Canadian Airport Thread II - Page 208

Djeffery · #**4141** Posted **Feb 13, 2026, 12:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Thanks for the nostalgia trip back in time! Remember Air Nova and the BAe 146 fondly. It was a spiffy little jet and it was the shortest jet flight I've taken; going YFC-YSJ-YHZ.

I remember about 30 years ago I tried coming back to London from Moncton on the August holiday weekend. All I could get was what I would call the Air Canada Connector Milk Run. Air Nova on the BAe146 from Moncton through Saint John to Montreal and then Air Ontario on the Dash 8 from Montreal to London with a stop at Toronto Island. God what a long day that was lol. Only time I was on the 146, enjoyed the ride and loved the view with the high wings. No thrust reversers as I recall which wasn't something I was used to on a jet. Full length landing rollouts at Saint John and Montreal, I assume to save the brakes

SteelTown · #**4142** Posted **Feb 13, 2026, 3:15 PM**

Just in time for winter, jet bridges now at Hamilton Airport

Source: https://www.facebook.com/HamiltonInternationalAirport/

thenoflyzone · #**4143** Posted **Feb 13, 2026, 7:16 PM**

^ That's a pretty old and banged up jet bridge. Wonder which airport they got it from. I know YUL got rid of 2 jet bridges in the last little while (gate 3 more recently, but also gate 72 around 2018). Wonder if it was from them. The one at gate 3 definitely looked like something in the picture above. In fact, most of the gates on the domestic jetty look like that, althought some have been replaced. In fact, they probably moved the jet bridge that was at gate 72 over to the domestic side, since it was a newer one and in much better shape.

In the press release posted by Dominion301 on the previous page, YHM thanked YVR airport authority. I think YVR AA has a hand in the kiosk technology that was installed as well, but could be the jet bridges are from there as well.

someone123 · #**4144** Posted **Feb 13, 2026, 7:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Copy that…took it too literally. Yeah YHZ is the mini Atlantic version of YYC.

I wonder if Winnipeg ever was a hub for the West (or is it too close to Toronto?), and when Calgary took off as the hub. I guess the rise of WestJet is one factor. Calgary and Winnipeg were about the same size even in the 80s and 90s, and Edmonton is about the same size too with its own major airport. Even YVR has lost out to some degree to YYC in flights due to WestJet.

In general Calgary has turned into more of a hub or a more prominent city in the West, and not just one of 3 bigger Prairie cities, but that has happened quite recently.

MonctonRad · #**4145** Posted **Feb 13, 2026, 7:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

^ That's a pretty old and banged up jet bridge. Wonder which airport they got it from. I know YUL got rid of 2 jet bridges in the last little while (gate 3 more recently, but also gate 72 around 2018). Wonder if it was from them. The one at gate 3 definitely looked like something in the picture above. In fact, most of the gates on the domestic jetty look like that, althought some have been replaced. In fact, they probably moved the jet bridge that was at gate 72 over to the domestic side, since it was a newer one and in much better shape.

In the press release posted by Dominion301 on the previous page, YHM thanked YVR airport authority. I think YVR AA has a hand in the kiosk technology that was installed as well, but could be the jet bridges are from there as well.

They just replaced the two jet bridges at YQM in Moncton in the fall. The bridge in that photo looks awfully familiar........

thenoflyzone · #**4146** Posted **Feb 13, 2026, 7:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RomanR27

Landed runway 14: https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/POE209/history/20260211/2210Z/CYYZ/CYHZ

METAR seems to really support a runway 05 landing, though, at least based on the winds: https://metar-taf.com/history/CYHZ?station_id=0

METAR CYHZ 120000Z 05011G16KT 3/4SM R14/P6000FT/U R23/P6000FT/D -SN OVC006 M01/M01 A2936 RMK ST8 /S03/ SLP951

METAR CYHZ 120037Z 04010G17KT 2SM -SN OVC008 M01/M02 A2934 RMK ST8 SLP945

Maybe 05/23 had snow clearing ops ongoing?

Could be. Everyone was landing/departing on 14 around that time, based on FR24.

Bourkky · #**4147** Posted **Feb 13, 2026, 8:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

^ That's a pretty old and banged up jet bridge. Wonder which airport they got it from. I know YUL got rid of 2 jet bridges in the last little while (gate 3 more recently, but also gate 72 around 2018). Wonder if it was from them. The one at gate 3 definitely looked like something in the picture above. In fact, most of the gates on the domestic jetty look like that, althought some have been replaced. In fact, they probably moved the jet bridge that was at gate 72 over to the domestic side, since it was a newer one and in much better shape.

Well none of the jet bridges in YUL have the utility stairs on the right side even tho they should.

hollywoodcory · #**4148** Posted **Feb 13, 2026, 9:12 PM**

WS has further moved up YYC-YQB’s resumption to April 18.

