Canadian Airport Thread

[Dominion301]

CX mark 40 years of service to YVR: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/cathay-pacific-marks-40-years-in-the-americas-844682179.html

Cathay Pacific today marks a milestone in the Americas and in its history as one of the world's leading airlines: 40 years ago today, Cathay Pacific flight CX800, a Boeing 747-200, departed Hong Kong to touch down in Vancouver, BC, Canada for the first time. The launch of this nonstop service between Hong Kong and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) not only represented the airline's first entry into North America, but also it becoming the first airline in the world to connect these two cities with a nonstop service.

[YYCguys]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

In order for WG to maintain a balanced fleet year-round, I could see WG eventually becoming WS' rouge equivalent. Mostly sun flying in winter, shifting a lot more than currently to low yield domestic in summer.

So we can anticipate a merging of WG and WO, perhaps?

[casper]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

In order for WG to maintain a balanced fleet year-round, I could see WG eventually becoming WS' rouge equivalent. Mostly sun flying in winter, shifting a lot more than currently to low yield domestic in summer.

That would be fantastic. Swoop can then be rolled into WG.

There are very few nice things about Rouge. But one of them is they are interlined/codeshared with the mother ship. So you can actually connect onwards on them. Something you can't do now with Swoop.

[jigglysquishy]

I'm curious where the community sits on this.

The American federal government subsidizes small airports to allow communities away from major centres to still be connected. For example, Williston North Dakota (30,000 people) has regular flights to Vegas and Minneapolis, greatly expanding their business profile. Smaller metros in Canada, like a Regina, are completely on their own for American connections. As a result, we have zero non-sun destination American flights.

Would people support a federal subsidy for airports on smaller CMAs to allow for better business connections?

[Bishop2047]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

I'm curious where the community sits on this.

The American federal government subsidizes small airports to allow communities away from major centres to still be connected. For example, Williston North Dakota (30,000 people) has regular flights to Vegas and Minneapolis, greatly expanding their business profile. Smaller metros in Canada, like a Regina, are completely on their own for American connections. As a result, we have zero non-sun destination American flights.

Would people support a federal subsidy for airports on smaller CMAs to allow for better business connections?

I am going to go out on a limb and say that if you are from a smaller CMA you would love to see these routes subsidized. If you are from a larger CMA whose airport rely largely on passenger connecting through your terminal to fill their international flights, you will not like this idea.

So of course as a Fredericton native I wholeheartedly support subsidizing additional international, and domestic routes from smaller CMAs (hardly biased opinion).

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

I'm curious where the community sits on this.

The American federal government subsidizes small airports to allow communities away from major centres to still be connected. For example, Williston North Dakota (30,000 people) has regular flights to Vegas and Minneapolis, greatly expanding their business profile. Smaller metros in Canada, like a Regina, are completely on their own for American connections. As a result, we have zero non-sun destination American flights.

Would people support a federal subsidy for airports on smaller CMAs to allow for better business connections?

The subsidy in the USA is the SCASD grant to help attract and launch new routes and is temporary support. I would be in favour of that. If you're thinking of the USA's EAS program, that only applies to certain airports for feeder service into hubs that were deemed essential at the time of deregulation in the USA in 1978. For example, PLB in upstate NY has EAS feeder service that is subsidized but also has non-subsidized service to Florida on Allegiant.

[Zmonkey]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

The subsidy in the USA is the SCASD grant to help attract and launch new routes and is temporary support. I would be in favour of that. If you're thinking of the USA's EAS program, that only applies to certain airports for feeder service into hubs that were deemed essential at the time of deregulation in the USA in 1978. For example, PLB in upstate NY has EAS feeder service that is subsidized but also has non-subsidized service to Florida on Allegiant.

Also, its not like Canada doesn't have anything, we just subsidize smaller airports differently.

https://tc.canada.ca/en/programs/airports-capital-assistance-program

The lobby group: https://canadasairports.ca/advocacy/industry-priorities/small-airport-infrastructure/

There are also grants you can apply for that fall under tourism, trade, connectivity and emergency funds. Bigger airports can apply too, for Example Quebec city applied and received funds under National Trade for Cargo expansion and Airport Relief Funds to connect regional/small airports to it.

Many provinces have their own set up for smaller airports.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

CX mark 40 years of service to YVR: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/cathay-pacific-marks-40-years-in-the-americas-844682179.html

They still fly here? You wouldn't know it from their vastly diminished presence.

[nname]

Originally Posted by whatnext

They still fly here? You wouldn't know it from their vastly diminished presence.

They are still flying 8x weekly to YVR and 12x weekly to YYZ this summer.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by nname

They are still flying 8x weekly to YVR and 12x weekly to YYZ this summer.

A shadow of what their YVR service used to be.

[thenoflyzone]

CX in general is a shadow of its former self.

[thewave46]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

CX in general is a shadow of its former self.

Demand for Hong Kong has gone off a cliff for reasons.

AC doesn't even offer a flight from YYZ there anymore.

Hong Kong is going to have a heck of a time for the foreseeable future.

[nname]

Originally Posted by thewave46

AC doesn't even offer a flight from YYZ there anymore.

That should be due to Russia air space, and the fact that AC lack of widebody planes. So no point wasting them on a detour when they can just route everyone through YVR. Same applies to DEL.

The following routes are currently remain cancelled through S24 until at least Oct 26, 2024:

YVR-DEL
YYZ-PEK
YYZ-PVG
YYZ-HKG
YUL-PVG

But then, both YVR-HKG and YYZ-HKG are actually in very high demand right now, likely much higher yielding than most of the Europe route (just check the current ticket price!). Not sure if AC would move some Europe capacity to Asia later on...

