Canadian Airport Thread II

[nname]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

Hearing that AC is already dropping YVR-TPQ before it even starts?

As reported in the YVR thread a week ago, the flight moved to 4th weekly YVR-MIA.

[cranes]

https://www.aircanada.com/media/air-cana...er-waterloo-airport-and-toronto-pearson/
Air Canada to Double Frequency of Landline Service between Kitchener-Waterloo Airport and Toronto Pearson
Increase to 10 daily return trips will improve connection times for customers

MONTRÉAL, October 14, 2025 - Air Canada today said that beginning December 1 it will double the frequency of The Landline Company’s luxury coach service between the Region of Waterloo International Airport and Toronto Pearson. The number of daily return trips will increase to 10 from five, giving customers more convenient options for travelling and better connection times with their onward flights from Air Canada’s global hub.

“We have been very satisfied with the response from the Kitchener-Waterloo Region to Air Canada’s innovative, multi-modal service. Customers are finding the comfort, convenience and reliability of Landline and its luxury motor coaches very compelling. With the service growing in popularity, we are doubling the frequencies to 10 daily, which will give customers even better, one-stop connectivity between the Region of Waterloo International Airport and key destinations we serve from Toronto Pearson, such as Vancouver, Tokyo, Halifax, San Francisco, and hundreds more,” said Ranbir Singh, Director, Regional Airlines and Markets at Air Canada.

“Since launching the service, we’ve heard from hundreds of customers who love the Air Canada Landline connection experience but needed more options to match their connecting flights at Pearson,” said Rizwan Qadir, Landline spokesperson. “By doubling frequency to 10 trips per day, travelers can now mix and match schedules to fit their outbound and return Air Canada flights more conveniently.”

"This increased service is a welcome investment in our community’s future and reflects the confidence Air Canada has in our region’s growth and potential,” said Karen Redman, Chair of the Region of Waterloo. “Doubling the frequency strengthens Waterloo Region’s global reach and opens new doors for our residents, businesses, and visitors alike. We are committed to providing travellers with more accessible options. This expansion gives residents more choice and reason to choose YKF."

https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article...loo-region-and-torontos-pearson-airport/

The new daily travel times, from Waterloo Region (YFK) to Toronto (YYZ), are as follows:
Departs at 5:30 a.m., arrives at 6:35 a.m.
Departs at 6:30 a.m., arrives at 7:35 a.m.
Departs at 9:25 a.m., arrives at 10:30 a.m.
Departs at 11:15 a.m., arrives at 12:25 p.m.
Departs at 1:15 p.m., arrives at 2:20 p.m.
Departs at 2:10 p.m., arrives at 3:20 p.m.
Departs at 4:00 p.m., arrives at 5:05 p.m.
Departs at 5:35 p.m., arrives at 6:45 p.m.
Departs at 6:55 p.m., arrives at 8:00 p.m.
Departs at 8:25 p.m., arrives at 9:25 p.m.

The new daily travel times, from Toronto (YYZ) to Waterloo Region (YFK), are as follows:
Departs at 7:00 a.m., arrives at 8:10 a.m.
Departs at 8:00 a.m., arrives at 9:10 a.m.
Departs at 11:40 a.m., arrives at 12:45 p.m.
Departs at 12:45 p.m., arrives at 1:50 p.m.
Departs at 2:40 p.m., arrives at 3:45 p.m.
Departs at 3:40 p.m., arrives at 4:55 p.m.
Departs at 5:20 p.m., arrives at 6:35 p.m.
Departs at 7:05 p.m., arrives at 8:10 p.m.
Departs at 8:35 p.m., arrives at 9:40 p.m.
Departs at 10:15 p.m., arrives at 11:20 p.m.

https://www.engagewr.ca/ykf-growth-plan
Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) Growth Plan Refresh - Phase 2 Consultation
Tuesday 9 September 2025 3:00 am to Monday 3 November 2025 9:00 am Phase 2 Region of Waterloo International Airport Survey Closes

https://hdp-ca-prod-app-wr-engage-files....F_2025_Growth_Plan_Executive_Summary.pdf
YKF_2025_Growth_Plan_Executive_Summary

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

The Region of Waterloo International Airport is planning for growth through a staged, trigger-based approach that links infrastructure investment directly to passenger demand and desired level of service. This strategy allows the airport to scale operations efficiently, avoid overbuilding, and remain fiscally responsible while supporting evolving aviation and aerospace needs.