Also I see they added an additional weekly frequency on YYC-CUN/PVR for March/April. Guess they are starting to find places to move the capacity removed from Cuba.

Djeffery · #**4149** Posted **Feb 13, 2026, 9:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

^ That's a pretty old and banged up jet bridge. Wonder which airport they got it from. I know YUL got rid of 2 jet bridges in the last little while (gate 3 more recently, but also gate 72 around 2018). Wonder if it was from them. The one at gate 3 definitely looked like something in the picture above. In fact, most of the gates on the domestic jetty look like that, althought some have been replaced. In fact, they probably moved the jet bridge that was at gate 72 over to the domestic side, since it was a newer one and in much better shape.

In the press release posted by Dominion301 on the previous page, YHM thanked YVR airport authority. I think YVR AA has a hand in the kiosk technology that was installed as well, but could be the jet bridges are from there as well.

London's 2 original jet bridges from over 20 years ago are gone now too, although I'm pretty sure they were gone much longer ago than recently enough to go to Hamilton. Unless they were just in storage (perhaps in the otherwise empty cargo building) in the meantime. I had thought maybe they just moved them over to the new gates when those were built but I see in looking back on Google Earth that all 6 bridges were there at one time, now just the 4.

SteelTown · #**4150** Posted **Feb 13, 2026, 10:30 PM**

The jet bridges came from LaGuardia. Vantage Airport operate both airports.

Dominion301 · #**4151** Posted **Feb 13, 2026, 11:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Djeffery

London's 2 original jet bridges from over 20 years ago are gone now too, although I'm pretty sure they were gone much longer ago than recently enough to go to Hamilton. Unless they were just in storage (perhaps in the otherwise empty cargo building) in the meantime. I had thought maybe they just moved them over to the new gates when those were built but I see in looking back on Google Earth that all 6 bridges were there at one time, now just the 4.

So does YXU nowadays have 4 loading bridges? Hopefully YXU get a few more flights back. I know YWG's returning and AC are upping YYZ at last to 5x daily. You've gotta think YOW will return at some point.

jc_yyc_ca · #**4152** Posted **Feb 13, 2026, 11:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

Not a source I usually turn to, so I don't know how accurate they are. However it looks like AirTransat is dropping their routes to the US to focus on overseas destinations. Good move, I don't think there are a lot of Canadians looking to vacation in the US these days.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Air-Transat-to-stop-flights-to-US?ct=

Lots of articles confirming this. Always disappointing to see routes canceled.

On the flip side it's good to see lots of Canadians boycotting the US. Those flights will come back later once the gong show is over. Assuming the gong show will actually end.

isaidso · #**4153** Posted **Feb 14, 2026, 5:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc_yyc_ca

On the flip side it's good to see lots of Canadians boycotting the US. Those flights will come back later once the gong show is over. Assuming the gong show will actually end.

Some of those flights may eventually come back but a TON of Canadians seem done with the US permanently. They don't want to have anything to do with the US.

casper · #**4154** Posted **Feb 14, 2026, 7:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

I wonder if Winnipeg ever was a hub for the West (or is it too close to Toronto?), and when Calgary took off as the hub. I guess the rise of WestJet is one factor. Calgary and Winnipeg were about the same size even in the 80s and 90s, and Edmonton is about the same size too with its own major airport. Even YVR has lost out to some degree to YYC in flights due to WestJet.

In general Calgary has turned into more of a hub or a more prominent city in the West, and not just one of 3 bigger Prairie cities, but that has happened quite recently.

Hub can mean different things to different people.

Air Canada had a bit of a hub setup in Winnipeg in years past. I would regularly do YVR-YWG-YOW back when one of the daily flights was a DC-9. Winnipeg was about as far as you could get with that aircraft type. They also connected Saskatoon and Regina through Winnipeg to destinations in Ontario and Quebec. Think 90s. On some days of the week there was also a Winnipeg to London Heathrow flight on Air Canada.

On the WestJet side, in the "old days" when WestJet only had a small fleet of used 737 and no Q400s they were in to milk-runs. They would have a morning flight that left Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton and Calgary into Winnipeg. Those flights would transfer passengers in Winnipeg and one would head on to Toronto while other with continue on to Ottawa and Montreal. The reverse happened at the end of the day.

Djeffery · #**4155** Posted **Feb 14, 2026, 11:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

Hub can mean different things to different people.

Air Canada had a bit of a hub setup in Winnipeg in years past. I would regularly do YVR-YWG-YOW back when one of the daily flights was a DC-9. Winnipeg was about as far as you could get with that aircraft type. They also connected Saskatoon and Regina through Winnipeg to destinations in Ontario and Quebec. Think 90s. On some days of the week there was also a Winnipeg to London Heathrow flight on Air Canada.

