Saskatoon and Regina Air Service

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Do we think Porter will service YQR this summer or fall?

[EDM753Fan]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Do we think Porter will service YQR this summer or fall?

Personally I doubt it. I have contacts at Porter, and when I last inquired abt YQR they said YXE had not performed to their expectations so they weren't considering YQR.

That being said with WS and AC both offering YQR-YYZ services, with AC offering 2 daily and WS offering between 6-7 per week, I don't know how much market there is left for Porter.

Now if they were to offer YQR direct flights from their soon to be open YHU Montreal Metropolitan Airport (formerly St. Hubert), say 4-5 days weekly that would be another story. I'd be very interested to use that for business travel... and I guarantee others would as well.

Whenever I travel YQR-YUL via YYZ I see several others traveling with me on both flights which indicates there is steady Montreal area demand from Regina...

[Brutopian]

Saskatoon Airport announces largest potential corporate land development project in its history

By Keira Miller
CJWW
Mar 11, 2026

An industrial business district is the latest project on the go at the Saskatoon Airport Authority.

The Wednesday announcement marks the beginning of Phase Two of its land development plan. Phase one, announced in early February, includes a new Tim Horton’s development at the corner of Airport Drive and 45th Street, as well as a potential gas station.

[........]

Read more:
https://www.cjwwradio.com/2026/03/11/243...tm_content=408421116&utm_source=hs_email

[Brutopian]

Saskatoon airport sees passenger numbers exceed pre‑pandemic levels

By Hallee Mandryk
CTV News
April 29, 2026

The Saskatoon Airport Authority’s annual general meeting highlighted that the team at YXE Airport is feeling positively about the past year.

The airport saw a total of 1,516,840 passengers, which is slightly above the numbers seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which took a significant toll on the travel industry.

[........]

Read more:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/saskatoon/article...tm_content=416566716&utm_source=hs_email

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Regina airport eyes Ottawa route despite rising fuel costs, higher fares

https://www.cjme.com/2026/05/03/regina-a...-despite-rising-fuel-costs-higher-fares/

[Myst]

Catching up on US statistics for SK:
November statistics for MSP and DEN flights from Sask. (source - US bureau of transportation statistics data filings)

available seats - passengers flown - load factor

YQR-MSP: 2340 - 1358 – 58.0%
MSP-YQR: 2340 - 1432 - 61.2%
total: 4680 - 2790 – 59.6%

YQR-DEN: 1500 - 1111 – 74.1%
DEN-YQR: 1500 - 1088 – 72.5%
total: 3450 - 2199 – 73.3%

YXE-MSP: 2277 - 1514 – 66.5%
MSP-YXE: 2277 - 1405 – 61.7%
total: 4554 - 2919 – 64.1%

[Myst]

December 2025 statistics for MSP and DEN flights from Sask. (source - US bureau of transportation statistics data filings)

available seats - passengers flown - load factor

YQR-MSP: 2262 - 1434 – 63.4%
MSP-YQR: 2262 - 1448 - 64.0%
total: 4524 - 2882 – 63.7%

YQR-DEN: 1600 - 1121 – 70.1%
DEN-YQR: 1600 - 1067 – 66.7%
total: 3200 - 2188 – 68.4%

YXE-MSP: 2250 - 1384 – 62.0%
MSP-YXE: 2250 - 1343 – 59.7%
total: 4500 - 2737 – 60.8%

[Myst]

January 2026 statistics for MSP and DEN flights from Sask. (source - US bureau of transportation statistics data filings)

available seats - passengers flown - load factor

YQR-MSP: 2340 - 1292 – 55.2%
MSP-YQR: 2340 - 1169 - 50.0%
total: 4680 - 2461 – 52.6%

YQR-DEN: 1600 - 1236 – 77.3%
DEN-YQR: 1650 - 1123 – 68.1%
total: 3250 - 2359 – 72.6%

YXE-MSP: 2061 - 1156 – 56.1%
MSP-YXE: 2061 - 814 – 39.5%
total: 4122 - 1970 – 47.8%

[Myst]

