In response to the existing threadHamilton pushes airport development (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=4034881#post4034881), I thought I'd create this poll to get everyones opinion. I put it in the Canada forum because I was unsure how many people peruse the Ontario one.

Hamilton city council is taking measures to be competitive with Pickering to have the next big airport for the GTA. For those not in the know, a Pickering airport has been planned in since the 1970's. The land is already set aside. Hamilton already has an international airport, but it's not very large. It could feasibly serve as a major node. I'm not sure when construction would theoretically begin, but I'm guessing within 10-20 years. I'm too lazy to look it up.

Pro's and Cons...

Hamilton Pro's:

- airport already exists.. could be expanded at a slower, by demand pace
- Hamilton is geographically central to Southern Ontario's population centres... the Golden Horseshoe, Niagara, the Golden Triangle, and London. It is also adjacent to Toronto's fastest growing side (that being the west, of course)
- easy to get to... the 403 runs right past it, with a dedicated route to the airport. The 407's western terminus is about 15 km away
- airport is adjacent to a large, compact urban centre (roughly 6-8km away from downtown.. I think. Just a guess)


Hamilton's Con's

- it's farther from downtown TO than Pickering, but not actually by much.


Pickering's Pro's

- it's adjacent to Toronto
- the 407's eastern terminus is right there
- clean slate (if that's a pro?)

Pickering's Con's

- location is remote to where Southern Ontario's growth is concentrated


If I'm not mistaken, I think that John C. Munroe International (Hamilton) is closer to a GO transit station than the Pickering site...

and, heres a link to John C. Munroes website (http://www.hamiltonairport.com/index.shtml).. worth a look

I must say, thats a damn good website. Very easy to use.

I feel that Hamilton would be MUCH better in terms of becoming an international airport. Location is key.

^ Exactly. Which is why pickering is a better location, on the other side of Toronto.

^ Exactly. Which is why pickering is a better location, on the other side of Toronto.

on the other side, with Whitby and Ajax.

on the west side you have Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton... not to mention K/W, London, and Niagara.

i think hamilton just because of it's population.

I wouldn't necessarily say the location would be remote for pickering, since it would share half of Toronto, and atleast half of York Region. Also, my guess is that pickering would be a smaller airport (like Laguadia) vs Pearson. If anything, Hamilton would be more remote. If you lived in Oshawa, and had to fly out of Hamilton, that is crazy (as I guess different airlines would use each airport for different destinations, as oppose to mini duplicating. Even Toronto/York Region to Hamilton would be stretching it a lot.

well, in my opinion, I think Hamilton would be more convenient to more people and industry than Pickering. I see that the GTA's momentum lies to the west and north, and not the east. Of course, though, Pickering would be closer to York region, as you mentioned.

I tried to find a decent map to illustrate this.... couldn't find anything.

I heard they'd have to go over farms and houses and stuff to make one in Pickering, and because of the location, and the fact that most of it is built, Hamilton would probably be a better option, probably cheaper too.

An airport ten minutes away from my house would be cool, but on the other hand the way the runway is set up planes would be flying right over my house.

It would cost Hamilton airport $100 million to get it up into good shape, new terminal and serviced lands (water and electricity). Whereas in Pickering it will cost $2 billion.

I think in a time when the province is trying to deal with its deficit and is short for cash it just makes more sense to put money towards Hamilton airport.

It would cost Hamilton airport $100 million to get it up into good shape, new terminal and serviced lands (water and electricity). Whereas in Pickering it will cost $2 billion.

I think in a time when the province is trying to deal with its deficit and is short for cash it just makes more sense to put money towards Hamilton airport.

You mean 100 million just for servicing the area around the airport, right? I don't think anyones put a number to, or even thought about, the specifics of upgrading the actual airport.

I thought the GTAA would be the ones paying for Pickering.

Yes $100 million from government funding and then it can build new terminals and bring in new businesses.

Well the most recent news was that Pickering would be a domestic hub, to increase the international capacity of Pearson and make it into an Atlanta-type airport, with people transfering to other flights to the US and across Canada.

Isn't Hamilton already international?

Isn't Hamilton already international?

it is, but it isn't really a major airport. It's very small.. doesn't compare at all to Pearson.

The funny thing is, often people prefer Hamilton over Toronto because the airport is so easy to get in and out of.

