Canadian Airport Thread II

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

Looking ahead to 2026, it seems YYC is the sole major that doesn't have anything new announced yet? There likely won't be any new long hauls, but I'm guessing they'll be a new domestic add (YAM / maybe even YQX) and maybe more Mexico later in the year.

WS does have another possible international destination for S26, but I don't believe its planned from YYC.

I think YYC is probably tapped out for international destinations until they receive those new 789s, or maybe some US destinations if things turn around. Any idea when the first 789s will be delivered?

[hollywoodcory]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

I think YYC is probably tapped out for international destinations until they receive those new 789s, or maybe some US destinations if things turn around. Any idea when the first 789s will be delivered?

As of today, the first is expected in 2031.

[Zmonkey]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

I think YYC is probably tapped out for international destinations until they receive those new 789s, or maybe some US destinations if things turn around. Any idea when the first 789s will be delivered?

What is most likely to happen is more year round service to places where its only part of the year.
Quebec City, Whitehorse, Detroit, Boston, Denver, Windsor etc.

Long Haul, it would need to be a foreign carrier. Air Canada isnt going to do it with there new strategy and WestJet cant do it with how limited they are plane wise.

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

As of today, the first is expected in 2031.

Okay, that's quite a ways off. Even with the new 789s there are a limited amount of places they could fly the 789 to. PEK maybe? LIS has been mentioned, but I recall there is an issue with available slots.

Originally Posted by Zmonkey

What is most likely to happen is more year round service to places where its only part of the year.
Quebec City, Whitehorse, Detroit, Boston, Denver, Windsor etc.

Long Haul, it would need to be a foreign carrier. Air Canada isnt going to do it with there new strategy and WestJet cant do it with how limited they are plane wise.

Agreed. Probably more frequency and maybe some extra places that are in Max 8 range. Westjet will be getting more 789s but not until 2031 as per Hollywoodcory's post.

[nname]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

Looking ahead to 2026, it seems YYC is the sole major that doesn't have anything new announced yet? There likely won't be any new long hauls, but I'm guessing they'll be a new domestic add (YAM / maybe even YQX) and maybe more Mexico later in the year.

WS does have another possible international destination for S26, but I don't believe its planned from YYC.

YVR haven't really got anything *new* for 2026 as well, just improvements on existing destinations:
* AC conversion of BKK to year-round
* PD entering YVR-PHX as the third carrier on the route
* F8 restarting YVR-YUL as the fourth carrier on the route
* YB restarting YVR-YHS that was suspended this summer
* Frequency improvements and seasonal extensions for some routes

[hollywoodcory]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

Okay, that's quite a ways off. Even with the new 789s there are a limited amount of places they could fly the 789 to. PEK maybe? LIS has been mentioned, but I recall there is an issue with available slots.

They did say if earlier spots become available they'd take it.

MAD / CPH / ATH are strong contenders I'd say. PEK would require access to Russian airspace, so I'd say PVG is more likely in China. Maybe they go after another destination in Japan? KIX?

[hollywoodcory]

Originally Posted by nname

YVR haven't really got anything *new* for 2026 as well, just improvements on existing destinations:
* AC conversion of BKK to year-round
* PD entering YVR-PHX as the third carrier on the route
* F8 restarting YVR-YUL as the fourth carrier on the route
* YB restarting YVR-YHS that was suspended this summer
* Frequency improvements and seasonal extensions for some routes

WS also announced YVR-YYF.

I guess in a sense, WS converted YYC-GDL / MZT to year-round, so in a sense those are "new" as they weren't flown last summer.

[mcminsen]

... oops, wrong thread.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by nname

YVR haven't really got anything *new* for 2026 as well, just improvements on existing destinations:
* AC conversion of BKK to year-round
* PD entering YVR-PHX as the third carrier on the route
* F8 restarting YVR-YUL as the fourth carrier on the route
* YB restarting YVR-YHS that was suspended this summer
* Frequency improvements and seasonal extensions for some routes

YVR of late has a tendency of getting new airlines, but not new destinations. It will be the same when EK announces DXB-YVR.

Originally Posted by Zmonkey

Long Haul, it would need to be a foreign carrier. Air Canada isnt going to do it with there new strategy and WestJet cant do it with how limited they are plane wise.

…and foreign carriers have a tough go of making YYC work.

[nname]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

YVR of late has a tendency of getting new airlines, but not new destinations. It will be the same when EK announces DXB-YVR.

Most airline only operates long haul out of the primary hub of the country, and there aren't that many countries on the Pacific side... With the population size of Canada, it's surprising that both AC and WS hadn't become "Air Toronto"

Well, technically DXB will be a new destination since AC no longer operates the route. Other than that, maybe the only one from the Pacific side would be VN from SGN if AC doesn't beat them to it. Other than that, the next one will likely have to come from the Atlantic or South American side...

