Atlantic Canada airport thread

[cliff2121]

Am I the only one here relatively satisfied with the NB airports situation? One stop connections through Toronto or Montreal to destinations all over the world has worked fine for me, on a choice of what, six airlines...?

When I lived in the SJ area I would use that airport or sometimes drive to YQM or YFC and fly WS or PD to Toronto and self-connect to an international ticket, and didn't mind it for two or three trips a year. I do that less nowadays as United code shares on many flights into NB, and AC code shares and interlines with more and more airlines as well.

Come to think of it, in 2023 I actually drove from Dieppe to YSJ as it was the only airport to have a noon hour flight to YYZ at that time of year, which conveniently let me catch an evening flight overseas... so advantage Saint John in that case!

[bridgeoftea]

Definitely quite lucky to have multiple options for planning out flights.
Definitely jealous of YQM and their current flight list. Personally I hope they keep gaining more routes and links!

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by cliff2121

Am I the only one here relatively satisfied with the NB airports situation? One stop connections through Toronto or Montreal to destinations all over the world has worked fine for me, on a choice of what, six airlines...?

When I lived in the SJ area I would use that airport or sometimes drive to YQM or YFC and fly WS or PD to Toronto and self-connect to an international ticket, and didn't mind it for two or three trips a year. I do that less nowadays as United code shares on many flights into NB, and AC code shares and interlines with more and more airlines as well.

Come to think of it, in 2023 I actually drove from Dieppe to YSJ as it was the only airport to have a noon hour flight to YYZ at that time of year, which conveniently let me catch an evening flight overseas... so advantage Saint John in that case!

The biggest issue for me is when Air Canada removes its evening YYZ-YFC and early morning YFC-YYZ flights occasionally, which really makes international connections difficult.

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

Hi everyone
This might not be a question anyone here can answer but im looking at flying Moncton to Los Angeles next April with a 1 hour 25 minute connection in Montreal and I am wondering if that is a long enough connection?
I've never flown cross-border before so I am trying to figure everything out.
Thanks

[Pugsley]

Originally Posted by CharlotteCountyLogan

Hi everyone
This might not be a question anyone here can answer but im looking at flying Moncton to Los Angeles next April with a 1 hour 25 minute connection in Montreal and I am wondering if that is a long enough connection?
I've never flown cross-border before so I am trying to figure everything out.
Thanks

Should be fine. Do you have a Nexus card? Certainly speeds things up.

[magee_b]

Originally Posted by CharlotteCountyLogan

Hi everyone
This might not be a question anyone here can answer but im looking at flying Moncton to Los Angeles next April with a 1 hour 25 minute connection in Montreal and I am wondering if that is a long enough connection?
I've never flown cross-border before so I am trying to figure everything out.
Thanks

The MPC app allows you to pre-fill a declaration on your phone and go through a (usually) expedited line / processing. Would recommend getting that. 1.5 hours is usually more than enough time to walk from domestic to the US side (bit of a hike), pass through security and US pre-clearance. The app should just expedite any potential wait in the pre-clearance line.

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

Originally Posted by magee_b

The MPC app allows you to pre-fill a declaration on your phone and go through a (usually) expedited line / processing. Would recommend getting that. 1.5 hours is usually more than enough time to walk from domestic to the US side (bit of a hike), pass through security and US pre-clearance. The app should just expedite any potential wait in the pre-clearance line.

That sounds like a useful app. I'll download it before we go. Thanks for the help

[gtsoc]

Originally Posted by CharlotteCountyLogan

Hi everyone
This might not be a question anyone here can answer but im looking at flying Moncton to Los Angeles next April with a 1 hour 25 minute connection in Montreal and I am wondering if that is a long enough connection?
I've never flown cross-border before so I am trying to figure everything out.
Thanks

I only connect to the US through Montreal now. I've connected with less than 40 minutes (that included going through security again and then visiting with the CBP officer) first thing in the morning. I've never encountered any issues and it's very smooth (don't ask about Toronto!). Only downside is it is a bit of a walk from where the usual gate for Moncton is located.

