Canadian Airport Thread

[khabibulin]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

I can assure you that, at least in my profession, federal govt workplaces are a hell of a lot leaner than private sector ones.

That said, federal travel is ridiculous.. mostly because of the federal government's insistence on keeping large chunks of the bureaucracy stashed in remote offices all over the country instead of just keeping it all in Ottawa like they're supposed to. As a resident of Ottawa, my government paystubs are prepared by people in Miramichi and my taxes are processed by people in St. John's.

Funny, I thought that Ottawa taxes were processed at Shawinigan (JeanChretienville)?

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by khabibulin

Funny, I thought that Ottawa taxes were processed at Shawinigan (JeanChretienville)?

Huh, you're right. Last time I filed taxes I was a resident of Kingston, and those taxes are processed in St. John's.

The tax processing is ridiculous. There's a tax centre in Sudbury, only a few hundred km away from Kingston, yet those taxes are sent to St. John's? Even worse, Sudbury taxes themselves are sent to Shawinigan! Oh, and Ottawa taxes are sent to Shawinigan despite the CRA headquarters itself being in Ottawa.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/cntct/t1ddr-eng.html

[1overcosc]

The federal spending on this kind of bureaucratic decentralization is probably in the billions.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm surprised by that given that we have not really had any significant improvements in service beyond a few additional frequencies to Toronto and (wait for it) new Westjet turboprop service to Saskatchewan.

With Saskatchewan losing United they're probably flying through Winnipeg and connecting (among other places). That, combined with the Westjet flights and the increase in Toronto flights probably does it. I really really would like a direct flight to Halifax. It's the busiest destination not served by a direct flight if I recall. Kelowna and Victoria are up there too.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by jmt18325

With Saskatchewan losing United they're probably flying through Winnipeg and connecting (among other places). That, combined with the Westjet flights and the increase in Toronto flights probably does it. I really really would like a direct flight to Halifax. It's the busiest destination not served by a direct flight if I recall. Kelowna and Victoria are up there too.

The best new routes for Winnipeg would be to hubs that would increase the number of destinations you can get to in one stop. That basically means more service to hubs in the US. A good wish list would look something like this:

SFO (UA hub)
PHX (AA (well, US) hub)
DFW (AA hub)
ATL (DL hub)
DTW (DL hub)
EWR (UA hub)
IAH (UA hub)
MIA (AA hub)

Even just one of those cities would make a big difference in terms of the places you could reach with ease from here.

The only Canadian city that fits that bill is Halifax... a direct flight there would give you an alternative to Toronto for reaching just about anywhere in Atlantic Canada, as well as a range of sun destinations and Heathrow.

Also, your point regarding Sask and United service cuts are bang on. I've noticed a good number of people from Sask (identified by their clothing - company jackets, Riders hats, etc.) on United flights to ORD... more so than in years past. That has to be having an effect.

[jmt18325]

That's why I would say a direct flight to Halifax would be the thing. Like you say, a direct flight to either a east or west coast US hub (preferably both) would also be helpful.

[cyeg66]

Re-post, now with the finalized standings, most importantly YWG passing YHZ.

Originally Posted by cyeg66

A quick tally of 2014:

YYZ: 2013: 36,107,306 2014: 38,571,961 (+6.8%)
YVR: 2013: 17,971,883 2014: 19,358,203 (+7.7%)
YYC: 2013: 14,316,074 2014: 15,261,108 (+6.6%)
YUL: 2013: 14,095,182 2014: 14,821,100 (+5.2%)
YEG: 2013: 7,697,995 2014: 8,240,161 (+7.0%)
YOW: 2013: 4,578,591 2014: 4,616,448 (+0.8%)
YWG: 2013: 3,483,898 2014: 3,669,797 (+5.3%)
YHZ: 2013: 3,585,864 2014: 3,663,039 (+2.2%)
YTZ: 2013: 2,300,000* 2014: 2,400,000* (+4.0%)*
YYJ: 2013: 1,556,960 2014: 1,650,165 (+6.0%)
YLW: 2013: 1,503,288 2014: 1,602,899 (+6.6%)
YYT: 2013: 1,500,000* 2014: 1,600,000* (+6.5%)*
YQB 2013: 1,475,717 2014: 1,574,699 (+6.7%)
YXE: 2013: 1,389,900 2014: 1,484,615 (+6.8%)
YMM: 2013: 1,195,437 2014: 1,308,416 (+9.5%)
YQR: 2013: 1,227,234 2014: 1,262,577 (+2.9%)

*estimated
-YMM overtakes YQR.
-YWG overtakes YHZ
-YVR fastest growing of the big boys and YMM fastest of the children.

[jmt18325]

Didn't Toronto Island Airport actually go down this year? That's the stats I saw anyway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_busiest_airports_in_Canada#cite_note-27

[jmt18325]

And Winnipeg really should get one more European flight. We'd get people from Manitoba and Saskatchewan on that flight, and all 3 major airports have grown in the two provinces.

[Dwils01]

Just found out that the Sault's airport code is YAM, I wonder what that would look like on a shirt.

