Canadian Airport Thread II

[Dominion301]

YYZ's Q2 and YTD results: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/gtaa-reports-2026-second-quarter-results-897218300.html

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority ("GTAA") today reported its financial and operating results for the second quarter and the first half of 2026. Toronto Pearson, Canada's busiest airport, saw growth in its overall passenger volumes, which increased by 0.4 million or 3.3% to 12.4 million for the second quarter and 0.8 million or 3.5% to 23.5 million year-to-date, when compared to the same periods in 2025. While the international sector continues to be affected by a decline in volume to the United States, growth has been driven by modest increases in other international volume and strong domestic demand, with more Canadians choosing to travel within Canada.

It's frustrating that while the GTAA talks about soft transborder traffic, they can't be bothered to distinguish between it and other international like every other major airport in the country.

[thenoflyzone]

With wildfires burning in NA and Europe, the world needs more water bombers. Right now, the best De Havilland can do is 1 plane every 10 months. It’s not good enough. And countries won’t wait around for more Canadairs, as competitors are entering the market as well.

Interesting read.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canadair-water-bombers-de-havilland-europe-demand-9.7299520

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

With wildfires burning in NA and Europe, the world needs more water bombers. Right now, the best De Havilland can do is 1 plane every 10 months. It’s not good enough. And countries won’t wait around for more Canadairs, as competitors are entering the market as well.

Interesting read.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canadair-water-bombers-de-havilland-europe-demand-9.7299520

No, it is most definitely not enough. What is required is a wartime production effort with at least 10x the rate of production.

This is an unparalleled business opportunity for De Havilland. They should be able to convince lenders to float them a loan for a major industrial expansion. Venture capitalists in the USA would be all over this. We must develop a similar culture in Canada.......

[J81]

Our abysmal forestry practices are largely to blame for the majority of forest fires. But that is a discussion for another thread.

[craner]

Related to the recent conversation:

De Havilland Field takes off in Alberta
http://http://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/projects/2026/07/de-havilland-field-takes-off-in-alberta-with-thousands-of-jobs-on-horizon

[casper]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

No, it is most definitely not enough. What is required is a wartime production effort with at least 10x the rate of production.

This is an unparalleled business opportunity for De Havilland. They should be able to convince lenders to float them a loan for a major industrial expansion. Venture capitalists in the USA would be all over this. We must develop a similar culture in Canada.......

I don't think its an issue of money, its just complex.

de Havilland (aka Longview) HQ is here in Victoria. They manufacture the parts here then ship them to Calgary for final assembly.

The issues with these is when Longview purchased the product line from Bombardier it involved moving the assembly line from Ontario to Victoria and Calgary. Final assembly in Calgary is also set to move from the airport to a new airport owned by de Havilland just east of Calgary. I don't know if they are waiting on the new field or are starting to assemble at YYC already.

As for money Sherly Brydson (heir to the Thompson family fortune of Thomson-Reuters fame) lives in Victoria, and I don't remember if she personally owns de Havilland or its held by the family trust. She is an elusive figure that tends to shy from spotlight. The Boeing 737-500 in de Havilland colours is her personal jet that is usually parked around the de Havilland factory at YYJ when she is in town.

Rumor is she like airplanes. Either way, they have deep pockets being on the richest families in Canada.

[Nick]

De Havilland has many buildings in NE Calgary. Some off the airport and some on the airport. I'm sure they are ramping up as much as possible with CL215 upgrades and the CL515. Coulson in YXX just got a deal to convert some ex military C130s to bombers. We need many companies working on this. If airlines aren't using planes like the Q400 for passenger service then let's get them converted for fire fighting.

[LO 044]

Originally Posted by J81

Our abysmal forestry practices are largely to blame for the majority of forest fires. But that is a discussion for another thread.

Couldn't agree more.

[jc_yyc_ca]

As far as I know they are mostly waiting for the new field to be built (it only broke ground in April IIRC), but I saw on SRC that they also have other manufacturing facilities around Calgary, so maybe they are doing some assembly at other sites already.

Originally Posted by casper

I don't think its an issue of money, its just complex.

de Havilland (aka Longview) HQ is here in Victoria. They manufacture the parts here then ship them to Calgary for final assembly.

The issues with these is when Longview purchased the product line from Bombardier it involved moving the assembly line from Ontario to Victoria and Calgary. Final assembly in Calgary is also set to move from the airport to a new airport owned by de Havilland just east of Calgary. I don't know if they are waiting on the new field or are starting to assemble at YYC already.

As for money Sherly Brydson (heir to the Thompson family fortune of Thomson-Reuters fame) lives in Victoria, and I don't remember if she personally owns de Havilland or its held by the family trust. She is an elusive figure that tends to shy from spotlight. The Boeing 737-500 in de Havilland colours is her personal jet that is usually parked around the de Havilland factory at YYJ when she is in town.

Rumor is she like airplanes. Either way, they have deep pockets being on the richest families in Canada.

[Airboy]

DeHailand could be running around the clock shifts but maybe a war time press should be used.

That said the CL515 is great but I could see a large capacity aircraft being developed.