February 2026 statistics for MSP and DEN flights from Sask. (source - US bureau of transportation statistics data filings)

available seats - passengers flown - load factor

YQR-MSP: 2106 - 1138 – 54.0%
MSP-YQR: 2028 - 1109 - 54.7%
total: 4134 - 2247 – 54.4%

YQR-DEN: 1500 - 1101 – 73.4%
DEN-YQR: 1400 - 1154 – 82.4%
total: 2900 - 2255 – 77.8%

YXE-MSP: 1929 - 962 – 49.9%
MSP-YXE: 1929 - 1052 – 54.5%
total: 3858 - 2014 – 52.2%

February traffic on YXE-MSP is down 27% from February 2025. Considering the schedule is similar and it's more-or-less unaffacted by other added/removed routes or rerouting to other domestic airports, it's probably a decent indicator of changes in core travel patterns. Interestingly, YQR-MSP is down an almost identical amount, but with YQR-DEN being added.

[jbrand97]

Hello everyone!

I am new to posting, but a longtimeeeeeee reader.

I want to add my two cents about the gov't subsidized flight to Minneapolis. I have many quips about the Sask Party and their love for privatization, but do think they are in the right with this funding by recognizing that air travel is a public need for many of us in SK. Of course, this is also why they were misguided in shutting down STC, but that's another story. Moreover, int'l connections are important to maintain for our economy.

My issue is that US travel is clearly going down, I don't see it bouncing back anytime soon. Both the feds and the SK gov't are for diversification of our economies in Europe and Asia. The US should no longer be our primary---federally and provincially. Consider all the money the province is spending with our provincial trade offices in cities like Berlin and London. Why can't we argue for a subsidized (i.e., guaranteed couple of million/year) weekly flight to somewhere like the UK or Germany?

Years ago, YXE was very close to getting a Condor flight to Germany as a seasonal leisure service. Our airport can certainly handle 'small' long haul aircraft like a 787-8, as we've seen with the recent refugee flights (I'm not certain something like the A321XLR could reach the likes of UK or mainland Europe). And while we might argue for the "hub and spoke" model, many secondary markets are getting more and more new direct flights to Europe---for instance, St John's, Quebec City, and Halifax. I know Halifax is a special case, but it seems absurd that they now have WJ flights to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London, Madrid, and Paris! How can Saskatoon (for the entire SK population) fight for just one? I could easily see this being a reasonable service to ask for (definitely not daily, but weekly certainly), moreover if it has a funding guarantee. And there could be some reciprocity in passengers; don't forget that NWA/Delta used to send 757s for all the hunting season. I could see, with some tourism marketing, Europeans coming to experience the north of the province.

Yes, the provincial gov't has a penchant for Americans, perhaps more than the average Canadian. But if (operative word) they follow logic, such as their funding for the many int'l trade offices, why don't they campaign for this by putting up another 2 or million?

It just seems that our lack of services aren't entirely due to the well-cited excuse of the 'economy', but perhaps simply put, laziness. What are your thoughts? It Am I way off?

[danylo66]

Air Canada, WestJet reducing flights from Sask. this summer
It could mean busier cabins, but a more optimized schedule for airlines

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-air-canada-westjet-flight-cuts-9.7217555

[Myst]

Originally Posted by jbrand97

Yes, the provincial gov't has a penchant for Americans, perhaps more than the average Canadian. But if (operative word) they follow logic, such as their funding for the many int'l trade offices, why don't they campaign for this by putting up another 2 or million?

It just seems that our lack of services aren't entirely due to the well-cited excuse of the 'economy', but perhaps simply put, laziness. What are your thoughts? It Am I way off?

I think there are a couple of things:
- While both US flights, and Europe might both be "to support the economy" there is a very large difference. US flights are as much about making it easier for Sask businesspeople to do business in the US. It is about reducing something that constricts commerce. A European flight would not really serve that purpose.
- European flights might be aimed at trying to bring in more tourists, but probably a significant amount of that traffic would be Canadians vacationing in Europe. Meaning that it would be far less targetted.
- If the objective is to bring in European tourists, a $100/ea. subsidy probably wouldn't swing people away from choosing Vancouver or Montreal. The money would probably better be spent on tourism marketing. Whether that is advertising, a contest, or some sort of rebate for tourists.
- It's also about bang-for-the-buck. I suspect there are more cost effective opportunities available. Targetted is a relevant word to that.

