Hamilton International Airport

[innsertnamehere]

I’ve used YHM once, in 2022. I went to Vegas for 3 days so just parked as it was a shorter trip.. but yea, it’s out of the way for most in the GTA. I think that’s a big reason it struggles.

The highway 6 twinning should improve access a bit by giving the airport a direct freeway connection, but it won’t fix it entirely.

 

[Chris R.]

I’ve used YHM once, in 2022. I went to Vegas for 3 days so just parked as it was a shorter trip.. but yea, it’s out of the way for most in the GTA. I think that’s a big reason it struggles.

The highway 6 twinning should improve access a bit by giving the airport a direct freeway connection, but it won’t fix it entirely.

I'm incredibly sad it's died off. I used it once to go to Halifax and it was pretty much my best airport experience ever. I showed wayyy too early being used to Pearson. I was sitting waiting for my flight with a coffee 8 minutes after arriving at the front door from a Lyft ride.

 

[Woodbridge_Heights]

Agree that Mirabel was a disaster and giant waste of taxpayer's money. Would be interested in understanding how many international customers use YYZ to use as a connector to other points in Canada vs those that are just exiting at YYZ into Southern Ontario.

YYZ needs to spread the love on customer volumes.

According the the GTAA 2023 Annual report, 23% of all passengers at YYZ are connecting passengers. A significant number considering that Pearson sees almost 50 million passengers per year, 23% of that is 11 million.

Report is available here: https://cdn.torontopearson.com/-/me...e/pdfs/annual-reports/gtaa-annual-report-2023

 

[turbanplanner]

I’ve used YHM once, in 2022. I went to Vegas for 3 days so just parked as it was a shorter trip.. but yea, it’s out of the way for most in the GTA. I think that’s a big reason it struggles.

The highway 6 twinning should improve access a bit by giving the airport a direct freeway connection, but it won’t fix it entirely.

Just checked the prices and $142 a week isn’t horrible

 

[robmausser]

Honestly even a proper shuttle from Aldershot would be nice, I feel most travelers are cost conscious, and a $40-60 uber x ride kills any saving

View attachment 607937

Focusing on Line A from the BLAST LRT network would really do a lot for the airport. Especially once frequencies to West Harbour increase. But until then, a shuttle from West Harbour GO would be amazing.

 

[robmausser]

Sunwing does seasonal flights out of YHM still I believe - but yes, since WestJest wound down Swoop, the airport has been much quieter.

Im surprised after the deaths of Swoop and Lynx, that Flair airlines didn't take a couple of those slots. But I hear they are struggling to even make money with their current fleet and service.

Shifting some slots from Pearson to Hamilton, provided they could crunch the numbers on how many people are coming in from the West to use the Pearson slots, could potentially save them money since the airport fees at Hamilton are less than Pearson.

If X passengers are coming from Oakville area and more westerly to Pearson, they might be incentivized to use Hamilton.

 

[innsertnamehere]

I'm incredibly sad it's died off. I used it once to go to Halifax and it was pretty much my best airport experience ever. I showed wayyy too early being used to Pearson. I was sitting waiting for my flight with a coffee 8 minutes after arriving at the front door from a Lyft ride.

going out was fine but the customs line returning stretched out of the building in the middle of the night in december. Didn't particularly enjoy standing on the tarmac waiting for customs.

The flights were $230 round trip to Vegas though.. soo..

 

[KingJames]

I do think that for the naysayers, YHM proved the point that with almost 1MM passengers in a year, the airport is a viable passenger airport. We just need some real competition to come in.

Maybe this could be palatable. Allow non-Canadian carriers to fly within Canada on routes between secondary airports (or airports with a capped level of activity).

 

[turbanplanner]

Im surprised after the deaths of Swoop and Lynx, that Flair airlines didn't take a couple of those slots. But I hear they are struggling to even make money with their current fleet and service.

Shifting some slots from Pearson to Hamilton, provided they could crunch the numbers on how many people are coming in from the West to use the Pearson slots, could potentially save them money since the airport fees at Hamilton are less than Pearson.

If X passengers are coming from Oakville area and more westerly to Pearson, they might be incentivized to use Hamilton.

With my limited knowledge they probably know some things we don't because they run service from waterloo, setting up more contracts and commitments might also be a thorn for them even if there is enough demand.

Lynx was terrible ran, didn't even sell things on board!

 

[wopchop]

Im surprised after the deaths of Swoop and Lynx, that Flair airlines didn't take a couple of those slots. But I hear they are struggling to even make money with their current fleet and service.

Shifting some slots from Pearson to Hamilton, provided they could crunch the numbers on how many people are coming in from the West to use the Pearson slots, could potentially save them money since the airport fees at Hamilton are less than Pearson.

If X passengers are coming from Oakville area and more westerly to Pearson, they might be incentivized to use Hamilton.

I always look at Hamilton as an option, but I find it is often not cheaper than YYZ, or there is some other issue (i.e. too many connections) that discourages me from booking there.
I guess the lack of options there right now is part of that problem.

 

[mininamib]

I travel between Germany and Canada once a year for the last 11 years and had the best experience last year when I flew out of Hamilton. It was so hassle-free in all areas: check-in, security, the gate, customs, luggage claim. I remember landing at Pearson in 2022 (albeit towards the end of the pandemic chaos) and waiting 2 hours on the tarmac upon landing and 2 hours at luggage claim on top of that; compared to my experience in 2023 at Hamilton, within 30 minutes I was off the plane, cleared customs, and had my luggage! It was astounding how different my experience was.

 

[JakeLRS]

This is just… depressing. I fear YHM is quite literally at an all-time low.

The bus service is a nice option, but if it’s being utilized seems to be up in the air. I’ve used it twice now; once for a trip to Europe in June, there were 4 pax. Today, on a trip out west, there is only 7 pax. Both were the 5pm departure.

Unfortunately, not all the bus times are convenient where it’s better to just take the go-bus instead to/from Hamilton GO.

For example, for most of the arrival flights to YYZ, I would have to wait at YYZ for at least an extra 75 minutes. What am I going to do in the YYZ terminal?

I wish AC would bring back YUL or for Porter to bring YOW service to help feed its hub (I’ve been vocal about this in all the surveys they send me post-flight).

It’s a shame, I would use to connect with WS via Calgary, but their fares are substantially more expensive and you don’t even get a carryon either. Westjet knows they are charging a fortune, I can fly direct with them from YYZ for much less on the same route.

I’d rather pay less and get/maintain status with AC/PD than to fly with WS out of YHM which would cost me more.

Even without status as a factor, people see it’s cheaper to fly from YYZ (or YKF) by $100 and they flock to those airports. My family was using YKF a lot because of direct flights, cheaper fares and not having to deal with YYZ. We did the same at YHM when swoop was around.

P.S seems like we’ve flocked to this forum mainly than the other skyscraper one.

 

[KingJames]

Couldn't agree with your sentiment more! Think we will need a Fed Conservative Majority to open our skies to foreign competition. I have said it before, let US and European competitors have whatever routes they want for a full slate of secondary airport (international and fully domestic routes).

 

[turbanplanner]

Couldn't agree with your sentiment more! Think we will need a Fed Conservative Majority to open our skies to foreign competition. I have said it before, let US and European competitors have whatever routes they want for a full slate of secondary airport (international and fully domestic routes).

Air Canada actually asked for Cabootage but only if they are allowed the same in the US

 

[KingJames]

I wouldn't do any favours for either Air Canada or Westjet. They have had their way for years.