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

Originally Posted by gtsoc

I only connect to the US through Montreal now. I've connected with less than 40 minutes (that included going through security again and then visiting with the CBP officer) first thing in the morning. I've never encountered any issues and it's very smooth (don't ask about Toronto!). Only downside is it is a bit of a walk from where the usual gate for Moncton is located.

Yeah there's a option to connect through Pearson but early morning pearson seems like it would be a madhouse.
For the walk we'll just get a wheelchair for one of the traveling party who has mobility issues

[Nashe]

Montreal is a lot easier to make connections at. Pearson's gate for Moncton is about as far away from everything else as you can get.

[MonctonRad]

Air Canada has just announced a new destination for Halifax Stanfield.

YHZ-BRU (Brussels).

Since the travel boycott to the USA has started, YHZ is making out like a bandit in terms of now European connections.

[magee_b]

Air Canada adding Halifax to Brussels

Halifax - Brussels
Air Canada’s flights from Halifax to Brussels will be offered three times per week on a narrowbody aircraft configured with the airline’s Premium and Economy cabins. Brussels, which is a gateway to Europe and Africa via Air Canada’s Star Alliance partner Brussels Airlines, becomes Air Canada’s second international destination the carrier serves from Halifax, joining London Heathrow. The airline also connects the Nova Scotia capital to Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Deer Lake, Gander and St. John’s, and offers transborder service to Boston and Newark.

Halifax (YHZ) Brussels (BRU) Tue, Thu, Sat Jun. 18, 2026 - Sep. 5, 2026
Brussels (BRU) Halifax (YHZ) Wed, Fri, Sun Jun. 19, 2026 - Sep. 6, 2026

https://www.aircanada.com/media/more-eur...t-transatlantic-network-by-destinations/

[lirette]

I always think of these european flights from Halifax for selfish reasons (my own travel) but this has gotta be a nice boost overall to tourism in not only Halifax but the rest of the maritimes. I have no doubt people are heading to Cape Breton, South Shore, PEI as well as New Brunswick as part of longer vacations.

The maritimes is a great vacation spot if you want to get away from "over tourism" you see most other popular places.

[miniborder]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Since the travel boycott to the USA has started, YHZ is making out like a bandit in terms of now European connections.

It's more due to the completion of YHZ's $18M international connections facility and less due to Canada-USA relations.

Joyce and the HIAA team have done great work.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by CharlotteCountyLogan

Yeah there's a option to connect through Pearson but early morning pearson seems like it would be a madhouse.
For the walk we'll just get a wheelchair for one of the traveling party who has mobility issues

Travelling with someone with mobility issues will almost certainly assure you make your connection with loads of time to spare, along with priority boarding.

85 minutes is a pretty ideal layover, just don't doddle, and because you are travelling with someone with mobility issues, you may be able to get a ride on those golf cart type vehicles they have at the Montreal Airport. I'd recommend asking for assistance from an AC representative when you land in Montreal. I once got to hitch a ride on one of those when I was travelling with my dad... highly recommended.

The real airport madhouse, imo, is YUL when connecting back to New Brunswick with a short a layover. I'll now always take a short connection back to New Brunswick through Toronto Pearson over Montreal Trudeau. I've been screwed multiple times by AC giving me ultra short 35-40 minute connections back to Saint John from Montreal that required clearing customs.

The worst time ever, my flight from Shanghai was delayed arriving in Montreal in by 25 minutes, and I had to fight with the Air Canada representative at the airport to get me a voucher for a hotel, as she was trying to claim I had enough time to cleared custom and still make my connection, and I nearly did too! Not only was my flight almost as late as the entirety of my layover, there was a huge Air Transat flight that had arrived at the same time from Mexico... it was next to impossible... the AC representative eventually relented, but made sure to stick me in a hotel in Longueuil!

