Atlantic Canada airport thread

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by homebody

If it was that viable back then and they’re using more fuel, efficient aircraft, etc. Don’t you think that somebody would’ve established the service again from Moncton to Paris?

Perhaps they will, if a lobby group is able to convince them that there is a ready market to be filled. I personally think that there is. As J81 stated, there are better more economical options for trans-Atlantic travel now than there were 25 years ago. You can use a 737 Max8 rather than a 747 form Atlantic Canada and safely reach Paris. This is the entire reason why Halifax has become a hub for WestJet for European travel, With the Orange Madman currently occupying the White House and threatening Canada's existence, cross border travel dropped like a stone and WestJet suddenly had a number of 737s that needed to be redeployed. They did this by making YHZ a hub for European travel.

If you want to advocate for YFC (or YSJ) to have a European service, then by all means launch an on-line petition. This is what the francophone business group here in Moncton chose to do. You can easily do the same.

[J81]

Originally Posted by homebody

If it was that viable back then and they’re using more fuel, efficient aircraft, etc. Don’t you think that somebody would’ve established the service again from Moncton to Paris?

Way to oversimplify an argument LOL.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Ideally, NB should have multiple transatlantic flights, partially, or even fully funded by government subsidies. It would also be nice to see more subsidized flights from our three main airports to Halifax and St. John’s, so we could catch transatlantic flights without connecting through Montreal or Toronto first.

Looking at the map, St. John’s has an even greater comparative advantage than Halifax when it comes to transatlantic routes, given SJ’s even closer proximity to Europe.

Now, here’s J81 to tell me how wrong I am

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by homebody

If it was that viable back then and they’re using more fuel, efficient aircraft, etc. Don’t you think that somebody would’ve established the service again from Moncton to Paris?

That is literally the point of the whole conversation we're having here and why the social media campaign/feelers are going out. To see if it is AGAIN viable. So I guess you answered your own question?

[J81]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Ideally, NB should have multiple transatlantic flights, partially, or even fully funded by government subsidies. It would also be nice to see more subsidized flights from our three main airports to Halifax and St. John’s, so we could catch transatlantic flights without connecting through Montreal or Toronto first.

Looking at the map, St. John’s has an even greater comparative advantage than Halifax when it comes to transatlantic routes, given SJ’s even closer proximity to Europe.

Now, here’s J81 to tell me how wrong I am

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But seriously. Unless it is an essential service then I have no interest in the government subsidizing any service because history has shown it tends to become a cash cow for whoever is receiving the subsidies.

[miniborder]

Nothing that hasn't been said before, but the last 20+ posts or so from all you NBers really show the deficiencies of having three airports and not one central one.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by J81

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But seriously. Unless it is an essential service then I have no interest in the government subsidizing any service because history has shown it tends to become a cash cow for whoever is receiving the subsidies.

US-style EAS would be the least-bad option, and it's still not great... and it's not paying for Joplin to Lisbon flights or whatever. Paying for subsidized vacations and mildly-conveniencing business travelers is a dogshit idea.

If air travel from NB airports was collapsing instead of anemic, maybe subsidizing bare-minimum Montreal/Toronto connections would be worth doing. But AFAIK Saint John and Fredericton are both up year over year in the post-COVID era.

As it's been said on here many times, Sussex would have been the place. An hour from Moncton, 50 minutes from Saint John, and an hour and twenty minutes from Fredericton (less, with presumed Route 10 upgrades that would have accompanied this) and most importantly, not in any of the three cities, preventing claims of favoritism. But that ship has totally sailed.

Would such an airport have more FLIGHTS? Definitely. Would it have more DESTINATIONS? Probably not to any great extent. Think YQM but with maybe 4 daily to Toronto/Montreal. Very likely a consistent puddle-jumper to Halifax.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by miniborder

Nothing that hasn't been said before, but the last 20+ posts or so from all you NBers really show the deficiencies of having three airports and not one central one.

Never going to happen. All three cities are wedded to their airports as engines for economic growth. At most, you might see NB eventually supporting two airports rather than three (there is one laggard amongst the cohort), but, such a decision will never be made by government, and, will only occur due to the inevitability of market forces.

As long as an airport is profitable, it will stay open. I know for a fact that YQM has a surplus, and makes enough money for ongoing enhancements at the airport. I will let others comment on the profitability of YFC and YSJ. I don't know anything about their finances.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

The Sussex airport might not be an option anymore given how much has been sunk into YQM, but a combined Fredericton/Saint John airport isn’t a totally crazy idea. Sure, some money has been invested into YSJ and YFC, but compared to the cost of building a new airport, those upgrade costs wouldn’t be a huge deal… plus it’s not like there couldn’t be some usefulness left in YSJ and YFC as general aviation / cargo focused airports.

