Hamilton International Airport

[LikeHamilton]

Flyglobespan timetable is now showing these two destinations:

Summer 2008
Hamilton - Glasgow
Hamilton - Manchester

This is the first mention of Hamilton in their 2008 summer timetable.

[SteelTown]

So I guess it's not looking good for Flyglobespan at YHM with no winter service and only having 2 destinations for summer 08.

[flar]

The fact that airlines keep scaling back after a year or two suggests there's is something inadequate about the airport. Obviously they need a real upgrade of the facilities.

[LikeHamilton]

Work has finally started on the demolition of the old customs offices, the construction of the new entrance and the final phase of the international arrivals area expansion. I will try and get up there next week with my camera.

[HAMRetrofit]

The real defficiency of the Hamilton Airport is the lack of skywalks. No one in North America wants to walk across the tarmac in February. The second issue is the lack of marketing in the GTA no one here even knows it exists. If they know it exists they don't want to fly out of an airport that seems like a small operation. People want the perception of certainty and organization when flying. The airport also lacks a strong networked connection to the business community in the western GTA to who it would offer advantages to over Pearson. Targeting businesses in Oakville, Burlington, and Brantford would have an advantage maybe even downtown Toronto...

If the Move Ontario project moves a head with the electrified Go line between Hamilton and Toronto and Hamilton builds the north-south rapid transit project as LRT this would be an amazing opportunity. The airport could be connected to Union Station in about 55 minutes. 35 minutes to Hamilton via electrified Go and about 20 minutes from the downtown Hamilton Go terminal to the Airport. If there is a push towards bi-directional 24 hour Go train traffic between Union and Hamilton this may be feasible.

[SteelTown]

Flyglobespan restrictions won’t affect Hamilton routes

Low-fares airline Flyglobespan has been hit with tighter licence restrictions on transatlantic routes as U.S. authorities investigate practices of one of its subcontractors.

The temporary restriction by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) means the airline must reroute its twin-engine planes on the Liverpool-New York run closer to land rather than following direct routes.

The authority said the decision does not mean the planes are unreliable and added the airline took “initial remedial action” to correct an unspecified problem.

Nevertheless, the tighter flight restrictions were announced Friday.

The zig-zag routes take longer and hence consume more fuel and will affect the airline’s bottom line.

Stephen Elmy, Flyglobespan’s Canadian manager, was not available for comment.

Flyglobespan said in a statement its Glasgow-Knock-Boston and Liverpool-Knock-Boston routes have been affected while the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority investigates some issues regarding subcontractors to the airline.

Service to and from Hamilton — which has been beset with a number of delays and turnarounds due to technical problems since it began in May — is not affected, the airline said.

That is because the planes used on those routes are operated by aircraft leased from Icelandair and Neos, an Italian airline.

Flyglobespan’s Hamilton service cuts back in November and the airline offers only flights to Manchester and Glasgow during the month.

The CAA did not specify reasons from suspending the airline’s “extended range twin operations” or ETOPS approval.

This licence allows twin-engine jets to fly on routes that take them more than one hour away from an airport suitable for an emergency landing.

Rick Erikson, managing director of R.P. Erikson and Associates Aviation Analysts in Calgary, said suspension of the ETOPS “is something the airline will want to clear up quickly because it raises costs.”

Erikson also said the suspension would not be due to a “major safety issue.”

“It is not an indicator of deeper problems.”

ETOPS rated aircraft are more expensive as they require specialized equipment, backup systems and training, he said.

He said it is an internal matter, basically a national aviation authority saying they want something done with regards to training or manuals or some procedure.

Erikson said Canada’s Transportation Safety Board would be notified as a courtesy.

[SteelTown]

I was at the Airport this weekend and noticed the International Terminal looks finished. Though I wish the Airport would have used something else than aluminium siding.

Hopefully soon we'll hear something about new plans for the Airport's terminal.

