Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW/CYOW)

[Dominion301]

Today’s departure count: 78

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 12

Today's cancellation count (so far): 0

[Dominion301]

Megabus are now stopping at YOW on the Ottawa-Kingston route up to 4 times a day. What I find strange is the bus originates at YOW and then goes to the St. Laurent Mall (where the non-airport trips originate from), instead of the other way around.

https://ca.megabus.com/route-guides/ottawa-airport-yow-to-kingston-bus

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

My fear is that many of those EX-Cuba tourists will grab the empty seats to Florida - unless airlines quickly advertise additional trips to other Caribbean destinations.

Hadn't thought of that - I hope not. Though you have to think that at least some of the people choosing Cuba picked it to avoid going to the US. There are enough other options that most of them will likely be able to find something non-US, or just cancel altogether, as winter is pretty clearly over.

[Dominion301]

So starting in 2030 AC will operate the A350-1000: https://www.aircanada.com/media/a-new-er...to-support-international-network-growth/

8 firm + 8 options. While this firm order number exactly matches the number of AC original 333s, at the end of the day, I wonder if those will ultimately replace the 6 77Ls with the early build 330s getting replaced by late build 78Xes?

We obviously won't see these at YOW very often. Maybe if AC go with the 359 later on too, then we might see those to LHR, but likely LHR will be 789 summer/XLR winter once the 330s are gone.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

So starting in 2030 AC will operate the A350-1000: https://www.aircanada.com/media/a-new-er...to-support-international-network-growth/

8 firm + 8 options. While this firm order number exactly matches the number of AC original 333s, at the end of the day, I wonder if those will ultimately replace the 6 77Ls with the early build 330s getting replaced by late build 78Xes?

We obviously won't see these at YOW very often. Maybe if AC go with the 359 later on too, then we might see those to LHR, but likely LHR will be 789 summer/XLR winter once the 330s are gone.

Impossible to predict how things look in 2030 and beyond, but if they base some at YVR for TPAC routes, could see it on AC342/345.

Yesterday's AC889 was 15/20 J and 18/21 PY. AC888 was 16/20 J and 19/21 PY.

Both morning WS sun flights were to Cuba this morning, thus have been cancelled and replaced with ferries. I checked and as of now, no extra flights seem to be added to WS' docket to their non-Cuba destinations of PUJ/CUN/PVR/MBJ in place of the Cuba flights.

[Dominion301]

Even with the Cuba cancellations, today could be the day the 90 mark is broken for the first time since March 2020. Will check back tonight.

Today’s departure count: 92

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 14

Today's cancellation count (so far): 2 - as noted by RomanR27 above.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Even with the Cuba cancellations, today could be the day the 90 mark is broken for the first time since March 2020. Will check back tonight.

Today’s departure count: 92

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 14

Today's cancellation count (so far): 2 - as noted by RomanR27 above.

So now that Thursday is over, we have a new post-March 2020 benchmark of 91. One AC DH4 to YTZ ended up cancelling on top of the two Cuba cancellations.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

So now that Thursday is over, we have a new post-March 2020 benchmark of 91. One AC DH4 to YTZ ended up cancelling on top of the two Cuba cancellations.

I don't think that record is going to last long!

There is a 77W on Air France today. AC889 is full in all three cabins today. AC888 is 19/21 PY and full in business.

[Dominion301]

Yesterday morning without looking ahead, I was thinking too @RomanR27, that Friday, the peak travel day of the week, would potentially break Thursday’s record. Barring 3 more cancellations, that’ll be the case.

Today’s departure count: 95

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 16

Today's cancellation count (so far): 1 - WS/WG to SNU

Even with the Cuba crisis and transborder likely coming in at -10%, I think February’s pax count will get back above 400,000 and possibly get back to 2019 levels (February 2020 is the record for the month largely thanks to the leap year day).

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Yesterday morning without looking ahead, I was thinking too @RomanR27, that Friday, the peak travel day of the week, would potentially break Thursday’s record. Barring 3 more cancellations, that’ll be the case.

Today’s departure count: 95

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 16

Today's cancellation count (so far): 1 - WS/WG to SNU

Even with the Cuba crisis and transborder likely coming in at -10%, I think February’s pax count will get back above 400,000 and possibly get back to 2019 levels (February 2020 is the record for the month largely thanks to the leap year day).

With a 77W (it is the 369-seat variant, not the high-Y config), 789 and 788 operating today, I wonder how many passengers YOW will handle today.

On a separate note, here are the November 2025 TB passenger numbers. Looks like AC didn't report - their early MCO/FLL service should be here:

Porter
MCO: 6530/9768 = 66.9%
FLL: 6639/7920 = 83.8%

EWR: 3869/8814 = 43.9%
BOS: 2548/4524 = 56.3%

Air Canada

FLL: 1610/2646 = 60.8%
MCO: 564/1323 = 42.6%

United
EWR: 8567/12034 = 71.2%
ORD: 10279/13212 = 77.8%
IAD: 8828/10958 = 80.6%

Jazz
DCA: 1985/3496 = 56.8%

Edited to add AC's numbers reported retroactively.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

With a 77W (it is the 369-seat variant, not the high-Y config), 789 and 788 operating today, I wonder how many passengers YOW will handle today.