[adamuptownsj]

In 2024, YSJ had $8M in revenue, and $7.3M in expenses/expenditures.

In 2025, $7.6M in revenue, and $8.8M in expenses/expenditures.

They forecasted a small deficit ($200K) this year and a larger ($1.4M) one next year. 2028 has some big capital expenditures planned. They're projecting a $1.6M surplus in 2029, though.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Would such an airport have more FLIGHTS? Definitely. Would it have more DESTINATIONS? Probably not to any great extent. Think YQM but with maybe 4 daily to Toronto/Montreal. Very likely a consistent puddle-jumper to Halifax.

Good post. This is the key paragraph. Yes, a Sussex airport would have increased frequency, but would there be an increased number of destinations? I don't think meaningfully. Probably nothing internationally (think Saskatchewan), perhaps a transborder route to Boston or NYC (after the Orange Felon is gone) and maybe a new Canadian route or two. That's it.

Is this worth a couple billion dollars and the added inconvenience of forcing the 450,000 residents of Freddy, SJ and Moncton to drive for at least an hour to get there?

I don't think so.

[q12]

Friday afternoon's International arrivals board at YHZ:



Source CTV news:

• Video Link

[new kid in town]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

The Sussex airport might not be an option anymore given how much has been sunk into YQM, but a combined Fredericton/Saint John airport isn’t a totally crazy idea.

Really interesting phrasing here when YQM is consistently outperforming the other 2 with significant margins for a while now.

[J81]

Its truly incredible the destinations provided out of YHZ these days. One has to wonder if travel to the US will pick up again in a few years when Trump is gone? If it does some of these destinations may disappear but in the meantime its great for Maritimers.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by new kid in town

Really interesting phrasing here when YQM is consistently outperforming the other 2 with significant margins for a while now.

Sunk into? I just mean a lot of money has been invested into YQM 😅 lol

Didn’t mean it in any sort of disparaging way!

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by J81

Its truly incredible the destinations provided out of YHZ these days. One has to wonder if travel to the US will pick up again in a few years when Trump is gone? If it does some of these destinations may disappear but in the meantime its great for Maritimers.

Would sure be nice if there was a much more convenient and affordable bus service to YHZ for the rest of the Maritime’s 1.5 million people.

Maritime Bus might currently serve YHZ, but it’s not a very convenient or affordable option given the limitations of the schedule and cost versus driving.

[Sunnybrae]

Originally Posted by J81

Its truly incredible the destinations provided out of YHZ these days. One has to wonder if travel to the US will pick up again in a few years when Trump is gone? If it does some of these destinations may disappear but in the meantime its great for Maritimers.

In a way, I kinda hope the US stays stagnant and other destinations appear from other countries. Is there any other destination J81, that you think would be a good fit for Halifax? (Not just a tourist trap destination.)

[J81]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Would sure be nice if there was a much more convenient and affordable bus service to YHZ for the rest of the Maritime’s 1.5 million people.

Maritime Bus might currently serve YHZ, but it’s not a very convenient or affordable option given the limitations of the schedule and cost versus driving.

Not enough people in the maritimes are going to use a bus to get to YHZ. There is zero reason to do that unless it was run like AC is doing with the Kitchener bus service.

For someone who admittedly never takes the bus you sure do love beating the lets have more busses drum

[J81]

Originally Posted by Sunnybrae

In a way, I kinda hope the US stays stagnant and other destinations appear from other countries. Is there any other destination J81, that you think would be a good fit for Halifax? (Not just a tourist trap destination.)

I think YHZ is well connected to Europe now. Canary Islands would be nice and maybe the Azores off the top of my head. It still amazes me there are flights to Zurich from YHZ.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by J81

Not enough people in the maritimes are going to use a bus to get to YHZ. There is zero reason to do that unless it was run like AC is doing with the Kitchener bus service.

For someone who admittedly never takes the bus you sure do love beating the lets have more busses drum

Not enough people in the Maritimes lol, what a load of BS.

The Maritimes are the smallest, most densely populated provinces in Canada. There’s many valid reasons for funding better bus services, and not just for getting people to the airports, but for general tourism and intercity connectivity… The Maritimes are sitting on top of like 50+ million people in the US Northeast and they have no way to get here other than flying here or driving here… talk about a huge missed opportunity !

Also, I never said I never take the bus, just that I don’t often take the bus, and that I’ve never taken a bus to another maritime airport, because it’s never been a viable option… but it should be.

I’d happily take a bus to the Halifax Airport or just to the Saint John airport if taking a bus to either place was a convenient, affordable option. Who the hell wants to drive all the way to Halifax and pay for parking at the airport if you could get there on a bus for a bit more than the price of gas, and be able to sit back, relax, and not worry about parking once you get to the airport?