Canadian Airport Thread II

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by casper

Great news.

Back in the 90s when I lived near Ottawa for a time, there was a Air Canada 767 and a Canadian Airlines 767 on a daily basis. They both would leave at about the same, the layout of the old (former terminal) resulted in them basically boarding from the same gate area, it was always crowded. If they could support two 767 back then, I don't see why demand is not there for a 789 four times a week.

For sure the demand is definitely there. I'll be going there in July myself along with several other family members. Having the flight back certainly influenced going to London again - first time in over a decade for me.

Back when AC and CP both had a flight CP was 3x weekly only and their flight would originate in YYZ. Fun fact: one of CP's three weekly was on the DC-10. This will also be the first time in a long that YOW will have 3 pax widebodies on the ground simultaneously, which will now happen regularly until October. I checked the YOW FIDS and AC 889 is running a 1/2 hr early with AC 342 from YVR right behind it 3 minutes later - so back-to-back 789 arrivals....obviously that's common at the big 4 airports.

[Dominion301]

PD's domestic summer schedule was just released and includes a new YYZ-YQM route up to 5x weekly.

A bunch of capacity increases on other domestic routes: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/2...ice-Throughout-North-America-This-Summer

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

PD's domestic summer schedule was just released and includes a new YYZ-YQM route up to 5x weekly.

A bunch of capacity increases on other domestic routes: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/2...ice-Throughout-North-America-This-Summer

One has to wonder when they'll run out of places to fly them if they've only received 44 of a planned 100 Embraers.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by whatnext

One has to wonder when they'll run out of places to fly them if they've only received 44 of a planned 100 Embraers.

They have definitely slowed down deliveries as they've been at 44 for a couple of months now. Sounds like 44 will be the number they hold at all summer. I would hazard a guess they've renegotiated delivery slots with Embraer.

They need time to hire more staff. The Dash 8 fleet is still being underutilized.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

PD's domestic summer schedule was just released and includes a new YYZ-YQM route up to 5x weekly.

A bunch of capacity increases on other domestic routes: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/2...ice-Throughout-North-America-This-Summer

Porter will now fly from YQM to YYZ, YTZ and YOW.

I expect a YQM-YHU direct flight will also happen.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by casper

Great news.

Back in the 90s when I lived near Ottawa for a time, there was a Air Canada 767 and a Canadian Airlines 767 on a daily basis. They both would leave at about the same, the layout of the old (former terminal) resulted in them basically boarding from the same gate area, it was always crowded. If they could support two 767 back then, I don't see why demand is not there for a 789 four times a week.

There are so many people travelling internationally out of Ottawa but the airlines give us peanuts and assume that we will gladly connect through YYZ and YUL.

I actually think if they gave us a direct flight to ANYWHERE everyone in Ottawa would be going there on vacation next year! Hoping for a Pyongyang direct flight next year.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Porter will now fly from YQM to YYZ, YTZ and YOW.

I expect a YQM-YHU direct flight will also happen.

I agree about YHU and if the YHM experiment works, an eventual summer-seasonal YQM-YHM.

[Dominion301]

Here's the PR for AC's resumption of YOW-LHR: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/ai...a-london-heathrow-flights-880652606.html

[Dominion301]

Here's loaded AC transborder reductions. Only one route cut (YVR-IAD). Some minor frequency reductions on some routes, while the majority are seat capacity drops with the same frequencies (e.g., planned addition of the 223 on YYZ-STL cancelled): https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250401-acns25us

Here's an article where AC's stipulating that transborder bookings are down by 10%: https://www.wingsmagazine.com/bookings-o...h-air-canada/?oly_enc_id=5001D3490978J5J

This roughly correlates to the above-noted capacity reductions.

[Dominion301]

YHM handled 324,336 pax in 2024, of which ~125K flew on PLAY: https://flyhamilton.ca/wp-content/upload...nternational-2024-Year-in-Review-Web.pdf

This was a 60% decrease vs 2023 thanks to the ending of Swoop and Lynx going bust.

[Zmonkey]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

For sure the demand is definitely there. I'll be going there in July myself along with several other family members. Having the flight back certainly influenced going to London again - first time in over a decade for me.

Back when AC and CP both had a flight CP was 3x weekly only and their flight would originate in YYZ. Fun fact: one of CP's three weekly was on the DC-10. This will also be the first time in a long that YOW will have 3 pax widebodies on the ground simultaneously, which will now happen regularly until October. I checked the YOW FIDS and AC 889 is running a 1/2 hr early with AC 342 from YVR right behind it 3 minutes later - so back-to-back 789 arrivals....obviously that's common at the big 4 airports.

To people really not get why things have changed? For any of us who work in the industry its clear. There are exactly 0 airlines that use there 90's business model - it would fail. Everything has changed in the last 30 years.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by Zmonkey

To people really not get why things have changed? For any of us who work in the industry its clear. There are exactly 0 airlines that use there 90's business model - it would fail. Everything has changed in the last 30 years.

Not sure what you're alluding to??? I was responding to the question of CP having flown YOW-LHR in the 90s.

Speaking of business models changing, and this is an area where change is imperative, AC have announced that YQB's ground service equipment (GSE) will be 100% electric by the end of 2025 for all baggage and ramp tractors, belt loaders, power stows, container loaders and aircraft tractors: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/ai...-ground-support-equipment-844212957.html

That's a great step towards GHG emissions reductions where ground equipment is the one area where airlines can rapidly electrify with existing technology.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Not sure what you're alluding to??? I was responding to the question of CP having flown YOW-LHR in the 90s.

