Atlantic Canada airport thread

[Taeolas]

Public Transit to Airports needs local, every day volumes to really be worthwhile. Which means servicing the airport employees and the businesses around the airport need to be the driving force for the airport, and if it can also be used as an alternative for PAX, then it's gravy.

YFC is too small, too far in the boonies, and has too little around it for any bus to be worthwhile. Maybe if we became Capital Transit and started offering routes in Oromocto and thus had a link through Lincoln between Oromocto and Freddy, then an airport transit option might be feasible. But that's about it.

I don't know anything about YSJ to say anything.

For YQM, it does feel like it is getting near the critical mass to have Transit servicing the airport. There's a lot of industry around the airport and that area is growing in general, so bus service loops around the airport that happen to serve it will probably be worthwhile.

Touching on Ottawa. A few years ago, on that trip out west, I had a layover in Ottawa that was extended due to that computer bug issue. (A 1-2 hour break turned into a 8 hour wait). I seriously considered using OC Transpo to head into the city that day.

But my own personal example is a bit of an outlier; I know the city (and South Keys area) well from Co-op terms in the city, so I knew where I was and where I might go. Sadly, I couldn't get in contact with my family in the city so I just ended up waiting. I think the Light Rail was still under construction too, making me less eager to leave the airport.

But as a general traveller on a layover, I doubt I would see many being as willing to leave the airport. Just having to deal with security on the way back in, as well as the risks of getting lost/not realizing the connection timings to get back would make me hesitate about leaving a layover airport unless I had a REALLY long break between flights. It certainly isn't a factor that any Maritime airport (even Halifax) really has to be thinking of any time soon.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

I think we’re severely over complicating how simple it would be to have an AirPort Express bus run by Saint John Transit that went to and from the airport like 3 times a day… especially since YSJ has so few daily flights.

Such a service would cost $10-15 dollars and could be a reliable option to and from the airport for YSJ’s 5 or 6 daily flights. There’s also an untapped market for privately run airport shuttles in the Saint John, Moncton, and Fredericton regions.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Would love to see the Saint John Airport renamed, to of course, reduce the Saint John/St. John’s confusion that very much exists between YSJ/YYT.

Though, instead of renaming it after a person, I think we should simply rename the airport after the Bay of Fundy, since the Bay of Fundy is globally renowned and far more well known than Saint John is as a city.

Bay of Fundy Airport (Saint John) — YSJ

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

Public Transit to Airports needs local, every day volumes to really be worthwhile. Which means servicing the airport employees and the businesses around the airport need to be the driving force for the airport, and if it can also be used as an alternative for PAX, then it's gravy.

If you mean worthwhile in terms of operating or capital costs covered by fares then yes. But I think the public value is typically worth it even if a lot of the buses or trains aren't that full. It makes the whole city more approachable to visitors asking questions like "is there a train" or "do I need a car". The value can be far greater than the fare and it can be a matter not of collecting 5 bucks but of somebody visiting or not visiting for a weekend.

I think we really underinvest in this infrastructure in Canada. CN track usage issues aside, I think it would be worth it to extend the rail to the airport in Halifax and run 2-car trains there every 30 minutes, with very clear signs and trains going into the terminal. They could be timed to line up with the Mill Cove ferry once that's running. In every other regional airport a free downtown shuttle is worth it. Maybe a smaller bus in the smallest towns. I am a strong proponent of rail running from Halifax and YHZ on to Truro, Moncton, and Saint John. Moncton's airport is also close to the railway.

I wonder if the biggest impediment is taxi and paid shuttle lobbies.

[Taeolas]

Don't get me wrong, I am a big proponent of public transit, and feel Freddy Transit in general needs a lot of improvements that it is slowly getting.

But I also recognize that YFC is out in the boonies. Lincoln has a route that is barely worth it as is, and pushing forward to the airport doesn't really do much else. I've been going to Oromocto twice a week for the past month or so, and I go via the airport and there isn't really anything there worth running a bus out there for; the airport just isn't big enough.