On a separate note, here are the November 2025 TB passenger numbers. Looks like AC didn't report - their early MCO/FLL service should be here:

Porter
MCO: 6530/9768 = 66.9%
FLL: 6639/7920 = 83.8%

EWR: 3869/8814 = 43.9%
BOS: 2548/4524 = 56.3%

Air Canada

Did not report

United
EWR: 8567/12034 = 71.2%
ORD: 10279/13212 = 77.8%
IAD: 8828/10958 = 80.6%

Jazz
DCA: 1985/3496 = 56.8%

Based on these numbers vs YOW's November transborder total, AC carried 2752 pax to/from Florida. At an 85% load for Friday, YOW will handle somewhere in the ballpark of 18,500 pax today.

Today's cancellation count is now up to 3, so the max departures for today is 93, which would still be a record.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Based on these numbers vs YOW's November transborder total, AC carried 2752 pax to/from Florida. At an 85% load for Friday, YOW will handle somewhere in the ballpark of 18,500 pax today.

Today's cancellation count is now up to 3, so the max departures for today is 93, which would still be a record.

I believe there were 22 round trip on the 189-seat 7M8s in November, so 4,158 seats of total capacity.

Looks like one of the Lynx 7M8s went tech as the weekly YOW-MCO was delayed then cancelled.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

I believe there were 22 round trip on the 189-seat 7M8s in November, so 4,158 seats of total capacity.

Looks like one of the Lynx 7M8s went tech as the weekly YOW-MCO was delayed then cancelled.

So that’d be a 66.2% LF in November which is not bad considering the first two weeks of northbound for any seasonal route is typically pretty empty.

Yesterday’s departure count ended up being 93, which is the new post-March 2020 high.

Today’s departure count: 85 - that’s a post-March 2020 Saturday high

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 18

Today's cancellation count (so far): 1 - VRA

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

So that’d be a 66.2% LF in November which is not bad considering the first two weeks of northbound for any seasonal route is typically pretty empty.

Yesterday’s departure count ended up being 93, which is the new post-March 2020 high.

Today’s departure count: 85 - that’s a post-March 2020 Saturday high

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 18

Today's cancellation count (so far): 1 - VRA

I believe the YOW TB pax don't always correspond exactly with the US DoT numbers - in general I imagine AC's MCO is lower than FLL since MCO is essentially a positioning flight.

In other news, I noticed AC has gotten rid of the fourth YVR flight in the peak summer and re-worked the schedule a bit. The early 0500 departure remains, however the 0930 departure has been moved up to 0655, and then there is nothing until AC345 at 1745 (days it's a 321) or 1800 (days it's a 789). The late evening 2135 departure in the peak summer is the casualty here.

On the flip side, the 1300 YVR departure is gone, meaning that there will be a RON and a red-eye for the entire schedule, in addition to AC342 that leaves in the morning. Here's the updated schedule, and what was originally loaded if you want to compare. Some big gaps whereas the previous schedule at 4x was much more staggered.

AC341 0500 YOW YVR 0719 321 D
AC343 0655 YOW YVR 0914 321 D
AC345 1745 YOW YVR 2004 321 days x136 (days x13 in May)
AC345 1800 YOW YVR 1959 789 days 136 (days 13 in May)

AC342 0910 YVR YOW 1649 321 days x136 (days x13 in May)
AC342 0855 YVR YOW 1626 789 days 136 (days 13 in May)
AC346 1710 YVR YOW 0049+1 321 D
AC348 2200 YVR YOW 0539+1 321 D

So with WS pulling the route and AC down to 3x, and PD at 11x weekly, that means some days will only have four YVR departures this summer - comparing that to YYC which will see up to eight departures in a given day.

[Dominion301]

Well that change takes AC to YVR from +15% capacity to about -8%.

Seems like a golden opportunity for PD to add an additional 7 weekly.

Today’s departure count: 87

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 12

Today's cancellation count (so far): 2 - including one to VRA

AF 327 on 15B, AC 888 on 17A and AF 345 not operating today.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Well that change takes AC to YVR from +15% capacity to about -8%.

Seems like a golden opportunity for PD to add an additional 7 weekly.

Today’s departure count: 87

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 12

Today's cancellation count (so far): 2 - including one to VRA

AF 327 on 15B, AC 888 on 17A and AF 345 not operating today.

AC 345 definitely operated today (Feb 15) and left from 28.

They towed AC889 from 17 to a remote stand and it'll depart from 28 this evening.
(I was at YOW today and saw it)

Cheers

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by MountainView

AC 345 definitely operated today (Feb 15) and left from 28.

They towed AC889 from 17 to a remote stand and it'll depart from 28 this evening.
(I was at YOW today and saw it)

Cheers

Thanks for clearing that up. I have a feeling my eyes may have simply deceived me earlier today.

[Dominion301]

Today’s departure count: 92

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 13

Today's cancellation count (so far): 0

[Dominion301]

Today’s departure count: 79

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 12

Today's cancellation count (so far): 5 - 2 of which are HOG & VRA

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Today’s departure count: 79

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 12

Today's cancellation count (so far): 5 - 2 of which are HOG & VRA

I wonder how long they'll show up on the FIDs at all. Sunday evening was the final northbound flight, so Cuba flights are done for the season.

Forgot to post but Sunday's AC889 was completely full except for two J seats. AC888 was full in PY and 14/20 in J.

I also notice PD has a second LIR flight on March 15 and March 22. Looks like the aircraft rotates in on a YYZ-LIR-YOW turn on the Saturday, so two northbounds on March 14/21.