[casper]

Originally Posted by jc_yyc_ca

As far as I know they are mostly waiting for the new field to be built (it only broke ground in April IIRC), but I saw on SRC that they also have other manufacturing facilities around Calgary, so maybe they are doing some assembly at other sites already.

Unless it has recently changed the normal process on the Twin Otter was: Victoria factory manufactures many of the components, they are trucked to Calgary. Calgary also manufactures some components and has the final assembly line (FAL).

The aircraft is then flown over to a Boeing facility in Washington state to be painted then back to Victoria for final inspection where they have a customer acceptance/handover facility. For the last year or so you see a new QantasLink Q400 appear outside the hanger they use for customer delivery from time to time.

They have also been buying back used Q400s and doing factory refurbishment for new customers.

Last year there were advertising locally for 100-200 machinists in the local Victoria market to ramp up the water bomber program. I would assume the expansions in the Calgary area would be more than that.

[whatnext]

Maybe DeHavilland and the various levels of government should have just kept the whole operation in Downsview! Classic Canadian tale - sacrifice something of value for Moar Condos! !

[jc_yyc_ca]

Thanks for that information. I had no idea how DeHavilland works but knew they had operations in Victoria and some here in Calgary.

Originally Posted by casper

Unless it has recently changed the normal process on the Twin Otter was: Victoria factory manufactures many of the components, they are trucked to Calgary. Calgary also manufactures some components and has the final assembly line (FAL).

The aircraft is then flown over to a Boeing facility in Washington state to be painted then back to Victoria for final inspection where they have a customer acceptance/handover facility. For the last year or so you see a new QantasLink Q400 appear outside the hanger they use for customer delivery from time to time.

They have also been buying back used Q400s and doing factory refurbishment for new customers.

Last year there were advertising locally for 100-200 machinists in the local Victoria market to ramp up the water bomber program. I would assume the expansions in the Calgary area would be more than that.

[casper]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Maybe DeHavilland and the various levels of government should have just kept the whole operation in Downsview! Classic Canadian tale - sacrifice something of value for Moar Condos! !

Long convoluted history to all of this.

Longview/Viking (in Victoria) was manufacturing replacement parts for the Beaver and Otter out of Victoria. At some point in time they managed to purchase the type certificates for those and restarted production out of Victoria.

When Bombardier was in trouble and wanted to sell off the Dash-8 program, Longview purchased that program along with the de Havilland brand name and all the other related IP and certifications. They then changed their company name from Longview and Viking to de Havilland.

Does make sense for them to relocate everything out west given that is where their base is.

[Myst]

deHavilland at YYC also includes what used to be Field Aviation. Which was an MRO / modification shop. Field started there, and what is called Field today is minus its founding plant.

At the end of Bombardier CL415 production, it was actually assembled in North Bay. To stay out of the way of then burgeoning CRJ production. I am not sure if Downsview ever had any involvement with the 215/415 - it was a Canadair design. I have a Canadair history book somewhere -I am wondering if it dates back to Cartierville.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by Myst

deHavilland at YYC also includes what used to be Field Aviation. Which was an MRO / modification shop. Field started there, and what is called Field today is minus its founding plant.

At the end of Bombardier CL415 production, it was actually assembled in North Bay. To stay out of the way of then burgeoning CRJ production. I am not sure if Downsview ever had any involvement with the 215/415 - it was a Canadian design. I have a Canadian history book somewhere -I am wondering if it dates back to Cartierville.

I’m assuming you’re referring to Canadair and good old autocorrect overwrote it.

[whatnext]

Good ol' Air Canada, back to selling off the furniture again?

Air Canada sells 25% stake in Aeroplan to Blackstone, La Caisse for $2.5 billion
By The Canadian Press
Published: August 11, 2026

MONTREAL — Air Canada reported a net loss of $178 million during the second quarter, compared to net income of $186 million during the same period a year earlier.

That amounted to a diluted loss per share of 63 cents during the quarter, compared with diluted earnings per share of 51 cents.

Air Canada says its revenue reached $6.3 billion during the quarter, up year-over-year from $5.6 billion.

Alongside its earnings, the airline also announced that funds managed by Blackstone, La Caisse and others are making a $2.5 billion minority equity investment in Aeroplan Inc...

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/com...-to-blackstone-la-caisse-for-25-billion/

[nname]

Didn't Air Canada spent just 400m in cash to buy back the full Aeroplan program, and assumed a liability of 1.9 billions for a total cost of 2.4 billions?

Now just a few years later, they only need to give up a quarter of the program for a 2.5 billions worth of funding. Hmm....

[thenoflyzone]

It’s simple enough.

The program is worth 4 times more now than it did in 2019, when AC bought it back.

AC needs the cash for upcoming expenses and to pay down debt.

https://www.wsj.com/business/blackstone-...anadas-aeroplan-loyalty-program-8831ca72

(Use reader mode to bypass the paywall)

Montreal-based Air Canada, the nation’s largest airline, said the proceeds would help repay an upcoming billion-dollar bond maturity and reduce debt. Air Canada said the transaction values its Aeroplan points program at 10 billion Canadian dollars (US$7.2 billion).

[RomanR27]

Porter will announce YXU-MCO/FLL/CUN/MBJ today.