Canadian Airport Thread II

[hehehe]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

I wasn't sure if I should include ADZ in the Caribbean or South America.

The 100th destination is expected to be announced in January, but it doesn't sound like it will be that exciting. (I've heard it could even be the LGA route they announced for this year but dropped, but not confirmed).

Even if it's Prince Albert, I'd consider that exciting, lol. Without more 787's it's not like there's much more exotic stuff to add, especially in the summer and with a depressed US market.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

But is it held at the airport? If not, YQM is a total misnomer.

Just sayin'...

About 5 km away, closer to downtown Dieppe.

https://yqmcountryfest.ca/

[hollywoodcory]

Originally Posted by hehehe

Even if it's Prince Albert, I'd consider that exciting, lol. Without more 787's it's not like there's much more exotic stuff to add, especially in the summer and with a depressed US market.

I mean yeah, any new non-stop is good. But I mean it won't match the level of excitement they've announced of late, like ICN, KEF, MEX, PTY.

But maybe I'm wrong and they'll pull out something like YYC-MTY or YFB.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Taking a break from route discussion, despite being dormant for many months the ongoing Flair/777 Partners saga continues:

Planes leased to Flair were bought with money from fraud scheme, U.S. prosecutors allege
Eric Atkins Transportation reporter
Published November 18, 2025
Updated Yesterday
For Subscribers

The planes Flair Airlines used to launch its expansion in 2021 were allegedly purchased for it by an investor in a multimillion-dollar fraud using phony financial records, according to court records filed by the U.S. Attorney of New York.

U.S. federal prosecutors in October charged Joshua Wander, head of Miami-based investor 777 Partners, with four counts of fraud related to a US$500-million plot to cheat investors. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton alleges Mr. Wander and former chief financial officer Damien Alfalla used the money to conceal 777 Partners’ financial losses, and buy airlines, professional soccer teams, film companies and streaming platforms. Mr. Wander, 44, also faces a civil case before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission....

...According to a grand jury indictment recently unsealed in a New York court, Mr. Wander allegedly used fraudulently obtained money to purchase and deploy 24 Boeing 737 Max aircraft with Flair and Bonza, an Australian airline it partly owns.

Those planes were purchased with a $10-million loan secured by a list of assets 777 Partners did not own, says the indictment....

....Maciej Wilk, Flair’s chief executive officer, said the airline has no debt, equity or other connections with 777 Partners. “All of Flair’s aircraft are leased from top-tier global aircraft leasing companies and are not affected by these proceedings,” Mr. Wilk said....

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business...g-fraud-plot-joshua-wander-investor-777/

Trying to drum up good press in light of the above? From today's Star. "Yeah we sucked but give us another try"

Flair Airlines survived the budget carrier wars. Now, its new CEO wants you to ‘give us another try’
Flair CEO Maciej Wilk says bad reviews and news over the past several years are now behind them and wants a second chance from disgruntled travelers: ‘We are not the same airline.’
Updated 4 hrs ago
Nov. 21, 2025

By Patty WinsaBusiness Reporter
If there’s one thing the new CEO of Flair Airlines wants is for customers to give them a second chance.

“I’m well aware that there are many customers that have tried us once,” says Maciej Wilk, CEO of Flair, “and said never more.”

The budget airline has been buffeted by bad reviews, with customer complaints about service, reliability and lack of amenities, just to name a few criticisms.

“I would like to cordially ask all these passengers to give us another try because we’ve changed,” he adds. “We are not the same airline and I think this time we are really worth their trust.”....

https://www.thestar.com/business/flair-a...3746743-f21e-4203-aded-6bd6fe9bd2ff.html

[DSTANDBYGUY]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

It's a foot in the door, but it's not pretty. And it won't get any better for a while. New airport isn't slated to open until 2034.

Knowing this, it will be interesting to see if they tough it out on the route, or pull out due to the shitty timings.

Full credit to them for attempting the route, however, unlike B6.

With these latest additions, WS pretty much maxes out it's potential 737 destinations list in Europe from YHZ. Not much else they can add, besides maybe Porto or Faro, once they realize those LIS times aren't going to cut it.

I think Westjet is banking on a lot of people ending their itinerary in Lisbon so the timing shouldn’t matter too much.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by DSTANDBYGUY

I think Westjet is banking on a lot of people ending their itinerary in Lisbon so the timing shouldn’t matter too much.

Personally, the arrival time in LIS isn't as bad as the departure time back to Canada. A 6am departure out of Europe is quite early. I'm actually surprised they were able to secure a 6am departure. Based on last summers' available slots, it seemed almost everything between 5am and 10pm was unavailable.