Now what WOULD be worthwhile, would be an Oromocto route; Regent to Oromocto and back via Lincoln/the airport would probably be an idea (along with an Oromocto-only route or two). I'm not sure if the timing for a 30-minute run would really work; but it feels like something that would be worth doing (and could further help development in the Lincoln area in general)


As for an Airport Shuttle bus, aren't those usually handled more with private companies, usually a cobranding with a taxi company? I'm thinking more of the Air Shuttles from UWaterloo to Pearson and similar I guess, and I don't really see how they would be any different than the taxi service we already have. Maybe potentially a bit cheaper, but I don't think YFC or YSJ would have the volume for such a service.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by bingun

More headwinds, just what we need...

Moncton airport sees flights cancelled amid aviation fuel cost crisis

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-airport-june-aviation-fuel-9.7192573

Saint John is affected too now.

Two N.B. airports hit with flight cancellations amid jet fuel crisis

https://tj.news/new-brunswick/two-n-b-airports-hit-with-flight-cancellations-amid-jet-fuel-crisis

Air Canada has cut seven mid-day flights from Saint John to Toronto in the month of May, according to Lori Carle, spokesperson with the Saint John Airport.

Those flights were scheduled for May 13, 17, 19, 23, 26, 27 and 31.
Carle told Brunswick News that the airport learned late Friday of the flight cancellations and wasn’t provided a reason by Air Canada for its decision.

She couldn’t speculate if the scheduling changes were the result of cost-cutting initiatives being undertaken by some major airlines in response to a jet-fuel shortage tied to the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

[MonctonRad]

First day for Flair Airlines at YQM.

[dhottawa729]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

First day for Flair Airlines at YQM.

Curious how the YQM-YYZ flight cost compares to YSJ-YYZ. <Edit: looks like it’s $159 vs $106 one-way in June>. I was told a while ago that if YSJ had a jet bridge that ultra low cost airlines like Flair wouldn’t want to pay the premium to actually use it. I think they only net something like $20 a passenger and rest of the ticket price is airport fees and taxes, so they want to keep ticket prices as low as possible.

[Offshore1]

Story from the CBC-NL with the CEO of St. John's Airport Authority (YYT) discussing future parking plans, which "may include a garage", as well as changing priorities for various expansion projects. Decision to be made late this year or early 2027.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7207093

[MonctonRad]

Press release from the GMIAA from earlier this month:

GMIAA Highlights 2025 Performance and Future Growth at 2026 Annual General Meeting
May 6, 2026

Greater Moncton, May 5, 2026—The Greater Moncton International Airport Authority (GMIAA) held its 2026 Annual General Meeting on May 5, 2026, at the Airport Operations Facility in Dieppe, NB. This meeting highlighted key achievements from 2025 and outlined the organization’s strategic direction for the year ahead.

Guided by a newly defined vision of Connecting Atlantic Canada to the World, GMIAA continues to deliver on its mission by ensuring safe, reliable airport operations while delivering an exceptional guest experience. Supported by clear strategic priorities —guest experience, enabling cargo growth, land and infrastructure, and environmental stewardship, YQM is positioned for continued growth and long-term success.

“Our success is built on collaboration, across our team, our partners and our community and that collective effort continues to position YQM for the future.” said Courtney Burns, President, and CEO of GMIAA.