The funny thing is, often people prefer Hamilton over Toronto because the airport is so easy to get in and out of.

We'll, if we were going on convience, then we should be pushing for the expansion of the islands airport. Kick off those free loading islanders, and expand the airport. While were at it, put up a casino + hotels. What goes on in the islands, stays on the islands.

I go to Halifax a lot and I remember I used have to go to Toronto Airport. But now I only have to take a 10 minute drive and get on CanJet. Plus it's cheap.

Here's Hamilton airport routes

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/Aallen396/yhm1.jpg

I'm going for Hamilton though there is a strong bias towards it. The eastern suburbs/cities have never appealed to me to go to. They just seem farther away than Hamilton (even though they are not in reality) as well as not being as good a candidate for a big airport.

Hamilton, absolutly no question.
You know what really burns my ass thou?
I read in the Globe today that Pearson is now the most expensive airport in N.A. for airport landings and second in the world to Tokyo Narita.
To land a large plane at Pearson now costs $8100 while Montreal/Cal/Van/Edm are all around the two thousand dollar mark.
All that billions and more talk of another international airport. Whats worse, all the money for all that new car lots and not a penny for a rapid transit connection to the subway {ie Eglinton West Line}. The people in charge of the expansion should be horsewhipped.

^The money for Pearson was raised privately and not publicly.

But it is suppose to be an airport for a city. The province should have required rapid PT as part of the acceptance of the project.

^I dunno man, you complain about their landing fees and then you say that they should have payed for a PT link to the airport that would cost alot too.

Flying out of Pearson costs so much now :cry: :cry: :cry:

And there's still taxes :cry: and NavCan Charges :cry:

direct flights to Halifax, Moncton, and Ottawa, but no Montreal. Hmm.

Now that WestJet is out of Pearson, will we see Hamilton routes diminish?

But it is suppose to be an airport for a city. The province should have required rapid PT as part of the acceptance of the project.

I don't think you have any sence of fiscal responsibility. You must think money grows on trees. The province would require WHO to build rapid transit links? The city of Mississauga? The GTAA? The GTAA responsibility is aviation, not transit, and build links to where?

^ rapid transit should be assumed as part and parcel of planning a major airport. Should, but isn't. In an ideal world, it could be required to at least have a rapid transit station integrated into the airport by the GTAA. The city does the same thing with developers, right?

Or, the province and the Fed's would pony up. Thats what our bloody taxes are for.

Call me naive :)

I agree with the need for a rapid link, but Sisguy always just starts spewing stuff without thinking about it. He wants the province to require somebody to build a link as part of the airport, the question is who? The GTAA is not in the business of building transit. The airport already cost over $4 billion which has made Pearson one of the most expensive aiports in the world to fly into and out (funded not by the gov't I might add). The nearest link would be to GO transit rail line, which I beleive they don't own the lines which they have to rent, hence the already restrictive train schedule (only bus service available in non-peak rushour times). To connect the airport to either the rail line and buy/lay the rails, or build an extension to the BD line would add additional billions to the cost of the airport which would make the aiport fees even more outrageous. Obvously the city of Toronto, city of Missy, and the TTC cannot afford to spend. So the question is who? The province require the feds?? Not we are getting ridiculous.

And to point out that there is no current pressure to put links to the airport. The airport still remains accessable within reason. Not to mention that people will probably not take transit to the airport anyway (due to distance/stops in the current transit system, if you just built a link). Even building a direct link downtown wouldn't target too many people that actually go to the airport.

^we can always dream.

In terms of accessibility, I think Hamilton has the edge over Pickering and Pearson... When I say that, I mean in terms of local transit, not necessarily highway access or geographic location. Hamilton's airport isn't far from Hamilton's core, which I consider very appealing. The GO station would be a 20 minute drive for a bus connection (if it took the 403).

Awhile ago I had to make a trip to Halifax so I checked with WesJet to find which airport would be cheaper to take off from, Hamilton or Toronto. Well no surprise it was Hamilton, since I knew Toronto is the most expensive airport in North America.

Hamilton --> $475.18
Toronto --> $523.33

Difference of $48.15. So I saved fifty bucks plus the gas money I would have needed to drive up to Toronto.

direct flights to Halifax, Moncton, and Ottawa, but no Montreal. Hmm.