[LikeHamilton]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

Hamilton International Airport Update
Plans are being drawn up for the expansion on the departure area. It will be expanded out to the north of the terminal. The addition will hold over 800 passengers at one time. The present area now holds approximately 300 passengers. Space will be provided for more concession and food stands. There will be a larger duty free shop in the departure area.

The apron will also be expanded. The area to the east of departure area and up in behind the international arrivals area will be expanded. The aircraft will then park on three sides of the terminal with the international flights on the eastside in behind and closer to the international arrivals area.

The departure area expansion and apron expansion should be completed by the end on April.

The tender has closed for the departure area expansion. They are awarding the contract as quick as possible. They want the footings in before it is too cold to do so they can start to close it in. They will be doing a press release when it is awarded. Besides the building and apron area, a small temporary module trailer buildings will be placed next to the terminal to take the overflow of people. I suspect it will be used by Air Canada as they have the smallest aircraft using Hamilton.

I have seen the plans and have talked to the person in charge of the project. The reason there are no renderings and that the buildings are covered in aluminium siding is that it is all temporary.

The interior of the building will be plainly finished and may appear unfinished. This is because thy are only going to us it for one to two years as a departure area. By the time the entire project is done inside and out it will be June 2008. Around that time they plan to have plans finalized for the next phase and off to the board in Vancouver (the owners of the airport) for approval.

They are going to build a second floor on the building (size unknown to me) that will be the new departure area. This will be very large with air bridges to they aircraft. Almost all of the present and future concession areas will be moved up there. The new entrance to that area will be stairs where the present security area and Tim Hortons are located. At that time the first floor departure area and arrivals area will be joined together to make a large arrivals area. This project should be completed by late 2009 or early 2010. This will depend on how fast Vancouver allows it to start.

There is still more to come. This sounds like the original plans. If so, than you will see an addition to the west end of the building where customs and international arrivals will be located. Once this is done, they can move to airline ticket counters and check in to the east end of the building where customs is now located. The aluminium siding can then be removed and an all glass front can go in with some nice brick and stone. This will basically be flipping the building.

When Transport Canada built the building in the early 80’s, they built it backwards and airport management has always wanted to change this. This will correct it and you will come up first to the departure area and then to the arrivals area.

Once the present airline counters and departing baggage area are removed they can use this area to set up a US Customs area and a secure departure waiting area. This will allow more fights to the US, as most US airport do not have customs areas.

This was the set up in the original plans.

[SteelTown]

Very nice plans!

So the International terminal will flip over to the western end and check in will move to the centre of the terminal instead of the eastern end.

Exciting stuff with the new departure plan and air bridges!

What's a module trailer building?

With all these expansion it should hold up to like 3 million passengers a year?

[LikeHamilton]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Very nice plans!

What's a module trailer building? Temporary buildings that come on a flat bed truck and are connected together on the site to the size you want. They are pre-finished to what you want with and are ready in a couple of days. When you are finished they come a take them away. Closer to a school portable but nicer.
With all these expansion it should hold up to like 3 million passengers a year? The first expansion will take them to a comfortable 1.5 million. The present terminal maxis out at 1 million and is at a comfortable 750,000 passengers. This year will see 700 to 725,000 passengers.

Hopefully they will announce the contractor on Friday or early next week.

[LikeHamilton]

An update before I go on a 10-day holiday…in 15 minutes.

Talked to people at the airport today. Tender should be out mid next week and work will start as soon as possible on phase 1. Value of the terminal works $3.5 million. Value of the apron expansion and new ramp lighting $3 million. Total $6.5 million.

International expansion should be finished December 12th.

2nd floor expansion (Phase 2) will cover most of the 1st floor part except part of the front that was not designed for a second level. There will be 7 air bridges to aircraft with boarding areas expanded to the east. Phase 3 will be built to the west and will have 8 air bridges for a total of 15.

Phase 2 is expected to be finished by early 2010. Total value of phase 2 will be between $30 and $35 million.

They are not going to flip the building. They are not sure when the ticket counter area will be expanded as the airlines want less area and more self serve.