[jbrand97]

I agree with most of your points, but let's not forget the massive economic potential with EU countries, namely Germany and France. The latter has had a big presence in the province with resources (think of Orano, formerly Areva). Canadian uranium is part of France's nuclear energy program, and SK has most of it. Then we can think about Germany with LNG. With the Sask Party's push for economic and resource development, I don't see any reason this shouldn't include a push for further EU-country integration.

[jbrand97]

Also, to add some stats: this article in Le Monde from 2024 states that 40% of uranium from Cigar Lake is sent to EDF, France's public energy provider. Quite a big number!

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/articl...nch-nuclear-power-plants_6669118_19.html

[Myst]

The problem is that to attract business travel to Europe, an airline service would need to be a major carrier with at least a business class and connecting network or partners (AC, LH, BA, AF, KLM) flying to a major hub (LHR, CDG, AMS, FRA). I don't think it would need to be daily, but probably would have to be 3x per week for at least 6 months of the year to really serve that purpose. Condor, Edelweiss, or other leisure carriers largely don't manage to pull that business.

With the slots to those airports being scarce, I don't think even a significant subsidy would do it.

If I could make a wish, I'd say Aer Lingus to Dublin. I don't consider it likely, but it's the least of a stretch given they have A321XLR equipment, airport with capacity to grow, and a connecting network. But I'd very much bet against it until EI showed interest in airports like YEG.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by jbrand97

Also, to add some stats: this article in Le Monde from 2024 states that 40% of uranium from Cigar Lake is sent to EDF, France's public energy provider. Quite a big number!

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/articl...nch-nuclear-power-plants_6669118_19.html

That'll likely be increasing as the French and Cameco just bought out their Japanese minority partner in Cigar Lake.

[jbrand97]

Originally Posted by Myst

The problem is that to attract business travel to Europe, an airline service would need to be a major carrier with at least a business class and connecting network or partners (AC, LH, BA, AF, KLM) flying to a major hub (LHR, CDG, AMS, FRA). I don't think it would need to be daily, but probably would have to be 3x per week for at least 6 months of the year to really serve that purpose. Condor, Edelweiss, or other leisure carriers largely don't manage to pull that business.

With the slots to those airports being scarce, I don't think even a significant subsidy would do it.

If I could make a wish, I'd say Aer Lingus to Dublin. I don't consider it likely, but it's the least of a stretch given they have A321XLR equipment, airport with capacity to grow, and a connecting network. But I'd very much bet against it until EI showed interest in airports like YEG.

I agree with all these difficulties. I don’t think it’s pie-in-the-sky hopeless, but still. We do see AF/KLM growing out their intl routes like crazy. Frankly, I’m shocked AF started Ottawa with the proximity to YUL and YYZ. But I did fly it, 777-300er, and it was packed full on a weekday—and this is after they ran a well-liked bus service to both YOW and YQB linked to their YUL flights (YQB now has a direct flight). KLM also does Edmonton separately from YYC (it used to be a one-stop service link). The dream would be AF and maybe they do a one-stop to YYC or something — although that might cut into WJ, now that AF/KLM owns a stake…

Let’s keep dreaming and pushing! I still have hope the days of WardAir flights may come again ������������

[Myst]

March 2026 statistics for MSP and DEN flights from Sask. (source - US bureau of transportation statistics data filings)

available seats - passengers flown - load factor

YQR-MSP: 2262 - 1079 – 47.7%
MSP-YQR: 2262 - 1173 – 51.9%
total: 4524 - 2252 – 49.8%

YQR-DEN: 1600 - 1043 – 65.2%
DEN-YQR: 1600 - 1326 – 82.9%
total: 3200 - 2369 – 74.0%

YXE-MSP: 2103 - 831 – 39.5%
MSP-YXE: 2103 - 913 – 43.4%
total: 4206 - 1744 – 41.5%