Now that WestJet is out of Pearson, will we see Hamilton routes diminish?

No WestJet won't reduce anymore routes from Hamilton airport, well hope not *knock on wood*. When Hamilton was the hub for WestJet YHM had direct flights to Montreal and Ottawa. Now those routes moved to Toronto. CanJet quickly came in and offered flights to Ottawa.

I don't think there's any doubt in my mind that building a new airport out of nothing is better than building a bigger airport out of an existing airport. Hamilton serves a larger part of the GTA, a larger part of the Golden Horseshoe, and a larger part of Southern Ontario. The only thing that I think they would need is better access to the airport. I went once, and I must've either taken a scenic route, or something, but it seemed like I was on county roads for a long time. Pickering serves Durham and Scarborough and eastern York Region better, but I still think there's no need for an all-new airport when an expanding airport is right there in Hamilton. If I can remember correctly, Oshawa and Buttonville will be unused in the next couple of decades, which would make this need more pressing? Also, don't forget that there aren't great highway links to Claremont either, and making everyone use the 407 as a primary route is criminal. The Golden Horseshoe doesn't need Hamilton, Pearson and Pickering serving more than a million passengers each.

^access has been improved dramatically. There is a 2-lane controlled-access road with on/off ramps from the 403 that leads right to the airport. This is the new Hwy 6 diversion. It opened last fall, I believe.

Couldn't find a map, but here's what the interchange for the 403/hwy 6 looks like. It's a breeze to get to the airport now.

http://www.onthighways.com/Hwy_3-9_images/6_dv_403_north.jpg

Here's a map

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/Appster/newhighway.jpg

Then definitely Pickering. Why should people have to pay tolls to get to an airport that taxpayers would have to pay to start from scratch?

tolls? The new highway 6 isn't a toll highway.

Whoops, I mean, Definitely Hamilton. 407's the toll.

when I said 'controlled-access', I meant basically a freeway. Except it's just 2-lanes. A 2-lane highway with on/off ramps.... no lights (well, I think there's one set of lights somewhere). Maybe that was the confusing part.

No tolls.... yet!

Right, I still think an airport over 50 kms from a city core is way to far away to be considered useful. With such a distance, pearson will still have to fly duplicate flights as Hamilton, which will significantly decrease the value of having a second major aiport.

Right, I still think an airport over 50 kms from a city core is way to far away to be considered useful. With such a distance, pearson will still have to fly duplicate flights as Hamilton, which will significantly decrease the value of having a second major aiport.

hmm, is it that far? How far away is Pickering from a city core?

Of course, the dynamics and economics of goods/passenger movement through an airport are very complex. I won't pretend to be an expert.

Pickering, to me is bascially, the same as Mississauga, based upon the downtown core. It maybe a little farther, but I use to make the ride all the time going to Boston Pizza.

Wasn't distance one of the many reasons that was cited as why Mirabel failed? And with traffic, I think Hamilton is worse as driving out to Mirabel, theres a lot of rural areas you are going through, unlike going to hamilton.

Wasn't distance one of the many reasons that was cited as why Mirabel failed? And with traffic, I think Hamilton is worse as driving out to Mirabel, theres a lot of rural areas you are going through, unlike going to hamilton.

Mirabel was meant to have a rail-link, I beleive. You can take the GO to downtown Hamilton, then they'd have to introduce some sort of express to the airport (likely a bus).

But distance is relative, right? I would envision the next airport to relieve Pearson. In that sense, Hamilton would pick up most of the non-Toronto, Southern Ontario business, but I could be wrong. I think it boils down to whats more convienient for more people. Pickering is more convienient for East and North, Hamilton West and South.

Hamilton is too far. And wasn't Pearson built in a field with little commercial development to be seen for miles

And I think Mirabel was supposed to have a highway built to it too, but wasn't ever completed.

Hamilton is too far. And wasn't Pearson built in a field with little commercial development to be seen for miles

Pearson developed from the existing Malton airport.

http://www.pinet.on.ca/peeldiglib/frost/images/malton.jpg
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/transport/images/41.jpg

This might interest people

ATB (Air Terminal Building) expansion plan for Hamilton Airport
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/Appster/yhm11.jpg

Phase 1 - light blue, 2005-2009
Phase 2 - yellow, 2010-2014

They've started renovating inside Hamilton airport this year and in the future you'll be able to enter the Canadian Airplane Museum for free well waiting for your flight.