[SteelTown]

Have a good holiday!!

[markbarbera]

Just returned from a vacation myself. i flew flyglobespan via YHM. The departure on Oct 24 went smoothly - a total 15 minute turnaround from entering the front doors and settling down in the post-security departures lounge to await the flight. This is a big selling point for this airport.

A little less smoothly on arrival last evening. We were fortunate that we were early off the plane as the 200 passengers were served by just four customs officers. While pleasant, a higher ratio would have made a more welcoming environment (not to mention the less-than-attractive current state of International Arrivals). Also, it took at least 30 minutes for our luggage to start flowing into the baggage claim area - by far the longest wait at any of the airports we travelled through during our trip (including MAN, BHD, SNN, PIK, GLA). This is particularly perplexing seeing as we were the only international arrival that day. Some growing pains need addressing here.

Nonetheless, the overall experience using YHM was much more pleasant than dealing with YYZ, or even the closest low cost alternative at BUF. Here's hoping that flyglobespan can overcome their own long-haul growing pains and will stick it out in Hamilton with significant services, and its successes attract additional carriers.

[raisethehammer]

here's hoping they do a great job designing this terminal expansion. people may finally begin to regard this as a real airport.

[markbarbera]

flyglobespan has added to its Summer 2008 schedule for Hamilton. Now the destinations include

• Belfast
• Bristol
• Dublin
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• London Gatwick
• Manchester

There may be more to add to this list in the coming days, but I am not so sure. Rumour has it they had originally planned six daily flights into YHM, but who knows if this is still on given this lo-cost airline's less than stellar first year of longhaul flights. This lineup looks like maybe two flights daily.

[HammerYA]

Work strated yesterday on doubling the capacity of the departures lounge as well as adding more retail space. Although some of the summer schedule has been announced for GSM more destinations will be added through the winter

[raisethehammer]

any renderings on these upcoming projects?? please no more tin sheds!

[SteelTown]

The departure is at the back of the airport terminal so you won't see any extra tin sliding. Think LikeHamilton said all of this is a temporary thing for the next few years. Bigger plans are in the works.

[LikeHamilton]

Other updates from Hamilton International Airport (YHM)

• Air Bridge Cargo, which is poised to launch flights from its Siberian hub via a Canadian point to Houston with its new Boeing 747-400ERF, also ruled out Toronto for cost reasons, narrowing the choice down to either nearby Hamilton or Montreal-Mirabel.
• Cargojet of Canada, with a large base and hanger at Hamilton International Airport are adding a Boeing 757-200F aircraft. There are un-confirmed reports that a deal for Cargojet to lease in two Boeing 767 freighters from UPS. These aircraft will most likely based in Hamilton.
• Cargojet has also ruled out a move to Toronto, calling the airport's landing fees prohibitive.
• And good for Hamilton, Korean Air Cargo Manager for Canada points out that landing a 747 at Toronto still costs almost $14,000, even after Pearson lowered its rates recently.

Gleaned from other sources.

[SteelTown]

U.S. carrier JetBlue to begin service to Canada
BRENT JANG

December 20, 2007

JetBlue Airways Corp. of New York will launch charter service in 2008 into Canada. The low-cost carrier said yesterday that the move follows the Canadian Transportation Agency's decision to grant approval for JetBlue to begin charter and scheduled flights between Canada and the United States.

The private charters will include flights for sports teams and corporate groups, JetBlue spokesman Sebastian White said yesterday. Sources say JetBlue managers have met with officials from Toronto's Pearson International Airport to discuss scheduled service, but Pearson's high landing fees are currently a barrier to the U.S. airline's entry.

One-third of JetBlue's customers departing from Buffalo are Canadians, according to the carrier. JetBlue disclosed in late October that it would apply for licences in Canada, spurring Canadian rivals to chop fares on their routes from Central Canada to Florida. JBLU (Nasdaq) fell 22 cents (U.S.) to $6.67.