Halifax Stanfield International Airport Developments

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

The announcement means anyone planning to travel from YHZ to LHR should not travel via AC and find a different carrier. I cannot imagine the agony of a 737 MAX in Rouge configuration.

A 737 MAX in Rouge configuration means only one thing - That you will end up being rouged to the max by Air Canada.

I will forever remember my Air Canada flight to San Diego from Toronto 7-8 years ago, It was on Rouge, and I was darned near crippled when I got off the plane, I could barely walk. It ruined the first three days of my trip.

I agree. If Air Canada only offers Rouge service to LHR, I will choose another carrier.

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

The announcement means anyone planning to travel from YHZ to LHR should not travel via AC and find a different carrier. I cannot imagine the agony of a 737 MAX in Rouge configuration.

I've taken a 4-1/4 hour flight on a Rouge A319 and the seat pitch was extremely uncomfortable, the main problem being that it was near impossible to move my knees to more comfortable positions (and I'm not uncommonly tall - just under 6'2"). I felt damn near crippled after landing.

Wouldn't willingly do it again.

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

A 737 MAX in Rouge configuration means only one thing - That you will end up being rouged to the max by Air Canada.

I will forever remember my Air Canada flight to San Diego from Toronto 7-8 years ago, It was on Rouge, and I was darned near crippled when I got off the plane, I could barely walk. It ruined the first three days of my trip.

I agree. If Air Canada only offers Rouge service to LHR, I will choose another carrier.

It appears we were typing responses simultaneously. Interesting that we both chose the phrase "near crippled".

Anyway, Rouge (I prefer to call it "Air Canada Rude") aircraft will only be on YHZ-LHR for about four months.

[connect2source]

Once the five months is over we get a very premium configured XLR with the new Signature lie-flat suites, during that period I'll likely choose another carrier / route.

[JonToms]

WestJet Reduces Frequency on DTW, YQR and YXE to YHZ in Summer 2026

WestJet have reduced the frequency on DTW, YQR and YXE for the summer of 2026. DTW on various weeks throughout the summer season goes from daily service to six times weekly with Wednesdays being removed. Both YQR and YXE go from twice weekly service to once weekly service on various weeks throughout the summer. See the exact schedules on the WestJet link below.

https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/flights/direct-flights

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by JonToms

WestJet Reduces Frequency on DTW, YQR and YXE to YHZ in Summer 2026

WestJet have reduced the frequency on DTW, YQR and YXE for the summer of 2026. DTW on various weeks throughout the summer season goes from daily service to six times weekly with Wednesdays being removed.

Poor Wednesday...

[JonToms]

Air Service One Article on the Launch of WestJets Madrid Route

For anyone who is interested here is an article from Air Service One on WestJets launch of its new flight from YHZ to MAD.

https://airserviceone.com/new-route-of-t...2026-westjet-between-halifax-and-madrid/

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

HalifaxMadridRtn by A.J. Forsythe, on Flickr

The cheapest 2 week period I could find in July. Nothing wrong with this!

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Arrdeeharharharbour

The cheapest 2 week period I could find in July. Nothing wrong with this!

If I posted about this in a wider section people would lose their minds, but I think in a lot of ways YHZ has better flight options than here, mostly just because of geography.

This is a Pacific gateway with direct flights to Asia, which are great, but they are very long simply due to how huge the Pacific is. In Halifax you have great destinations around the US, Caribbean/Mexico, and Europe that aren't nearly as far or as jetlag inducing. A 6 hour flight to Madrid is actually pretty manageable and not much worse than flying from here to Toronto.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by someone123

A 6 hour flight to Madrid is actually pretty manageable and not much worse than flying from here to Toronto.

Only if you are not flying AC Rouge...

[miniborder]

Originally Posted by someone123

If I posted about this in a wider section people would lose their minds, but I think in a lot of ways YHZ has better flight options than here, mostly just because of geography.

This is a Pacific gateway with direct flights to Asia, which are great, but they are very long simply due to how huge the Pacific is. In Halifax you have great destinations around the US, Caribbean/Mexico, and Europe that aren't nearly as far or as jetlag inducing. A 6 hour flight to Madrid is actually pretty manageable and not much worse than flying from here to Toronto.