Speaking of business models changing, and this is an area where change is imperative, AC have announced that YQB's ground service equipment (GSE) will be 100% electric by the end of 2025 for all baggage and ramp tractors, belt loaders, power stows, container loaders and aircraft tractors: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/ai...-ground-support-equipment-844212957.html

That's a great step towards GHG emissions reductions where ground equipment is the one area where airlines can rapidly electrify with existing technology.

I can't find it now but I recently saw that YHM was also going electric. I seem to recall it was more the cargo operations but it might have been passenger as well. Although cargo would have much more impact there than passenger at this point.

[IcyRock]

Do we know if YUL is still getting that mysterious new airline that was talked about earlier this year? Can't help but wonder.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by IcyRock

Do we know if YUL is still getting that mysterious new airline that was talked about earlier this year? Can't help but wonder.

Unfortunately, no. They're not starting for S25. This being said, fairly confident they will start YUL in the near future. Once the airline is revealed, you'll most likely understand the reason for the delay.

[MonctonRad]

Press release from YQM issued a couple of weeks ago (just before the Porter announcement about YQM/YYZ Embrear service)

YQM Reflects on a Year of Growth
MARCH 17, 2025

Greater Moncton, NB, March 17, 2025 – The Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (YQM), saw a 10.2% increase in passenger numbers compared to 2023, welcoming 661,629 travellers in 2024.

“2024 was a year of significant growth for YQM. We closed the year with a 98.1% recovery from pre-pandemic levels, surpassing our anticipated recovery target of 97%.” said Courtney Burns, President and CEO of the Greater Moncton International Airport Authority (GMIAA).

Not only have we seen a notable increase in passenger traffic, but our team is also the largest it has ever been, allowing us to further enhance the traveller experience. Our cargo operations are a vital contributor to the region’s economy, playing a key role in connecting local industries to global markets.

“With 1,438 domestic cargo movements and 33 international movements, YQM continues to strengthen its position as a key logistic hub.”, Said Burns.

The return of YQM sunny destination flights brought many more travel opportunities to passengers, offering 11 weekly direct flights with Air Transat and Sunwing to Orlando, Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. Retaining this chartered flight schedule is a clear sign of the region’s growing demand for international travel and YQM’s commitment to creating global connectivity.

YQM’s year round flights with Air Canada, PAL Airlines, Porter, and WestJet to major Canadian cities including Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and St. John’s continue to see strong demand, reinforcing the airport’s role as a vital connection point within Canada’s aviation network. This sustained growth allows YQM to strengthen partnerships with airline carriers while exploring opportunities to expand domestic destinations for travellers. By responding to passenger needs and market trends, the airport remains committed to enhancing connectivity and providing seamless travel options across the country, CEO Burns explained.

In summer 2025, travellers can look forward to expanded WestJet service, with increased flights to Calgary and Edmonton beginning in late May.

As we step into spring, YQM continues to offer options for direct flights with Sunwing and Air Transat to sunny destinations. Whether it’s a business trip, a long-awaited family reunion, or a well-deserved getaway, YQM remains your gateway to the moments that matter.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

Unfortunately, no. They're not starting for S25. This being said, fairly confident they will start YUL in the near future. Once the airline is revealed, you'll most likely understand the reason for the delay.

Trump Airways ??

Air Rusky ?

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

Unfortunately, no. They're not starting for S25. This being said, fairly confident they will start YUL in the near future. Once the airline is revealed, you'll most likely understand the reason for the delay.

Why the mystery?

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

Unfortunately, no. They're not starting for S25. This being said, fairly confident they will start YUL in the near future. Once the airline is revealed, you'll most likely understand the reason for the delay.

ITA delaying adding YUL until they join Star Alliance? I saw the PR earlier this week about entry applications and sponsorship by LH into Star has commenced.

[zahav]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Here's loaded AC transborder reductions. Only one route cut (YVR-IAD). Some minor frequency reductions on some routes, while the majority are seat capacity drops with the same frequencies (e.g., planned addition of the 223 on YYZ-STL cancelled): https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250401-acns25us

Here's an article where AC's stipulating that transborder bookings are down by 10%: https://www.wingsmagazine.com/bookings-o...h-air-canada/?oly_enc_id=5001D3490978J5J

This roughly correlates to the above-noted capacity reductions.

I hope, maybe naively, that this is the worst of it. I am somewhat encouraged that they are stating only a 10% decline, some news had mentioned 70% declines the other week. So 10% is not quite as catastrophic.

I am happy to see that so far, the weird ghost schedule that I saw on Google Flights a couple weeks back has not materialized. It was very stripped down, way more than the published changes. But I think there's probably been some other reductions that just haven't been noticed. For example, it doesn't show any reductions on YYZ-SFO. YYZ-SFO will be 4x daily on 737 Max this summer. I thought they used to be 5x daily, but could be wrong. But there definitely used to be heavy aircraft on some flights, I am not imagining that. There used to be 1 or even possibly 2 daily heavies in summer. Even if the frequency has not changed at 4x daily, the capacity would have dropped. If YUL dropped marginally in seats from 2366 to 2174 with the same frequency, then I don't believe YYZ stayed the same. YYZ also has UA now with 2x daily, which is higher than they started with, and a big addition on a route pair that Air Canada used to have exclusively. So I find it odd that AC didn't cut seats on YYZ-SFO. I know the comparison in the article is between 16FEB25 vs 30MAR25, so maybe the change had already happened, and therefore not included in this update?