This being said, arriving in LIS at midnight, and roaming the streets of Lisbon as a first time tourist past 1am, trying to find your Airbnb won't be fun either. It might be ok for young people. Older people might be turned off of it.

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

Personally, the arrival time in LIS isn't as bad as the departure time back to Canada. A 6am departure out of Europe is quite early. I'm actually surprised they were able to secure a 6am departure. Based on last summers' available slots, it seemed almost everything between 5am and 10pm was unavailable.

This being said, arriving in LIS at midnight, and roaming the streets of Lisbon as a first time tourist past 1am, trying to find your Airbnb won't be fun either. It might be ok for young people. Older people might be turned off of it.

I'm old-ish and I'd much rather arrive at 11:55 pm (8 pm Halifax) than do a red eye flight. Years ago we stopped flying via Montreal or Newark on red eyes in favor of direct to Heathrow and on to Lisbon the next day. We've never encountered a cab/Uber driver who doesn't speak english or was unable to drop us right at the doorstep at our destination.

Wouldn't the 2 pm departure be advantages in terms of allowing connecting flights from the west? This past September I spoke with a few passengers from Ontario and there were also Americans on board on our return flight from Barcelona...all connecting in Halifax to flights westward on their way home.

We've stood in the early morning lines at LIS waiting for the kiosks to open. Only attempt to be there 2 hours before departure to establish your place in the queue and don't expect to be able to buy a coffee because nothing is open.

[hollywoodcory]

Doing a quick scan, LIS seems to currently have the best bookings of all the new routes.

Originally Posted by Arrdeeharharharbour

Wouldn't the 2 pm departure be advantages in terms of allowing connecting flights from the west? This past September I spoke with a few passengers from Ontario and there were also Americans on board on our return flight from Barcelona...all connecting in Halifax to flights westward on their way home.

Not really, it would mean flying on the red-eyes that arrive in YHZ in the morning, the first daytime departure from YYC for example leaves at 9am and arrives in YHZ at 5pm.

So in order for someone in the west to fly onwards to LIS, they'd need to leave the night before (depart YYC at 12:15am and arrive 08:10 am and stick around until 2pm.) Not too bad, but not the most ideal.

The return would be okay though.

[hehehe]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

I mean yeah, any new non-stop is good. But I mean it won't match the level of excitement they've announced of late, like ICN, KEF, MEX, PTY.

But maybe I'm wrong and they'll pull out something like YYC-MTY or YFB.

Is MTY out of the realm of possibility? To me it seems like the next logical add.

[hollywoodcory]

WS extended its schedule until April 2027. Its mostly a carbon copy of this years winter schedule except for:

YYC-ICN is extended into November (early sign at year-round maybe)
YYC-BCN ends in late October
YYC-PTY Resumes Oct. 25 rather than in December

Seems like YWG-ATL is a perm drop as its not in the current W26 schedule.

Originally Posted by hehehe

Is MTY out of the realm of possibility? To me it seems like the next logical add.

I don't doubt it will be a future add, but I figure it would be a winter add rather than summer.

[dhottawa729]

Does anyone have any news on when we’ll be able to start booking travel to/from this airport in 2026? There’s been absolutely no news about it online or construction updates and it was supposed to be opening late 2025. It’s astonishing how there no buzz, excitement or rumours for something that will have a big impact on flight routing in eastern canada. Also surprised nobody has made its own sub-thread for it.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by dhottawa729

Does anyone have any news on when we’ll be able to start booking travel to/from this airport in 2026? There’s been absolutely no news about it online or construction updates and it was supposed to be opening late 2025. It’s astonishing how there no buzz, excitement or rumours for something that will have a big impact on flight routing in eastern canada. Also surprised nobody has made its own sub-thread for it.

There’s no buzz because it’s not that exciting. There’s no news because the building is clearly not ready yet. I’ll be astonished if you see flights before the second half of 2026, to be quite honest.

The YUL sub-forum is dead. Imagine a YHU one.

[casper]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

Doing a quick scan, LIS seems to currently have the best bookings of all the new routes.



Not really, it would mean flying on the red-eyes that arrive in YHZ in the morning, the first daytime departure from YYC for example leaves at 9am and arrives in YHZ at 5pm.

So in order for someone in the west to fly onwards to LIS, they'd need to leave the night before (depart YYC at 12:15am and arrive 08:10 am and stick around until 2pm.) Not too bad, but not the most ideal.

The return would be okay though.

