Hamilton International Airport

[LikeHamilton]

I can confirm that construction of the first two jet bridges at YHM have started.

They should be done for the winter season. The next three have not been approved yet to start construction. We will see how things go.

[JakeLRS]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

I can confirm that construction of the first two jet bridges at YHM have started.

They should be done for the winter season. The next three have not been approved yet to start construction. We will see how things go.

If the other 3 get approved, where would they even go? It would need a terminal expansion of some sort right?

[JakeLRS]

Porter adds 3 sun destinations from YHM for this upcoming winter!

Cancun - 4x weekly - T, W, F, SAT - Dec 17
Nassau - 2x weekly - W, SUN - Dec 14
Puerto Vallarta - 2x weekly - M, T - Dec 18

[SteelTown]

Heck yeah we got direct flights to Bahamas.

For 2026 direct flights to Las Vegas would be great. *fingers crossed*

[Innsertnamehere]

LV and Florida would be nice, IMO, for recreational destinations. I'd also appreciate some regional flights to NYC, Montreal, Ottawa, etc., but Porter seems to be focusing on their longer range jets and what they can be used for now.

[brendansimons]

The last time I flew Porter from Pearson, I found their 737s to be super cramped. Their Dash8s from the island airport are lovely. Are they flying the comfy ones or the cramped ones out of Hamilton Airport?

[HamAviMech]

Originally Posted by brendansimons

The last time I flew Porter from Pearson, I found their 737s to be super cramped. Their Dash8s from the island airport are lovely. Are they flying the comfy ones or the cramped ones out of Hamilton Airport?

They don't have 737's, they fly the Embraer E195-e2 which maybe what you're referring too. I've never flown it but have been in one for training and it looks like decent leg room and with it only being 2 seats per side it seems like it wouldn't be cramped, but I have yet to actually take a trip in it. But those (E195-e2) are what's flying from Hamilton

[NortheastWind]

Originally Posted by JakeLRS

If the other 3 get approved, where would they even go? It would need a terminal expansion of some sort right?

They are expanding the terminal building: https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...postcount=2914

[LikeHamilton]

From the Tiger Cats page

Porter Airlines Takes Flight with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Landmark New Partnership

Porter deepens its Hamilton commitment through fan experience and regional investment

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...&postcount=377

[shoelessjoe]

Westjet 2x weekly to PUJ beginning 19DEC2025.

YHM and YQT are the only non-YYZ airports in Ontario to retain any post-merger ex-WG flying on WS.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by shoelessjoe

Westjet 2x weekly to PUJ beginning 19DEC2025.

YHM and YQT are the only non-YYZ airports in Ontario to retain any post-merger ex-WG flying on WS.

I find it hard to believe they won't still be announcing the traditional winter stuff that Sunwing used to do. I can't see them spending the money to buy Sunwing and then walk away from all those vacation packages from every regional airport. Hamilton used to get more than 2 flights a week, and now nothing from Kitchener or London, which had several a week as well? I'd be shocked if that was the case.

[HamAviMech]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

I find it hard to believe they won't still be announcing the traditional winter stuff that Sunwing used to do. I can't see them spending the money to buy Sunwing and then walk away from all those vacation packages from every regional airport. Hamilton used to get more than 2 flights a week, and now nothing from Kitchener or London, which had several a week as well? I'd be shocked if that was the case.

Yeah seems weird. Here's the conditions the government set. To me Westjet isn't maintaining capacity on routes or regional connectivity(if they mean for sun destinations).

Online quote from skysmag:
The acquisition will also result in enforceable terms and conditions intended to protect the interests of travellers. These strict terms and conditions include:

Extending Sunwing vacation package offerings to five new Canadian cities;
Maintaining capacity on routes most affected by the merger;
Increasing regional connectivity;
Improving baggage handling for better passenger experience;
Maintaining a vacations business head office in the Toronto area and a regional office in the Montreal area for a minimum of five years;
Increasing net employment by 20 per cent over three years in the Toronto office;
Ensuring better passenger experience by investing in IT technology solutions to improve Sunwing’s communications;
Supplying airfare data on vacation packages for monitoring of post-acquisition price trends; and
Gradually ending Sunwing’s seasonal leasing practice to protect Canadian jobs.

[JakeLRS]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

I find it hard to believe they won't still be announcing the traditional winter stuff that Sunwing used to do. I can't see them spending the money to buy Sunwing and then walk away from all those vacation packages from every regional airport. Hamilton used to get more than 2 flights a week, and now nothing from Kitchener or London, which had several a week as well? I'd be shocked if that was the case.