Passenger traffic at YKF has grown rapidly in recent years, increasing from 376,000 in 2022 to more than 523,000 in 2024. Updated forecasts indicate that the Airport could reach one million annual passengers within the next several years. Although timelines may shift depending on economic and operational factors, the Growth Plan positions YKF to respond quickly and effectively as conditions evolve.

Future development is structured into five progressive stages, each triggered by specific milestones in airport activity and capacity.

Stage 1 includes projects that are either already complete or currently underway. These include the expansion of the Air Terminal Building in 2021 and updates to the Airport Zoning Regulations, which are currently underway.

Stage 2 will be triggered once the 2025 Airport Growth Plan is formally approved. This phase includes several key initiatives such as the extension of Runway 14-32, design work for a future extension of Runway 08-26, preliminary planning for a new air terminal building, a minor expansion of the existing terminal, and implementation of short-term decarbonization projects.

Stage 3 is expected to begin once passenger volumes reach approximately one million annually and the existing terminal can no longer deliver the desired level of service. At this point, a minor expansion will be undertaken to extend the terminal's operational life. Concurrently, detailed design work for a new terminal will begin, alongside the construction of the Runway 08-26 extension to ensure airside capacity keeps pace with passenger demand.

Stage 4 will begin when the expanded terminal also reaches its capacity limits and annual traffic surpasses 1.5 million passengers. At this point, construction of a new net-zero air terminal building will be initiated, along with supporting infrastructure such as aircraft aprons, parallel taxiways, and a realigned airport access road.

Stage 5 is expected to fall outside of the 2025 Airport Growth Plan 20-year planning horizon. However, it is noted that ultimate improvements include the potential for an extension of Runway 08-26 to 10,000 ft. plus supporting infrastructure, further expansion to the Greenfield Terminal, and parking structure.

This staged model allows the Airport to manage growth incrementally, reducing financial risk while maintaining flexibility. It ensures that development occurs in alignment with real market demand, stakeholder input, and long-term regional goals. Through this approach, YKF is preparing to meet the future with infrastructure that is scalable, resilient, and ready to serve Southern Ontario’s growing population and economy

https://hdp-ca-prod-app-wr-engage-files....F_Growth_Plan_-_Council_Presentation.pdf
SEPT_9_-_2025_YKF_Growth_Plan_-_Council_Presentation.pdf

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by cranes

YKF_2025_Growth_Plan_Executive_Summary

Hopefully for Waterloo their plans aren't dashed by airline decisions, or completed then sitting disused.

There are some who have much distrust here in Hamilton, after WestJet pulled out years ago killing the airport's rather extensive expansion plans.

[YYCguys]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Hopefully for Waterloo their plans aren't dashed by airline decisions, or completed then sitting disused.

There are some who have much distrust here in Hamilton, after WestJet pulled out years ago killing the airport's rather extensive expansion plans.

Porter has entered Hamilton all guns a-blazin, and YHM seems to have pulled out all the stops with a massive refresh/renovation because of Porter’s commitment. Let’s hope Porter is doing well and will continue to do so in YHM.

[Innsertnamehere]

I wouldn't call it a "massive refresh".

Porter has enabled YHM to refresh it's facilities, but the facilities are still quite basic for an airport approaching a million passengers a year. And YHM has no real plans to build a proper terminal either, instead opting to build a succession of piece-meal additions to the terminal.

Maybe Porter will cook something better up with YHM like they are doing at YHU if the current services are successful.

[Dominion301]

YOW's September pax stats are out. International nearly doubled without a doubling of capacity and the past 12 months surpass 2012's year-end total for the first time. On the transborder front, YOW caught up with reality with the first > 2% decline this year.