When will construction oh Phase I start?

Does Toronto have the demand for another international airport? Only 30 million odd passengers a year.

Hamilton should have more domestic routes, merely, supporting its own population (how many?...not sure of exact figures) and its nearby tourist attractions. Possibly extra international routes to Central/south America too.

Could also provide alternative domestic routes to help Toronto Pearson. Smaller airlines could use the Hamilton airport. Coz we all know that its the domestic network that clogs the airport routes and not the international ones!

...

I don't think they'll be handling any flights except shorter ones from Canada and the US.

When will construction oh Phase I start?

YHM forecast 2,335,000 passengers in 2008. Phase I has a passenger capacity of 2,100,000. So I believe the construction should start in early 2007.

I don't think they'll be handling any flights except shorter ones from Canada and the US.

Are you talking about Pickering or Hamilton here?

BTW, Iberworld Airlines of Spain will be flying into Hamilton twice monthly with their A330s. The route will be YHM-MAD.

YHM forecast 2,335,000 passengers in 2008. Phase I has a passenger capacity of 2,100,000. So I believe the construction should start in early 2007.

I'm skeptical about their expansion plans. They've annouced expansions of the ATB as early as 2001, and they have never materialized. As a result, WJ pulled out. I'll believe it when I see it. YHM's Airport Authority has lost a lot of credibility over the years.

^^Pickering. But Hamilton I presumed as well. What airline is Iberworld? Is it related to Iberia that flies to Pearson.

^Nope not at all. Iberia is Spain's Flag Carrier, which flies all over the world, and is one of Europe's largest airlines.

Iberworld, on the other hand, is a small charter airline that flies out of Spain.

Regardless, it is a very nice addition to YHM. Now, if only they could actually build a proper and suitable terminal!

WestJet lowers Hamilton fares
May, 11 2005

HAMILTON - WestJet plans to lower fares to and from the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.

Beginning May 11, WestJet's fares to and from Hamilton will be $20.00 lower than fares to and from Lester B. Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

The airline hopes to stimulate traffic in Southern Ontario for WestJet and Hamilton International.

The cab fare alone from Mississauga would be more expensive than 20 bucks

Awhile ago I had to make a trip to Halifax so I checked with WesJet to find which airport would be cheaper to take off from, Hamilton or Toronto. Well no surprise it was Hamilton, since I knew Toronto is the most expensive airport in North America.

Hamilton --> $475.18
Toronto --> $523.33

Difference of $48.15. So I saved fifty bucks plus the gas money I would have needed to drive up to Toronto.

Take another $20 bucks off that. So difference of $68.15.

Take another $20 bucks off that. So difference of $68.15.

I'd PAY 68 bucks NOT to go to Mississauga... ;)

I'd say that Hamilton looks like the better choice in the short term, but Pickering might be better in the longer term. Though it's true that current growth trends favor the western periphery of Toronto, in the more distant future (two decades hence and beyond), the eastern periphery could likely be the next boom area, and Peterborough could find itself as embedded in Greater Toronto sprawl as Guelph.

I'd say that Hamilton looks like the better choice in the short term, but Pickering might be better in the longer term. Though it's true that current growth trends favor the western periphery of Toronto, in the more distant future (two decades hence and beyond), the eastern periphery could likely be the next boom area, and Peterborough could find itself as embedded in Greater Toronto sprawl as Guelph.

I hope not, for the sake of Peterborough

I think that since the growth is on the Western part now, and the government owns the Pickering lands already, they should concentrate on Hamilton first. When and if the growth concentrates on the eastern GTA, then, they can always have the option on Pickering.

Big news about YHM!

Air Canada comes to Hamilton

HAMILTON - Air Canada has announced the introduction of a series of new non-stop services between Hamilton - Montreal and Hamilton - Ottawa.

Effective September 18, Air Canada Jazz will introduce four daily non-stop flights from Hamilton to Montreal.

To promote the new route, Air Canada is offering a special introductory fare starting at $99 until July 2, for travel until October 31.