Heck, I just flew out and back from Alaska and it's staggering how much easier/closer it is to get to Europe than crossing the continent.

The last few times I've gone to Asia I've preferred travelling east/RTW: YHZ-LHR-SIN/HKG on the outbound and NRT-YYZ-YHZ on the inbound. Just find my body responds so much better, and you cut a bit of overall flight time riding the jet streams.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Only if you are not flying AC Rouge...

AC Rouge operates around here too. They are miserable... sometimes I tolerate them for short flights. I wonder if flying will one day get so bad more and more people won't bother at all.

[JonToms]

Simple Flying Article on Westjet’s Copenhagen Route Launch

This is an interesting article on the launch of WestJet’s YHZ to CPH route. It also provides a great overview of WestJet European capacity offered from YYZ this season. They also list the other European capacity from YHZ offered by other carriers. The only carrier they miss is Eidelweis who are offering twice weekly service from YYZ to ZRH from June to October.

https://simpleflying.com/8-hour-flights-westjet-launches-new-737-max-route/

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by JonToms

Simple Flying Article on Westjet’s Copenhagen Route Launch

This is an interesting article on the launch of WestJet’s YHZ to CPH route. It also provides a great overview of WestJet European capacity offered from YYZ this season. They also list the other European capacity from YHZ offered by other carriers. The only carrier they miss is Eidelweis who are offering twice weekly service from YYZ to ZRH from June to October.

https://simpleflying.com/8-hour-flights-westjet-launches-new-737-max-route/

I'll be flying this route later this month. I'm curious to know how they're selling; I certainly would like them to stick around or even be expanded. (The uncertainty over Europe's jet-fuel supplies later in the year is an unfortunate coincidence.)

[JonToms]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

I'll be flying this route later this month. I'm curious to know how they're selling; I certainly would like them to stick around or even be expanded. (The uncertainty over Europe's jet-fuel supplies later in the year is an unfortunate coincidence.)

Yes I would love to know how they are selling as well. I certainly know a lot of friends who are taking advantage of them this season. I wish WestJet would let you look at the seat maps like AC do when you go on their app to look at the flight status of a particular flight. Maybe someone on here knows of a hack to be able to view their seat maps within the 24 hour period before a flight. Anyone out there have a thought in this?

[miniborder]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

I'll be flying this route later this month. I'm curious to know how they're selling; I certainly would like them to stick around or even be expanded. (The uncertainty over Europe's jet-fuel supplies later in the year is an unfortunate coincidence.)

Originally Posted by JonToms

Yes I would love to know how they are selling as well. I certainly know a lot of friends who are taking advantage of them this season. I wish WestJet would let you look at the seat maps like AC do when you go on their app to look at the flight status of a particular flight. Maybe someone on here knows of a hack to be able to view their seat maps within the 24 hour period before a flight. Anyone out there have a thought in this?

Use ExpertFlyer for your curiosities.

[teddifax]

ExpertFlyer looks like it is not free after the trial version.

[miniborder]

Originally Posted by teddifax

ExpertFlyer looks like it is not free after the trial version.

Don't confuse the free (forever) account with the trial version.

I pay for ExpertFlyer and Flighty Pro subscriptions happily - both are worth their weight in gold for frequent travelers especially during IRROPS. I'd be happy to share flight loads or seat maps with forum users via DM if folks are really curious about specific flights. But the curiosities that the two users posed can generally be answered using a free account.

[JonToms]

Bermudair Reducing BDA - YHZ Service in Winter 2026/27 Schedule

Bermudair will be reducing their BDA - YHZ frequency from twice to once weekly from December 20, 2026 until March 2, 2027. From March 3, 2027 they will return back to a twice weekly frequency. These flights will be operated by an Embraer E190 aircraft.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/260605-2tnw26

[MonctonRad]

My sister and brother-in-law lived in Bermuda for about five years. It can get a tad chilly there at that time of year. Not cold. Just chilly. Mid teens. Not perfect beach weather,

Perhaps this is why.