In 2025, YQM delivered steady performance and continued investments across its key priorities:

Welcomed 656,246 passengers, demonstrating continued stability with passenger volumes remaining consistent with 2024.
Enabled cargo growth with 25 international flights exporting live lobster to Europe and Asia, highlighted by the introduction of ASL Belgium Airlines to YQM for the first time.
Invested in two new passenger boarding bridges, providing a more modern and accessible experience for travellers.
Added direct service to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) with Porter Airlines on its Embraer E195-E2 for the summer season.
Strengthened summer service, including the return of seasonal service to Edmonton with WestJet and enhanced service to Calgary.
Welcomed back direct service to Ottawa with Air Canada, offering additional options for travellers.
Continued to offer winter sun service with Air Transat and Sunwing Vacations, supporting strong seasonal demand.
Opened Connections Café Souvenir, providing a new pre-security food and beverage offering.
Renewed its Level 2 certification in the Airport Council International (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation Program. A few initiatives that supported this are:
Installation of EV charging stations for passengers.
Addition of EV vehicles to the airport fleet.
Upgraded airfield runway edge lighting to LED.
Introduction of a pre-security liquid disposal bin.
During the meeting, GMIAA presented its audited financial statements and provided updates to its Board of Directors, including recognition of outgoing member Scott Lewis for his nine years of service and the appointment of Michelle Duffie.



“2026 brings exciting opportunities for YQM, including the launch of service with Flair Airlines to Toronto Pearson beginning May 15 and new service to Montréal Metropolitan Airport with Porter Airlines starting June 19, strengthening domestic connectivity for our region,” added Courtney Burns. “As demand grows, we are actively planning the next phase of YQM’s evolution, including the early stages of a future terminal expansion, advancing our vision of connecting Atlantic Canada to the world.”

-30-

YQM connects Atlantic Canada to the world through passenger travel and air cargo. With a focus on safety, reliability and the guest experience, the airport continues to invest in infrastructure and partnerships that drive regional growth. YQM generates over $309 million in annual economic activity and supports more than 1,340 jobs in New Brunswick.

Your journey starts at YQM.

[J81]

A lot of fluff really. Nothing really remarkable or noteworthy. The Porter E195 addition to YYZ was nice but I cant seem to be able to book it this summer. Is it returning?

Adding Flair for the summer should help offset some of the WJ and AC cancellations due to fuel prices. Passenger numbers should stay relatively flat for 2026 again which is a bit disappointing.

Also, the lobster flights have ceased completely so 2026 will be a tough year on the cargo front.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by J81

A lot of fluff really. Nothing really remarkable or noteworthy. The Porter E195 addition to YYZ was nice but I cant seem to be able to book it this summer. Is it returning?

Adding Flair for the summer should help offset some of the WJ and AC cancellations due to fuel prices. Passenger numbers should stay relatively flat for 2026 again which is a bit disappointing.

Also, the lobster flights have ceased completely so 2026 will be a tough year on the cargo front.

Agree,

I don't think the Porter jet service to Pearson is coming back. I'm also uncertain about the seasonal WestJet flight to Edmonton.

Are the lobster flights really gone? They were usually seasonal anyway. They might be back in the fall.

It appears like a status quo annual report. Lots of turbulence keeping the airport from reaching it's potential (right now mostly due to the Iran War).

[JonToms]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Agree,

I don't think the Porter jet service to Pearson is coming back. I'm also uncertain about the seasonal WestJet flight to Edmonton.

Are the lobster flights really gone? They were usually seasonal anyway. They might be back in the fall.

It appears like a status quo annual report. Lots of turbulence keeping the airport from reaching it's potential (right now mostly due to the Iran War).

WestJet are running the YQM - YEG flights from June 13, 2026 until September 8, 2026 twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

It doesn’t look like Porter have loaded any flights from YQM to YYZ for the 2026 season. They have the daily flights from YQM to YTZ loaded though.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by JonToms

It doesn’t look like Porter have loaded any flights from YQM to YYZ for the 2026 season. They have the daily flights from YQM to YTZ loaded though.

And YOW and YHU as well.

The new YHU service from Porter will make up for the loss of YYZ.

Personally, when I fly to Toronto, I will take Porter to YTZ 100% of the time. Billy Bishop is just so damned convenient to downtown Toronto that it blows YYZ out of the water.

My general rule of thumb is:

Flying to Deer Lake or St. John's - take PAL
Flying to Montreal, Ottawa or Toronto - take Porter.
Flying to western Canada - take WestJet.
Flying internationally - take Air Canada to YYZ or YUL for connections.