Sector / Sep-24 / Sep-25 / % Change
Dom: 305,775 / 315,837 / +3.3%
TB: 46,234 / 42,746 / -7.5%
Int'l: 13,377 / 26,684 / +99.5%
TTL: 365,386 / 385,267 / +5.4%

Sector / YTD 2024 / YTD 2025 / % Change
Dom: 2,536,705 / 2,750,276 / +8.4%
TB: 534,192 / 556,451 / +4.2%
Int'l: 333,918 / 363,448 / +8.8%
TTL: 3,404,815 / 3,670,175 / +7.8%

September % of traffic recovered vs 2019 / YTD vs 2019
Sector / September / YTD % recovered
Dom: 93.3% / 91.1%
TB: 92.0% / 104.8%
Int'l: 116.3% / 107.9%
TTL: 94.4% / 94.4%

12 Months Rolling / % Change vs Year End 2023
Dom: 3,645,071 / +13.8%
TB: 763,708 / +32.6%
Int'l: 463,405 / +46.2% - it took almost 13 years but this surpasses 2012's record of 456,529
TTL: 4,872,184 / +19.0%

[hollywoodcory]

Originally Posted by nname

As reported in the YVR thread a week ago, the flight moved to 4th weekly YVR-MIA.

Thanks, I don't frequent the YVR thread.

I suspect WS will fly YYC-TPQ, but it may only be a single season as advance bookings are by the weakest of the newly announced destinations.

Even PXM, which was announced almost 2 months later has double the bookings.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

I wouldn't call it a "massive refresh".

Porter has enabled YHM to refresh it's facilities, but the facilities are still quite basic for an airport approaching a million passengers a year. And YHM has no real plans to build a proper terminal either, instead opting to build a succession of piece-meal additions to the terminal.

Maybe Porter will cook something better up with YHM like they are doing at YHU if the current services are successful.

I think YHM has a ways to go to get back to a million pax a year. A tripling of PD's ops would certainly get YHM there.

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

I think YHM has a ways to go to get back to a million pax a year. A tripling of PD's ops would certainly get YHM there.

YHM has had highly variable passenger counts for years, but it generally varies between 300k and 1 million. It hit 955,000 in 2019 and 820,000 in 2023. The current terminal can handle about a million a year.

Last year dropped a lot with Swoop pulling out, but still was at 329,000 just off the Westjet, PLAY, Sunwing, and Air Canada services and no Porter.

I suspect 2025 will hit somewhere in the middle. PLAY is gone now but Westjet is still running to Calgary and replacing the former Sunwing services, plus Porter adding to the capacity.

[MountainView]

Porter is pausing YXE-YYZ from Jan 5 to Apr 1, 2026 during the low peak mid-winter season. Thought they might be able to make some connections work via YYZ.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

YHM has had highly variable passenger counts for years, but it generally varies between 300k and 1 million. It hit 955,000 in 2019 and 820,000 in 2023. The current terminal can handle about a million a year.

Last year dropped a lot with Swoop pulling out, but still was at 329,000 just off the Westjet, PLAY, Sunwing, and Air Canada services and no Porter.

I suspect 2025 will hit somewhere in the middle. PLAY is gone now but Westjet is still running to Calgary and replacing the former Sunwing services, plus Porter adding to the capacity.

450K for YHM for 2025 I think is realistic and 700K for 2026 given PD will have a full year under their YHM belt.

Originally Posted by MountainView

Porter is pausing YXE-YYZ from Jan 5 to Apr 1, 2026 during the low peak mid-winter season. Thought they might be able to make some connections work via YYZ.

I think this also shows how PD would be far better off adding YXE-YOW year-round that they'd have to themselves (along with YQR-YOW), whereas on YXE-YYZ, PD are the #3 carrier.

Splitting a rotation 4x/3x weekly YOW-YXE/YQR for summer 2026 launch seems realistic.

