making a concerted effort to underserviced routes in Atlantic Canada.

Quebec City? Hmm… I assume most maritimers would rather go to Montreal, especially if they don’t speak French, which most in Halifax don’t. I guess there’s some demand for Quebec Citiers to visit the maritimes though.

Moncton including on this route could have made a lot of sense… Pascan already has a three airport route between Bathurst<->SJ<->Halifax.

Quebec City<->Moncton<->Halifax would have made even more sense, with the whole French Connection and all. This route would also make sense if Halifax, Moncton, or Quebec City got a direct flight to Casablanca. There’s been a huge influx of Moroccans and North Africans in general coming to Moncton and Quebec City, and probably Halifax to some extent too. All three cities are closer to Casablanca than Montreal, the only Canadian city with a direct flight to Casablanca. Halifax is especially a shorter distance from Casablanca than Montreal is, but Moncton is quite a bit closer as well.




Airlines are always looking for ways to save money on fuel, a Halifax or Moncton direct flight to Casablanca could actually make sense within a decade or two if Francophone immigration from North Africa continues as such high levels to Quebec, NB. I think it would also be a much interesting place to take a vacation than Mexico, the Caribbean, or somewhere in the US like most Canadians go. It's also a great launching point for a vacation to Europe. There's not a singe transatlantic flight to or from NB at the moment, a Moncton to Morocco flight could be quite ground breaking development for tourism and immigration, as we have a lot more people immigrating to NB from Morocco and Algeria than we do from England and France.

Moncton was the seventh largest French speaking or bilingual CMA in Canada according to the last census. Moncton is now the 5th largest French or Bilingual CMA in Canada after Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec, and Sherbrooke, and is the fastest growing French or bilingual CMA in Canada. Moncton is on track now to surpass Sherbrooke at some point in the not so distant future. The difference is, Moncton is quite separated from all those other large French or Bilingual CMAS, but closer to North Africa. The Airlines could save quite a bit off their carbon footprint if they could get a flight between Moncton and Casablanca up and running a few times a week. It's not like people going onto Montreal or elsewhere in Canada couldn't book this flight either. Moncton is a whole 707km closer to Casablanca than Montreal... meaning a direct flight between Moncton and Casablanca could save over 1400km of flight time and carbon emissions for each passenger going between Moncton and Morocco. The number of newcomers to NB from Morocco and the Maghreb region is not negligible, and it's only poised to keep on growing.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Quebec City? Hmm… I assume most maritimers would rather go to Montreal, especially if they don’t speak French, which most in Halifax don’t. I guess there’s some demand for Quebec Citiers to visit the maritimes though.

Moncton including on this route could have made a lot of sense… Pascan already has a three airport route between Bathurst<->SJ<->Halifax.

Quebec City<->Moncton<->Halifax would have made even more sense, with the whole French Connection and all. This route would also make sense if Halifax, Moncton, or Quebec City got a direct flight to Casablanca. There’s been a huge influx of Moroccans and North Africans in general coming to Moncton and Quebec City, and probably Halifax to some extent too. All three cities are closer to Casablanca than Montreal, the only Canadian city with a direct flight to Casablanca. Halifax is especially a shorter distance from Casablanca than Montreal is, but Moncton is quite a bit closer as well.




Airlines are always looking for ways to save money on fuel, a Halifax or Moncton direct flight to Casablanca could actually make sense within a decade or two if Francophone immigration from North Africa continues as such high levels to Quebec, NB. I think it would also be a much interesting place to take a vacation than Mexico, the Caribbean, or somewhere in the US like most Canadians go. It's also a great launching point for a vacation to Europe. There's not a singe transatlantic flight to or from NB at the moment, a Moncton to Morocco flight could be quite ground breaking development for tourism and immigration, as we have a lot more people immigrating to NB from Morocco and Algeria than we do from England and France.

Moncton was the seventh largest French speaking or bilingual CMA in Canada according to the last census. Moncton is now the 5th largest French or Bilingual CMA in Canada after Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec, and Sherbrooke, and is the fastest growing French or bilingual CMA in Canada. Moncton is on track now to surpass Sherbrooke at some point in the not so distant future. The difference is, Moncton is quite separated from all those other large French or Bilingual CMAS, but closer to North Africa. The Airlines could save quite a bit off their carbon footprint if they could get a flight between Moncton and Casablanca up and running a few times a week. It's not like people going onto Montreal or elsewhere in Canada couldn't book this flight either. Moncton is a whole 707km closer to Casablanca than Montreal... meaning a direct flight between Moncton and Casablanca could save over 1400km of flight time and carbon emissions for each passenger going between Moncton and Morocco. The number of newcomers to NB from Morocco and the Maghreb region is not negligible, and it's only poised to keep on growing.