YHM retained PUJ (2x wk), CUN (2x wk)
YKF retained PUJ (1x wk), CUN (1x wk)
YXU retained VRA (1x wk), CCC (1x wk), PUJ (1x wk), CUN (1x wk)
YQG retained VRA (1x wk), CUN (1x wK)

They are loaded on the sunwing website.

[shoelessjoe]

I stand corrected - the WS press release made no mention of these flights -- good news however. It is nonetheless strange how the announcement yesterday was handled. A lot of the old WG flying over winter was accomplished using leased aircraft from Europe -- a program WS has ended -- I guess relying on slack in the fleet to do this flying. Good news all around.

Originally Posted by JakeLRS

YHM retained PUJ (2x wk), CUN (2x wk)
YKF retained PUJ (1x wk), CUN (1x wk)
YXU retained VRA (1x wk), CCC (1x wk), PUJ (1x wk), CUN (1x wk)
YQG retained VRA (1x wk), CUN (1x wK)

They are loaded on the sunwing website.

[shoelessjoe]

It is important to remember however that the purchase of WG by WS was really more about getting WG's 737s than anything else. The vacation package business is a bonus.

Originally Posted by Djeffery

I find it hard to believe they won't still be announcing the traditional winter stuff that Sunwing used to do. I can't see them spending the money to buy Sunwing and then walk away from all those vacation packages from every regional airport. Hamilton used to get more than 2 flights a week, and now nothing from Kitchener or London, which had several a week as well? I'd be shocked if that was the case.

[BCTed]

Anyone know how Porter is doing so far at YHM? Are the flights generally full?

[LikeHamilton]

Most flights are running 85 - 95% full. They have the problem of having no place to put passengers when a flight is cancelled.

[King&James]

That is pretty decent loads given limited knowledge of most folks I talk to who are not aware of presence or routes available. Sure the winter routes will equally attract loads for those looking for sunnier / warmer destinations

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

They have the problem of having no place to put passengers when a flight is cancelled.

When an airline reaches a certain size, one would hope they've planned for this!

[HamAviMech]

Some snippets from the Burlington Gazette
We have to work on getting the message out that there’s a more convenient way to travel,” Ratuski said, referring to social media and other marketing efforts.
“You can get the same service from Hamilton to those destinations (Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax and Vancouver) as you would with Toronto (Pearson), and with less hassle.”
Ron Foxcroft, chair of the airport, agrees there has long been a stigma attached to flying out of Hamilton, with potential passengers believing it’s a “small-time” airport, with airlines that are unreliable and don’t go to too many places.
That has all changed, he believes, particularly with the addition of Porter Airlines and their daily flights, coupled with the renewed, 49-year lease the City of Hamilton signed with TradePort, the Vantage company that operates John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM).
“We have never had the convenience of flights out of Hamilton that meet customer expectations, and we think we have that now,” he says. “Customers want to fly when their schedule tells them they want to fly,” he said.
The new lease and getting Porter onboard will be “transformational” in attracting new passengers, Foxcroft said. It’s a “customer-first approach,” he says.
Michael Deluce, CEO, Porter Airlines, said the changes at Hamilton Airport are all good news for passengers.
“The terminal enhancements coincide with the start of service to four Porter destinations, elevating the overall passenger journey and making the airport experience that much more efficient. This is a welcome transformation as a partner, and for travellers,” he said in a statement.
Last year, more than 300,000 passengers went through Hamilton airport.
Foxcroft wants to see that number increase 1 million in 2026 and 3 million in five years.
Peter Tong, CEO of TradePort, said the new lease agreement is crucial to the airport’s success and improving the passenger experience. “This was essential,” Tong said, noting the new lease helped attract Porter Airlines to the table. “You need to know you’re going to be here for a long time.”
The renos are not quite finished, Ratuski said. Later in the fall, Hamilton International will offer passenger jet bridges, which gets passengers from the terminal to the aircraft (and vice versa), through a direct, weather-protected, walkway.However, expect announcements soon on Hamilton airport offering additional flights down south to the Caribbean, and also, flights going to the U.S.
Foxcroft said strategic planning never ends, and he hopes to add an airport hotel in the future, that will hopefully come with the widening of Highway 6.

Not from the article but I heard we should be expecting Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale announced any day now