Two other times I actually made it through AC's ultra short layovers in Montreal, that included clearing customs, but my luggage did not arrive in Saint John with me. I've since just paid more to avoid such connections returning home, but the experience with that AC representative (and others at YUL) has really turned me off the Montreal airport in general. 😅

All that being said, I've never had a problem flying through YUL with a shorter layover onwards to an international destination... I've only had problems with short layovers + clearing customs at YUL when returning to YSJ.

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Travelling with someone with mobility issues will almost certainly assure you make your connection with loads of time to spare, along with priority boarding.

85 minutes is a pretty ideal layover, just don't doddle, and because you are travelling with someone with mobility issues, you may be able to get a ride on those golf cart type vehicles they have at the Montreal Airport. I'd recommend asking for assistance from an AC representative when you land in Montreal. I once got to hitch a ride on one of those when I was travelling with my dad... highly recommended.

The real airport madhouse, imo, is YUL when connecting back to New Brunswick with a short a layover. I'll now always take a short connection back to New Brunswick through Toronto Pearson over Montreal Trudeau. I've been screwed multiple times by AC giving me ultra short 35-40 minute connections back to Saint John from Montreal that required clearing customs.

The worst time ever, my flight from Shanghai was delayed arriving in Montreal in by 25 minutes, and I had to fight with the Air Canada representative at the airport to get me a voucher for a hotel, as she was trying to claim I had enough time to cleared custom and still make my connection, and I nearly did too! Not only was my flight almost as late as the entirety of my layover, there was a huge Air Transat flight that had arrived at the same time from Mexico... it was next to impossible... the AC representative eventually relented, but made sure to stick me in a hotel in Longueuil!

Two other times I actually made it through AC's ultra short layovers in Montreal, that included clearing customs, but my luggage did not arrive in Saint John with me. I've since just paid more to avoid such connections returning home, but the experience with that AC representative (and others at YUL) has really turned me off the Montreal airport in general. 😅

All that being said, I've never had a problem flying through YUL with a shorter layover onwards to an international destination... I've only had problems with short layovers + clearing customs at YUL when returning to YSJ.

Thankfully our connection coming back from Vancouver (yes its a multi city trip) has a 1:40 layover in Ottawa so Im not worried there. Its just the flying across the border which had my nerves a bit worried. Thanks for the advice

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Air Canada has just announced a new destination for Halifax Stanfield.

YHZ-BRU (Brussels).

Since the travel boycott to the USA has started, YHZ is making out like a bandit in terms of now European connections.

That great, now just need a lot more flights to Halifax. (and a much better interprovincial bus system)

[q12]

14 European airports served directly from Halifax this summer.

Only behind Toronto Pearson (YYZ), and Montreal (YUL) for most number of European destinations served from a Canadian airport.



Also Moncton, Fredericton and Charlottetown now show up on the route map out of Halifax.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by q12

14 European airports served directly from Halifax this summer.

Only behind Toronto Pearson (YYZ), and Montreal (YUL) for most number of European destinations served from a Canadian airport.



Also Moncton, Fredericton and Charlottetown now show up on the route map out of Halifax.

That's a seriously impressive route map.

Though, I wonder why there's not a single winter flight to the Azores, Madeira, The Canaries, Lisbon, Nice, Ibiza, Agadir, etc?

Sure one of these prospective transatlantic winter routes could sustain a weekly flight?


Certainly Canadian tourists would be interested in going to some winter destinations other than Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean?

There's also a lot of North Africans in the maritimes now, and a single winter flight to the south of Portugal, Spain, France/Italy, or North Africa might prove popular not just among North Africans in the maritimes, but for the rest of the growing tourism market.

These locations across the pond might not be as hot as Mexico or Cuba, but I think there's a lot of benefit to visiting Europe in the off season. Who the hell wants to travel to London, England during the winter anyways?

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Who the hell wants to travel to London, England during the winter anyways?

Presumably a lot of people, considering that AC has operated YHZ-LHR daily for about 60 years now.