As for the lobster flights:

Live lobster shipments from Atlantic Canada to Asia are facing critical logistical pressures in early 2026, driven primarily by soaring fuel costs affecting air freight and bait transport. While recent, temporary removal of Chinese tariffs on Canadian lobster (as of March 1, 2026) has helped revive trade volume, high operational expenses, including rising jet fuel costs, are challenging profitability.

Current Status of Shipments and Fuel Impact (April 2026):

Fuel Costs Affecting Logistics: The cost of diesel is significantly impacting operations, with high expenses affecting transportation of bait from international markets and the shipment of live, fresh, or chilled lobster to Asia.

As of April 17, 2026, the aviation industry is facing an unprecedented global jet fuel crisis triggered by the conflict between the United States and Iran. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has severely throttled the supply of both crude oil and refined kerosene, causing prices to double since the start of the war.

So, all things being equal, the lobster flights would have probably increased in volume this year, BUT, the Iran War has put the kibosh on things. YQM just can't get a break........

[q12]

Edelweiss’ Halifax–Zurich is now served on an Airbus A350-900. Parked next to Discover Airlines A330-300 Halifax-Frankfurt service.


https://www.facebook.com/hfxstanfield

[gtsoc]

Pascan is discontinuing the YSJ-YHZ route in August

[JonToms]

Originally Posted by gtsoc

Pascan is discontinuing the YSJ-YHZ route in August

That is unfortunate. I just checked on their website and the last flight I could book was on June 26.

[dhottawa729]

Originally Posted by JonToms

That is unfortunate. I just checked on their website and the last flight I could book was on June 26.

Ironic that this was the only city in the maritimes connecting to Halifax that was not included the publicly-funded pilot project with PAL Airlines, and it failed as a privately-paid pilot project compliments of Pascan. Are we throwing away tax dollars on those other connector routes then? It’s so disappointing a private company tried to do this, yet a bunch of money is getting spent on something that doesn’t have a chance at succeeding and that money could have been spent saving an airport like YSJ that receives blow after blow as 1 step forward, 3 steps back. How many people are actually going to fly from Moncton to Halifax, I mean seriously! If Pascan had received a portion of that funding (as they rightfully should have!) they probably could have kept that route alive by reducing the ticket cost and/or operating more frequent service. One flight a day to anywhere is not ideal to travellers because if you miss it or it gets cancelled, there’s no backup plan.

[magee_b]

With the removal of the YHZ service, the 2nd daily rotation to YHU from YSJ is also gone (P6 951/950).

Schedule for YSJ/YHU was originally going to look like this:
P6 954 - YSJ 06:55 - 07:30 YHU (Daily)
P6 951 - YHU 8:30 - 11:00 YSJ (M-F)
P6 950 - YSJ 14:00 - 14:30 YHU (M-F)
P6 953 - YHU 20:45 - 23:15 YSJ (Daily)

One flight a day to YHU is far less attractive than what was originally being promoted a month ago.

[dhottawa729]

Originally Posted by magee_b

With the removal of the YHZ service, the 2nd daily rotation to YHU from YSJ is also gone (P6 951/950).

Schedule for YSJ/YHU was originally going to look like this:
P6 954 - YSJ 06:55 - 07:30 YHU (Daily)
P6 951 - YHU 8:30 - 11:00 YSJ (M-F)
P6 950 - YSJ 14:00 - 14:30 YHU (M-F)
P6 953 - YHU 20:45 - 23:15 YSJ (Daily)

One flight a day to YHU is far less attractive than what was originally being promoted a month ago.

Omg this frustrates me to no end. There goes consumer confidence if you make this big announcement and then quietly strangle it 4 days before it’s supposed to even start. One flight a day on any route is not enough to make me comfortable flying with any airline- even Air Canada. A second flight needs to be a lost leader until consumer confidence is built up. Like I said, 1 step forward, 3 steps back.