Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW/CYOW) 1.0

[canabiz]

I have never flown out of the US but I look forward to seeing what routes Allegiant Air has to offer for Ogdensburg Airport.

We can get there in about 1 hour from Barrhaven, less if I kick it up a notch This will definitely have an impact on YOW.

Certainly beat driving 3+ hours to Syracuse, esp. in the winter.

[ars]

If airports, airlines and the government are feeling the squeeze, then maybe they should do more to make flying cheaper from Canada?

I love flying out from Ottawa, but I'd gladly drive down to Ogdensburg for a flight to save $100-200 per ticket.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by ars

If airports, airlines and the government are feeling the squeeze, then maybe they should do more to make flying cheaper from Canada?

I love flying out from Ottawa, but I'd gladly drive down to Ogdensburg for a flight to save $100-200 per ticket.

Problem is lowering rents or covering other costs through tax dollars is a transfer of wealth from the middle class to the upper middle class. Not very many programs in the government do that without controversy, and those that do like tuition have big positive externalities.

[OTSkyline]

Until now I've never flown out of the states, always YYZ or YOW. I always check these US airports first but luckily for me I guess I've always found a cheeper option out of Ottawa. If that changes though, I would gladly reconsider.

[YOWflier]

Originally Posted by ars

If airports, airlines and the government are feeling the squeeze, then maybe they should do more to make flying cheaper from Canada?

The Ontario government is about to help the situation by increasing the tax on aviation fuel by 4 cents a litre.

Oh wait ...

[adam-machiavelli]

If you knew how much US airline pilots and air traffic controllers are overworked, you'd never fly through America.

[EdFromOttawa]

Originally Posted by adam-machiavelli

If you knew how much US airline pilots and air traffic controllers are overworked, you'd never fly through America.

I agree. I'm very worried given the immense number of deadly aircraft related incidents in the U.S. that supports your conjecture.

No.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by EdFromOttawa

I agree. I'm very worried given the immense number of deadly aircraft related incidents in the U.S. that supports your conjecture.

No.

There actually have been a number of crashes in the U.S. attributed to just those factors - the Colgan air crash in Buffalo and a crash in Kentucky where the pilots took off from the wrong runway. I'm not sure if the accident statistics bear this out, but the reality is that low cost airlines pay their pilots virtually nothing, and that has to have some impact on the quality of personnel that they attract. The co-pilot that made the fatal mistake in the Buffalo crash was making something like 27k a year.

When you cut margins that thin, it stands to reason that something's got to give - pay, maintenance, super-tight schedules.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by phil235

There actually have been a number of crashes in the U.S. attributed to just those factors - the Colgan air crash in Buffalo and a crash in Kentucky where the pilots took off from the wrong runway. I'm not sure if the accident statistics bear this out, but the reality is that low cost airlines pay their pilots virtually nothing, and that has to have some impact on the quality of personnel that they attract. The co-pilot that made the fatal mistake in the Buffalo crash was making something like 27k a year.

When you cut margins that thin, it stands to reason that something's got to give - pay, maintenance, super-tight schedules.

Those incidents usually involve subcontractors of mainline airlines (that Buffalo flight was branded as Continental) - or exactly the type of flight one would take out of YOW. Discount airlines in most parts of the world have good safety records, they tend to use newer planes, they tend to use one type of plane so the pilots aren't being moved around, they tend to avoid the most crowded airports.

[FFX-ME]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Interestingly enough about two weeks ago Gatineau airport announced new services by airline Pascan to a dozen or so destinations in eastern Quebec and New Brunswick (Havre-St-Pierre, Bonaventure, Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Bathurst, etc.)

I am actually very interrested in this. Do you have a link where I could read about this? I do not see any mention of it on the airline's page.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by FFX-ME

I am actually very interrested in this. Do you have a link where I could read about this? I do not see any mention of it on the airline's page.

Can you read en français?

http://www.gatineau.ca/portail/default.a...dias/communiques/communique&id=981982243

http://ici.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2014/06/17/006-pascan-aeroport-gatineau.shtml

http://www.lapresse.ca/le-droit/actualit...tinations-pour-laeroport-de-gatineau.php

[eemy]

Originally Posted by FFX-ME

I am actually very interrested in this. Do you have a link where I could read about this? I do not see any mention of it on the airline's page.