[Denscity]

Anyone have January stats of their airport to share? YVR's is out but I don't know how to post them.

[Dwils01]

Sault Ste. Marie is getting $1 million in funding from the provincial and the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation (SSMADC) will add $1 million from their own pocket for airport upgrades.
The funding is for adding four new airline counters, create office space for an additional airline carrier and expand the passenger screening hold room to hold up to 250 passengers.

There is also talks about getting another passenger airline service here. A lot of people are thinking that it's Westjet Encore, mainly becasue they want more flights out west.
This will be hard to get that to come here since Thunder Bay has a lot of flights out west there and they have a bigger market for it.
http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/details.asp?c=87496

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Anyone have January stats of their airport to share? YVR's is out but I don't know how to post them.

Here are YYC's January numbers, posted yesterday by Johnny Aussie:

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

And we are off and running for 2015!

Definitely slower growth but positive growth for all sectors.

Compared to Jan 2014:

Overall up 2.3% to 1,198,964 (up ~ 26,600)
Domestic up 1.1% to 800,599 (up ~ 9,100)
Transborder up 1.8% to 254,577 (up ~ 4,500)
International up 9.9% to 143,788 (up ~ 13,000)

[Echoes]

The transformation of the Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport continues with the opening of the new security screening area:









https://www.facebook.com/YXEairport#!/YXEairport[/QUOTE]

[Dirt_Devil]

^^

Very nice design. Good for Saskatoon!

Meanwhile, Quebec City's terminal will be doubling in size. Construction to begin on April 1st and details will be unveiled on March 19th. I read the new international terminal will be 185 meters long, adding 3 contact gates for a total of 11 contact gates out of the 16. Will still be a small airport but it's getting bigger with the 5 stories parkade built last year and now this.

[cyeg66]

Wow, Saskatoon airport is unrecognizable from the years I lived in 'Saskatchatoon'. Last time I flew through there (and many times before) was in 2001 and it had only been slightly expanded from its original size then. They've doubled their gates with more to come. Looking nice.

As for YQB, same story but even more. I was last there in 2002 (?) and what can I say other than: tabarnak! The little airport that could is getting all growed up. I can't help but feel that airport has untapped potential as the city proper gets more direct service and fliers start to see the benefit of not transiting thru/driving to YUL. Its domestic potential is relatively limited but maybe even that could change if more Canadians would take the time to visit the city and surrounding areas. It's too pretty to pass up.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Chorduroy

Can't see YMM ahead of YQR again in 2015 given the massive cutbacks in the oilfield sector this year.

Most of the energy sector cutbacks have been in conventional drilling, Oilsands construction is down a little bit, but not as much compared to conventional.

YMM will have another solid year because the first half of last year was under the old capacity constrained terminal. Additionally the only highway out of town is still bottle necked as ever. This will push more residents onto flights instead of driving to YEG.

Originally Posted by khabibulin

Thank God. The amount of government officials flying across the country to do business with themselves was obscene. Taxpayers would still be shocked to see the amount of "wasteful" travel that still goes on in the federal government. And lots of government offices are also equipped with state of the art (like multiple 60" monitors and cameras that track the people in the room who are talking) video conference capability.

Video conference does not even come close to comparing to the effectiveness of live communication. There is also the ancillary effects of team building and secondary meetings that can come from physical presence rather than video conference.

I do not consider most business travel as wasteful. Chartering a turboprop to fly between YEG and PSP, that's wasteful. Buying business class at the airport rather than taking up the PMO on offer to fly in/out of Mandela's funeral, that's wasteful. Booking ghost travellers rather than giving a ride to other government employees, that's wasteful. Thankfully Redford got sent packing for her travel abuse.

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm surprised by that given that we have not really had any significant improvements in service beyond a few additional frequencies to Toronto and (wait for it) new Westjet turboprop service to Saskatchewan. I can't even remember the last time we got service to a brand new destination, aside from the annual rotation of sunspots.

I wonder when the last time was that YWG ranked 7th? We've been behind YHZ for as long as I can remember.

You would be absolutely amazed at the natural effect of upgrading everyday meat and potato flights from E90 to A320 will do for traffic stats. Conversely, it amazing how little a signature new nonstop effects the overall pax stats. For example YEg's new FI service only added 65k seats to the market of 8 million.

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Huh, you're right. Last time I filed taxes I was a resident of Kingston, and those taxes are processed in St. John's.

The tax processing is ridiculous. There's a tax centre in Sudbury, only a few hundred km away from Kingston, yet those taxes are sent to St. John's? Even worse, Sudbury taxes themselves are sent to Shawinigan! Oh, and Ottawa taxes are sent to Shawinigan despite the CRA headquarters itself being in Ottawa.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/cntct/t1ddr-eng.html

Just a guess, but personal tax returns are processed away from home so that there is less chance of someone finding out their neighbours incone and personal details.

[SignalHillHiker]

The city's official guides and other promotional materials now reference the direct Dublin flight. Thanks, again, WestJet!

[SignalHillHiker]

Hahaha. This particular campaign might not be great for tourism.

[Denscity]

Vancouver's YVR just won best airport in North America for the 6th year in a row!