Given TAP Air Portugal is not in the Air Canada/Lufthansa joint venture, they price competitively on connections through Toronto using AC for domestic feed. Usually if I am going to Portugal from Western Canada the best deal is a TAP issued ticket. You would have to be desperate to do that long wait in Halifax.

What would be interesting is Air France is interested in buying TAP. If that happens in a few years you may end up with them collaborating with WestJet.

[manny_santos]

WestJet announced YXU-YWG is returning in May 2026 for the summer.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/we...on-ont-to-winnipeg-route-in-spring-2026/

Really hope this helps improve connectivity from London to western Canada. Any way I can avoid Pearson when going to visit my parents without having to pay hundreds of dollars more is appreciated.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

WestJet announced YXU-YWG is returning in May 2026 for the summer.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/we...on-ont-to-winnipeg-route-in-spring-2026/

Really hope this helps improve connectivity from London to western Canada. Any way I can avoid Pearson when going to visit my parents without having to pay hundreds of dollars more is appreciated.

As reported upthread late last week. They've had pretty much daily to Calgary all along and will be resuming double daily to YYC in the summer as well.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

As reported upthread late last week. They've had pretty much daily to Calgary all along and will be resuming double daily to YYC in the summer as well.

Now to get someone to resume service to Ottawa. I'm actually puzzled as to why PD haven't entered YXU yet with a flight timed for connections. I bet YOW-YXU O&D at present is only about 1/4 of what it was back in 2019.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Now to get someone to resume service to Ottawa. I'm actually puzzled as to why PD haven't entered YXU yet with a flight timed for connections. I bet YOW-YXU O&D at present is only about 1/4 of what it was back in 2019.

If PD is planning to replicate what they did at YHM with YXU, I don't think they'd bother with DH4 feeder service since the most popular destinations for connections would likely be served direct anyways.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

If PD is planning to replicate what they did at YHM with YXU, I don't think they'd bother with DH4 feeder service since the most popular destinations for connections would likely be served direct anyways.

I've said before I'd like to see YXU-YOW, but I don't see it happening unless the O&D is there to support it. No one is flying to Ottawa to connect elsewhere when YHM and YYZ are right there offering the direct flights that people would be going to Ottawa to get. I don't think London has the juice to get the kind of service Porter added to Hamilton but I could see a few times a week service to both coasts and a couple points in between like Montreal, maybe throw some pressure on WestJet with Calgary and Winnipeg. And winter seasonal sun destinations.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

I've said before I'd like to see YXU-YOW, but I don't see it happening unless the O&D is there to support it. No one is flying to Ottawa to connect elsewhere when YHM and YYZ are right there offering the direct flights that people would be going to Ottawa to get. I don't think London has the juice to get the kind of service Porter added to Hamilton but I could see a few times a week service to both coasts and a couple points in between like Montreal, maybe throw some pressure on WestJet with Calgary and Winnipeg. And winter seasonal sun destinations.

Pre-pandemic O&D on YXU-YOW was in the 50-60k/year range. Definitely enough to sustain a daily DH4. AC back in the day also would have had a decent number of YXU pax connecting over YOW. O&D (and capacity) to Ottawa was always higher than to Montreal out of London. For long stretches YUL-YXU had no nonstop service whereas YOW-YXU had been served continuously since the 1970s.

[nname]

Looks like AC is reorganizing the flight numbers.

First stage occurs in on March 1, then second stage at the start of W26 season.

From March 1, any mainline flight not belong to the following range will move to where they belong:
000s Pacific/South America
100s Domestic Trans-con involving YYZ
200s Western Canada
300s Domestic Trans-con not involving YYZ
400s Domestic Ontario/Quebec
500s Transborder 1
600s Eastern/Atlantic Canada
700s Transborder 2
800s Atlantic 1
900s (a mix of everything)
1000s - Transborder 3
1100s - All flights to/from Saskachewan, and some other random domestic routes
1200s - Transborder 4
1300s - Mexico/Central America/Caribbean 1
1400s - (empty)

All existing flights in the 1400s are move to the 2200s range.
All domestic express flights in the 7000s range moved to 8000s.

Then from the start of W26:
900s - Atlantic 2, except:
-- 980-989 South America
-- 990-999 Mexico City
1400s - Mexico/Central America/Caribbean 2

The routes in the 2200s are still in the 2200s.

Not sure if AC is going to keep the special flight number range for Rouge, or they will be mixed with the mainline flight since there is no longer much difference in the cabin experience. All the YVR flight to Mexico using 7M8 (which would be Rouge by now) are assigned a new flight number in the 1300 to 1400 range, except for HUX which is 2208.