On the WestJet side, in the "old days" when WestJet only had a small fleet of used 737 and no Q400s they were in to milk-runs. They would have a morning flight that left Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton and Calgary into Winnipeg. Those flights would transfer passengers in Winnipeg and one would head on to Toronto while other with continue on to Ottawa and Montreal. The reverse happened at the end of the day.

As I recall, WestJet's first flights from London were to Winnipeg on the -200 and then Calgary came along when they started getting the NG's.

Djeffery · #**4156** Posted **Feb 14, 2026, 11:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominion301

So does YXU nowadays have 4 loading bridges? Hopefully YXU get a few more flights back. I know YWG's returning and AC are upping YYZ at last to 5x daily. You've gotta think YOW will return at some point.

Yep, just the 4, not sure if there has ever been a time they have used all 4 at once. I have seen 3 jets there at once when we had somewhat regular Flair and Swoop service. I swear London is the most under utilized airport in Canada for the facilities they have.

Interesting that in the summer, all 5 of those Toronto flights are showing as E175 jets instead of the typical DH4. I know they mix in the E175 or the CRJ900 in now with the turboprop. Doesn't mean anything for seat counts but it's still the perception of better service when you get on a jet. Unfortunately, the 5x daily looks to be peak summer only, with 4x in the shoulder season before dropping back to 3x later in the fall, based on a few days I have grabbed on the website. I wonder what AC is doing with those DH4's in the summer, more flights out of Billy Bishop maybe?

hehehe · #**4157** Posted **Feb 14, 2026, 9:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

WS has further moved up YYC-YQB’s resumption to April 18.

Also I see they added an additional weekly frequency on YYC-CUN/PVR for March/April. Guess they are starting to find places to move the capacity removed from Cuba.

I wonder what will happen to VRA in the summer...

Dominion301 · #**4158** Posted **Feb 15, 2026, 4:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Yep, just the 4, not sure if there has ever been a time they have used all 4 at once. I have seen 3 jets there at once when we had somewhat regular Flair and Swoop service. I swear London is the most under utilized airport in Canada for the facilities they have.

Interesting that in the summer, all 5 of those Toronto flights are showing as E175 jets instead of the typical DH4. I know they mix in the E175 or the CRJ900 in now with the turboprop. Doesn't mean anything for seat counts but it's still the perception of better service when you get on a jet. Unfortunately, the 5x daily looks to be peak summer only, with 4x in the shoulder season before dropping back to 3x later in the fall, based on a few days I have grabbed on the website. I wonder what AC is doing with those DH4's in the summer, more flights out of Billy Bishop maybe?

Yeah YXU is even more underutilizes than YHM. I also noticed all E75s for the summer out of YXU. While it’s a net capacity increase thanks to the increase in frequency, the capacity per departure actually drops slightly from 78 to 76. Lots more YTZ DH4 flying is coming this year with the opening of preclearance and AC’s new YTZ transborder routes to ORD, LGA, IAD and BOS plus increased YOW and YUL frequencies for a total of 13 new daily departures. Believe it or not, AC will soon have more YTZ-YOW capacity than PD.

I wouldn’t read too much yet into next winter!s schedule. Much of it at this point will just be a dummy placeholder of this winter.

casper · #**4159** Posted **Feb 15, 2026, 9:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Djeffery

As I recall, WestJet's first flights from London were to Winnipeg on the -200 and then Calgary came along when they started getting the NG's.

Back in the day I was doing a project with part of the team in Saskatoon and part of the team in London. I ended up taking that milk run fairly frequently.

If I remember correctly the flight was London-Winnipeg-Saskatoon-Calgary-Vancouver-Prince George. There were some poor folks taking it all the way from London to Prince George.

Myst · #**4160** Posted **Feb 15, 2026, 3:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

Back in the day I was doing a project with part of the team in Saskatoon and part of the team in London. I ended up taking that milk run fairly frequently.

If I remember correctly the flight was London-Winnipeg-Saskatoon-Calgary-Vancouver-Prince George. There were some poor folks taking it all the way from London to Prince George.

I used to take some milk run flights, too. They’re underappreciated, IMO.

While 4 stops is maybe a bit much, they tended to be shorter stops. If you were continuing, you stayed on the plane. The stop might add 45mins, but you might actually be quicker with 2 milk run stops than 1 connection, and no risk of missing a connection. Although I’d also say the objective should be to pair things together for 1 not 2 stops.

Especially since Covid the airlines have been scheduling things at their convenience, not the passengers. My last flight I took a nonstop because it was better to leave at 8pm and arrive at 1am than connect leaving at 10am and arrive at midnight. But what I wanted would have been 9am departure and a single connection that would arrive at 3 or 4pm.