[thewave46]

Originally Posted by nname

That should be due to Russia air space, and the fact that AC lack of widebody planes. So no point wasting them on a detour when they can just route everyone through YVR. Same applies to DEL.

The following routes are currently remain cancelled through S24 until at least Oct 26, 2024:

YVR-DEL
YYZ-PEK
YYZ-PVG
YYZ-HKG
YUL-PVG

But then, both YVR-HKG and YYZ-HKG are actually in very high demand right now, likely much higher yielding than most of the Europe route (just check the current ticket price!). Not sure if AC would move some Europe capacity to Asia later on...

Indeed, you are right. Direct flights from Canada to Hong Kong are very expensive. Flights to Asia in pre-Covid days were much cheaper, even comparing other destinations.

While I get that Russian overflight bans are playing a factor, I am shocked to see prices that high. It seems that the lack of competition from Chinese airlines at this juncture (does China still have entry restrictions?) has led to the established long-haul players raising prices.

[Calfan12]

Originally Posted by thewave46

Demand for Hong Kong has gone off a cliff for reasons.

AC doesn't even offer a flight from YYZ there anymore.

Hong Kong is going to have a heck of a time for the foreseeable future.

Although Air Canada does code share with Cathay Pacific on Hong Kong HKG- Toronto YYZ -HKG flight route.

https://news.cathaypacific.com/cathay-pa...enefits-in-strategic-co-operation-141519

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by thewave46

Indeed, you are right. Direct flights from Canada to Hong Kong are very expensive. Flights to Asia in pre-Covid days were much cheaper, even comparing other destinations.

While I get that Russian overflight bans are playing a factor, I am shocked to see prices that high. It seems that the lack of competition from Chinese airlines at this juncture (does China still have entry restrictions?) has led to the established long-haul players raising prices.

HKG is still only at 50% pre-pandemic traffic numbers. They were even lower only a few months ago.

Of course prices to HKG will be very high. It’s supply and demand.

The airport has a shortage of workers as well, so a lot of airlines can’t add flights even if they wanted to.

https://amp.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong...e-15-40-cent-unlikely-drop-any-time-soon

[thenoflyzone]

Found this interesting.

https://simpleflying.com/newark-top-usa-airport-for-european-destinations/

EWR overtook JFK in the number of non stop destinations they have to Europe this summer. JFK has lost 7 destinations compared to S19. EWR, meanwhile, has gained 5.

EWR 39
JFK 35
ORD 25
IAD 21
BOS 20

Just to compare, here are Canada’s main 4 airports’ numbers for S23. (Source: flightconnections.com)

YUL 33
YYZ 31
YVR 10
YYC 10

[thenoflyzone]

Thought it' be interesting to do the same with number of non stop destinations to the US and its territories in S23. (Source: flightconnections.com)

YYZ 45 *
YUL 29 #
YVR 28 ^
YYC 24 **

Notes:

* PSP, HNL, OGG, SJU, PBI, SRQ are winter seasonal, so didn't count them. I did count SFB however, as even though it's seasonal, it ends in June, which is pretty late into the summer season.
# RSW, PBI and SJU are winter seasonal, so didn't count them.
^ LIH, KOA are winter seasonal, and Flair ends AZA tomorrow. So didn't count them. I did however count ANC, as even though it's seasonal, it ends in September, which is pretty late into the summer season.
** HNL, OGG, KOA, FLL, AZA are winter seasonal, so didn't count them.

[Calfan12]

Porter's summer schedule at Toronto Pearson to launch June 1

Porter Airlines is launching its summer schedule at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), with additional flexibility when travelling between YYZ and Ottawa (YOW), Montreal (YUL), Halifax (YHZ), Vancouver (YVR), Edmonton (YEG) and Calgary (YYC).

The new schedule comes into effect on June 1, adding more desirable flight times that are well-distributed throughout the day. Certain routes will see a further increase in flights by August, according to a press release issued Thursday (May 4).

“Porter is known to provide high-frequency, daily service on its core routes. Consistent with this approach, we’re continuing our planned growth at Toronto Pearson and investing to provide passengers with the travel options they value,” stated Kevin Jackson, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Porter Airlines. “Travellers can count on even more flights being added to these markets, as well as entirely new destinations being announced in the coming months. Porter is setting out to elevate the economy travel experience and offering frequent flights is another way that we’re serving the needs of business and leisure travellers.”

YYZ-YOW 3x daily
YYZ-YUL 4x daily
YYZ-YHZ 3x daily
YYZ-YVR 5x daily
YYZ-YEG 3x daily
YYZ-YYC 3x daily

Flying, elevated
Porter operates the 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 on all Toronto Pearson routes, featuring an all-economy, two-by-two configuration and no middle seats.

https://news.paxeditions.com/news/ai...earson-airport

[JakeLRS]

It looks like Flair did some additional cuts in their 2023-2024 winter schedule. I don't recall seeing as many reduced frequencies from some markets... Or this is flair just completely fixing their winter schedule... But this is based on what's available/unavailable on their reservation system...


YKF-YXX drops to summer seasonal from intended year round
YKF-YHZ drops to summer seasonal from year round
YKF-YWG drops to summer seasonal from year-round

(Not 100% on YYZ as maybe the schedule is being reconfigured but...)
YYZ-YQT is cut at the end of October
YYZ-JFK is cut at the end of October (I thought they actually did OK here...)

YOW-YVR is cut at the end of October.

I also thought YXU-YYC/YVR was year-round before as well...

Maybe nname has some details here...