[RomanR27]

This may have been posted already but they're also pausing YYZ-YYT over the same timeframe. Meanwhile it's daily from YOW all winter as they're the sole carrier.

[Djeffery]

Now that I have family considerations in Charlottetown, I would love to see Porter add them from Toronto (or Hamilton). We prefer Porter but we also prefer non-stop more.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Now that I have family considerations in Charlottetown, I would love to see Porter add them from Toronto (or Hamilton). We prefer Porter but we also prefer non-stop more.

Porter did actually operate YYZ-YYG from the middle of June through the middle of September this year.

[casper]

Originally Posted by MountainView

Porter is pausing YXE-YYZ from Jan 5 to Apr 1, 2026 during the low peak mid-winter season. Thought they might be able to make some connections work via YYZ.

When I lived in Saskatoon, the hardest time of the year to get seats was last week of March and early April. Typically that is spring break and after a long winter there was always a lot of demand. Some days you could not find an empty seat on either Air Canada or WestJet.

However to make that work they need to connect to somewhere warm.

What would probably be a better fit overall is move some Q400 out west to connect YXE to YWG and onward.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

Porter did actually operate YYZ-YYG from the middle of June through the middle of September this year.

Must have just missed it. My daughter moved there early September, my wife helped her move and had bought her flight home on AC before I had a chance to look into it for her. Bringing my daughter home for Christmas is already sucking big time lol.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by casper

When I lived in Saskatoon, the hardest time of the year to get seats was last week of March and early April. Typically that is spring break and after a long winter there was always a lot of demand. Some days you could not find an empty seat on either Air Canada or WestJet.

However to make that work they need to connect to somewhere warm.

What would probably be a better fit overall is move some Q400 out west to connect YXE to YWG and onward.

PD DH4s flying west of YQT won't happen for a long, long time. There's still a pile more Dash 8 routes for them to add out of YOW and YHU first.

Porter are really still only scratching the surface of what they can build YOW into.

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

Thanks, I don't frequent the YVR thread.

I suspect WS will fly YYC-TPQ, but it may only be a single season as advance bookings are by the weakest of the newly announced destinations.

Even PXM, which was announced almost 2 months later has double the bookings.

Sad to hear it might only be one season. I'm taking that flight in the new year, and was hoping was hoping for a decent alternative to PVR.

[RomanR27]

This ch-aviation article is paywalled, but the headline suggests Flair is getting more 737NGs.

Canada's Flair Airlines to diversify fleet with more B737NGs: https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/159353-canadas-flair-airlines-to-diversify-fleet-with-more-b737ngs

[thenoflyzone]

BA reshuffling fleet to Canada for S26.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/251020-bans26inc

British Airways up to Monday (20OCT25) filed additional changes to its planned aircraft changes on intercontinental routes, for Northern summer 2026 season. Planned adjustments as of 20OCT25, including those previously not covered since 16OCT25, as follows.

London Heathrow – Montreal eff 29MAR26 1 daily flight operated by 787-8/-9, instead of -8 only (787-10 also scheduled in July/August 2026)

London Heathrow – Toronto
* BA093/092 eff 29MAR26 Initially filed 777-200ER replaced by 787-8/787-10/A350-1000
* BA099/098 eff 29MAR26 787-8/-9/-10 operates along with 777-200ER

London Heathrow – Vancouver
* BA085/084
01JUL26 – 31AUG26 A350-1000 replaces 777-200ER

* BA087/086
30MAR26 – 30JUN26 3 of 4 weekly 787-8 replaces 777-200ER
01JUL26 – 31AUG26 1 daily 777-200ER (unchanged)
01SEP26 – 05OCT25 787-8 replaces 777-200ER, 4 weekly
eff 06OCT26 3 of 4 weekly 787-8 replaces 777-200ER

LX will also send their new A350 to YUL at the end of Feb and Mar 2026.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/251020-lx1q26yul

Also, OS is changing flight numbers to YUL as of next week, the start of W25. (OS73/74 --->OS55/56) And, B789 is scheduled to take over the route from the B763 at the start of S26.