[VancityAvgeek33]

Originally Posted by nname

Most airline only operates long haul out of the primary hub of the country, and there aren't that many countries on the Pacific side... With the population size of Canada, it's surprising that both AC and WS hadn't become "Air Toronto"

Well, technically DXB will be a new destination since AC no longer operates the route. Other than that, maybe the only one from the Pacific side would be VN from SGN if AC doesn't beat them to it. Other than that, the next one will likely have to come from the Atlantic or South American side...

Do we even have confirmation that EK will even launch yvr in the first place?

[ninjakafi_81]

Originally Posted by VancityAvgeek33

Do we even have confirmation that EK will even launch yvr in the first place?

A part of me hopes for EK to launch flights out of YVR, but I feel like EK would go double daily out of YYZ unless they got a hold of all 14 extra slots.

[nname]

Originally Posted by ninjakafi_81

A part of me hopes for EK to launch flights out of YVR, but I feel like EK would go double daily out of YYZ unless they got a hold of all 14 extra slots.

If EK wanted to increase YYZ to double daily, they would've announce it as soon as the extra bilateral was granted? The only thing that would prevent it is the shortage of plane, but I don't think that applies to EK, as it wouldn't be hard to find a slack in their network to run an extra daily flight.

Adding a new destination would take longer, so maybe that's why there's the wait... or maybe EK and EY are still contesting the slots...

[thenoflyzone]

In my book, AC flew YVR-DXB earlier this year, and EK will most likely fly DXB-YVR next year, so on a year over year basis, YVR isn’t gaining a new destination.

The fact that EK has yet to announce is proof the bilateral increase was unplanned and caught everyone off guard. I don’t think they have that much slack in their fleet, considering they are going through PE upgrades on a good number of 77Ws. The A380 PE upgrades might not be done either. So it will take a bit of shuffling to launch a new route that was unplanned.

This being said, I would expect an announcement shortly for a S26 launch. They are most likely finalizing things with YVRAA. They’re a picky airline with a lot of conditions. (Ex. They always want a jet bridge with dual walkways if available).

[thenoflyzone]

Speaking of…..

As of March 29, EK goes from a 77W to a 77L at SEA. Coincidence? I think not……

As I said, expect an announcement shortly.

[hollywoodcory]

Seems like a few more WS Transborder routes are in danger. The following is currently only bookabe in full fare W /Y class:

YYC-RDU
YEG-SLC

I'd honestly would have guessed ANC would have been dropped before RDU.

[Zmonkey]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

Seems like a few more WS Transborder routes are in danger. The following is currently only bookabe in full fare W /Y class:

YYC-RDU
YEG-SLC

I'd honestly would have guessed ANC would have been dropped before RDU.

ANC have a connection to cruise traffic? If so that would keep it going.

[Dominion301]

CMA/Central Mountain Air are expanding into Quebec with scheduled service. They will be launching 6x weekly service to the communities on Quebec’s north shore connecting them with YZV, YQB & YUL. I think this will make CMA the 7th carrier to offer service between YQB and YUL/YHU.

https://www.flycma.com/news/central-moun...lower-north-shore-beginning-january-2026

According to the announcement, they already have charter bases in YUL & YBX. I winder if they might try something Ontario as it says they have one at YHM too? YHM-YOW/YUL on a DH1 perhaps?

[casper]

Originally Posted by Zmonkey

ANC have a connection to cruise traffic? If so that would keep it going.

Typically the cruises out of Vancouver are around 7 days one-way or a 14 days round trip. So you get a good number of people that chose to do the one way cruise and fly back. Vancouver sailing tends to have more Europeans.

Seattle tends to have more Americans and tends to be closed loop returns out of Seattle.

Makes sense for WestJet and Air Canada to connect ANC with their respective hubs especially if they can capture some onward traffic to Europe or Asia.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

CMA/Central Mountain Air are expanding into Quebec with scheduled service. They will be launching 6x weekly service to the communities on Quebec’s north shore connecting them with YZV, YQB & YUL. I think this will make CMA the 7th carrier to offer service between YQB and YUL/YHU.

https://www.flycma.com/news/central-moun...lower-north-shore-beginning-january-2026

According to the announcement, they already have charter bases in YUL & YBX. I winder if they might try something Ontario as it says they have one at YHM too? YHM-YOW/YUL on a DH1 perhaps?

Totally out of left field, but a welcomed addition to Quebec.

Looks like they will be out of Skyservice FBO at YUL. At YQB it will be TSAS FBO.

You’d think YHU would have been all over this. And yet, the airline still chose YUL.