Hmm, it says in giant letters "Now serving Gatineau!" Maybe they hadn't yet pushed updates out when you checked it.

https://www.pascan.com/en/

[begratto]

Originally Posted by canabiz

Certainly beat driving 3+ hours to Syracuse, esp. in the winter.

Do people in Ottawa really drive down to Syracuse to catch a flight? Why not Plattsburgh, which is about 75km closer?

[phil235]

Originally Posted by begratto

Do people in Ottawa really drive down to Syracuse to catch a flight? Why not Plattsburgh, which is about 75km closer?

I actually don't think it's that many people doing it, given the distance. There were some rough estimates in some of the articles, but for the most part they amount to a pretty small percentage of travellers at the moment.

In any event, Plattsburgh involves a drive through Adirondack Park on small roads, whereas Syracuse is all 4-lane highway and a straight shot south. I've not compared, but I'd expect Syracuse is a bit quicker (but not quick)time wise.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by phil235

I actually don't think it's that many people doing it, given the distance. There were some rough estimates in some of the articles, but for the most part they amount to a pretty small percentage of travellers at the moment.

In any event, Plattsburgh involves a drive through Adirondack Park on small roads, whereas Syracuse is all 4-lane highway and a straight shot south. I've not compared, but I'd expect Syracuse is a bit quicker (but not quick)time wise.

Syracuse also has a lot more flights. Plattsburgh is mostly super budget airlines.

I have flown out of Syracuse a few times and I would say close to half the cars had Canadian plates. That might vary around US holidays but if Sytracuse has 1 Million passengers a year it must be at least a few hundred thousand Canadians. Of course the bulk of those might be from points south of Ottawa where the extra time over MTL or Ottawa airports becomes minimal.

[Fabitus]

Originally Posted by begratto

Do people in Ottawa really drive down to Syracuse to catch a flight? Why not Plattsburgh, which is about 75km closer?

Absolutely. It is about 3hrs drive to either airport.

I personally have flown out of Plattsburgh, Ogdensburg and Syracuse. It depends on the destination and the deals at the time of travel.

These are some examples of tickets I have bought in the past compared to the cheapest option from Ottawa (all taxes/fees included, Can$):

Plattsburgh-Las Vegas: $180. OTT-LAS: $360
Ogdnesburg-Boston: $160. OTT-BOS: $380
Syracuse-Bogota: $640. OTT-BOG: $1,090

$450 savings to Bogota it is totally worth it even when you take into account $70 for gas and $100 for hotel stay (with free park and fly). Also, I was traveling with my 2 kids so the total savings were $450x3 - $170 = $1,180!!!

Additionally, parking in Ognesburg is free and in Plattsburgh is US$8 per day.
Ottawa is at $16 per day

P.S. This is my first post... I've been a follower for years!

[Norman Bates]

Great first contribution. Welcome aboard Fabitus!

[canabiz]

Originally Posted by begratto

Do people in Ottawa really drive down to Syracuse to catch a flight? Why not Plattsburgh, which is about 75km closer?

Yes I know quite a number of people who often drive to Syracuse for flights. As others have posted, the savings can be substantial if you are in the right place at the right time. Plattsburgh and Ogdensburg are nice options to have but they simply can't replace Syracuse.

Don't forget there are a number of things to do in Syracuse (Destiny USA, Waterloo Factory Outlets etc) so many families probably combine the trip to accomplish a number of things (back-to-school shopping, Black Friday etc). Kill a couple of birds with 1 stone, if you will.

P.S. Welcome to the forum, Fabitus!

[Acajack]

I've flown out of Syracuse and a number of my friends have as well. When you have four or five tickets to finance, it can be well worth it if you are flying to the continental U.S.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I've flown out of Syracuse and a number of my friends have as well. When you have four or five tickets to finance, it can be well worth it if you are flying to the continental U.S.

I've never had any luck finding deals that made the extra 3 hours worth it, but that is where is does make sense - you've got time to spare, you're buying 3 or 4 tickets and flying to a U.S. destination.