Why isn't this Casablanca flight not going to the magical Welsford Int'l Airport off yours?

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Why isn't this Casablanca flight not going to the magical Welsford Int'l Airport of yours?

I believe the location I proposed on the map was quite a bit north of Welsford.

SJ and Fredericton don’t have nearly as many French speaking immigrants from North Africa as Moncton does.

Moncton is the fifth largest French speaking or bilingual CMA in Canada, and the further away from Montreal than any other major French speaking/bilingual CMA.

The demographics might not be quite there yet, but they could be eventually.

[MonctonRad]

CYQM press release:

YQM Reports Strong Year-to-Date Performance
October 16, 2024

Greater Moncton, NB, October 16, 2024 – The Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (YQM) is pleased to announce remarkable year-to-date figures as of September 2024, highlighting significant growth in both passenger traffic and cargo movements.

YQM has welcomed 521,630 passengers so far this year, achieving an impressive 100.6% of the year-to-date figures recorded in 2019, pre-COVID. This reflects a notable increase of 10.7% or 50,532 additional passengers compared to the same timeframe last year.

The airport experienced its best summer on record from June to August 2024, with a total of 210,663 passengers traveling through YQM. This surge underscores the airport’s robust recovery and continued appeal as a key travel hub in the region. Looking ahead, 2024 has the potential to be the best year on record for passenger traffic at YQM.

By the end of September 2024, the airport handled 30 international cargo flights, compared to 33 for all of 2023 and YQM has established a consistent track record in domestic cargo operations. These figures indicate ongoing growth in our cargo services throughout 2024.

To continue their momentum YQM is gearing up for another robust winter sun destination schedule, with Air Transat and Sunwing set to offer a total of twelve direct flights to sun-soaked destinations, including Jamaica, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Varadero, Cancun, and Orlando, starting in February 2025. Air Transat will begin services to Cancun on December 19 and to Orlando on December 20, making winter getaways more accessible than ever.

“We are thrilled to see such strong growth in passenger and cargo traffic at YQM,” said Courtney Burns, President and CEO of the Greater Moncton International Airport Authority. “This success is a testament to the dedication of our team and our partners, as well as the support from our community. We are committed to providing exceptional service and enhancing the travel experience for everyone.”

So, passenger numbers at YQM have recovered to pre-pandemic levels. This is very, very good news.

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

CYQM press release:



So, passenger numbers at YQM have recovered to pre-pandemic levels. This is very, very good news.

woohoo!

[Bishop2047]

I would not bank on this but with the first seasonal flight to Calgary from Freddy is wrapping up it's season. I went to book a flight and it now states that the route will be returning June of 2025, and in bookable already.

I do not believe a formal announcement has been made but looks like the route will be back (hopefully with more frequency and permanent).

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

I was looking at flights to Calgary yesterday, and YSJ was like 40% cheaper than YFC and YQM for the dates I was looking at. I know it’s usually the other way around, but it’s ridiculous how much airline pricing works in Canada, especially for smaller centers.

[DyAm00394]

New Saint John-Halifax flight seeing positive growth

“Pascan Aviation is seeing positive growth with its new regional route between Saint John and Halifax.

The new route, which offers twice-daily return flights on weekdays, began operating on Sept. 9.

“The growth is a testament to the vibrant, supportive nature of the community we serve,” Lori Carle, manager of marketing and public relations at the Saint John Airport, said in a news release.

“Business travellers are recognizing the value of time saved through this service, enhancing, both their productivity and their work-life balance.”

Carle told our newsroom that while the planes are not full yet, the numbers have steadily increased and they are getting regular customers.

She added they are also seeing people connecting with the Air Canada network out of Halifax, shortening their travel times to places like St. John’s, Gander and Boston.

Meanwhile, Pascan has paused the Bathurst to Saint John leg of the service for the time being due to low demand.

“While we are encouraged by the response and growth on the Saint John-Halifax route, we have seen very little interest from the flying public in the Bathurst route so far,” Julian Roberts, president and CEO of Pascan, said in the release.

Roberts said they will continue to work with the Bathurst airport authority and region with hopes of restarting the service in the spring”.

https://www.country94.ca/2024/10/18/new-saint-john-halifax-flight-seeing-positive-growth/

[sailor734]

No surprise about the Bathurst service. I think a daily return service to Montreal is about the only thing that could be supported there.

As to SJ-HFX, Only time will tell if it can support a 37 seat aircraft on a route that used to be served by a 19 passenger Beech.