And effective September 18, Air Canada Jazz will introduce three daily non-stop flights between Hamiton and Ottawa.

That fare will be $89 until July 2, 2005 for travel until October 31, 2005.

Definitley good news for YHM. Watch out, C6!

I certainly hope an anti-sprawl clause is in place to curb developments in the eastern peripheral of the city. Else the greenbelt plan would be a subsequent failure.

Universal Airlines to fly non-stop from Hamilton to JFK

HAMILTON - There will soon be non-stop air service between Hamilton and New York City.

One day after CanJet announced it was pulling out of Hamilton International, Universal Airlines of Guyana has announced it is beginning service at the local airport.

Starting in mid-july, it will offer 3-flights each week, to and from New York's JFK.

Universal Airlines is also offering a pair of non stop weekly flights from Hamilton to Georgetown, Guyana.

The Hamilton Airport is dying a slow death. I heard something like 11 airlines have pulled out in the last few years, WestJet cut service by a large amount, FedEx pulled out or cut back large and the ticket prices out of Hamilton are nuts compared to other cities.
This new Universal Airlines will make a run for a few months, look for them to be gone before the winter season hits. I've stressed it many times, with friends/family in the industry, they all agree Hamilton is unable to be a sustanable airport. The landing path is too close to Pearson, most flights have to fly an unusual final in order to avoid Pearson traffic, this adds extra costs to the flight. For every 1 minute of flight time, it would cost a Dash-8 $1,000.00 extra. Can you imagine what it costs a 737 or larger?
The airside service at the airport is the worst I have seen at any airport in Canada. I stopped flying into or out of the airport due to the time it took for luggage to get unloaded or the fact the stairs used didn't fit the aircraft. The taxiways are terrible, how much fuel is being wasted just taxing to or from the runways? Low weather conditions are terrible for landing at this airport, the facilities are just not there to allow it.
Now the airport is on the correct track when it talks about the aviation business park it is planning. It's a great source of extra income to help boost the airports bottom line, but it will do little to add enough extra PAX traffic. This business park will help to offset the costs of re-doing the taxiways, runways, stairs, instrument approachs, etc. as most of these improvements can't be done unless passenger traffic or airline movements are boosted. As the trend at the airport shows, both are going in the wrong direction for this to take place. I hope the business park gets off the ground strong as it's the only thing that will save this airport.

The Hamilton Airport is dying a slow death. I heard something like 11 airlines have pulled out in the last few years, WestJet cut service by a large amount, FedEx pulled out or cut back large and the ticket prices out of Hamilton are nuts compared to other cities.
This new Universal Airlines will make a run for a few months, look for them to be gone before the winter season hits. I've stressed it many times, with friends/family in the industry, they all agree Hamilton is unable to be a sustanable airport. The landing path is too close to Pearson, most flights have to fly an unusual final in order to avoid Pearson traffic, this adds extra costs to the flight. For every 1 minute of flight time, it would cost a Dash-8 $1,000.00 extra. Can you imagine what it costs a 737 or larger?
The airside service at the airport is the worst I have seen at any airport in Canada. I stopped flying into or out of the airport due to the time it took for luggage to get unloaded or the fact the stairs used didn't fit the aircraft. The taxiways are terrible, how much fuel is being wasted just taxing to or from the runways? Low weather conditions are terrible for landing at this airport, the facilities are just not there to allow it.
Now the airport is on the correct track when it talks about the aviation business park it is planning. It's a great source of extra income to help boost the airports bottom line, but it will do little to add enough extra PAX traffic. This business park will help to offset the costs of re-doing the taxiways, runways, stairs, instrument approachs, etc. as most of these improvements can't be done unless passenger traffic or airline movements are boosted. As the trend at the airport shows, both are going in the wrong direction for this to take place. I hope the business park gets off the ground strong as it's the only thing that will save this airport.


In all fairness to this poll though, both Pickering and Hamilton are close enough to Pearson that they would get in the way of the flight path.

Anyways, I personally do not believe an a new international airport is needed YET. The massive expansion of Pearson is more than enough to sustain most international flights. However, there will be a point a new airport would be needed. I would then vote for Hamilton. There is no purpose building a whole new airport with the additional costs, when we can upgrade an existing one.

Also, if Pickering were built, we would have 3 large size airports (Pickering, Pearson, Hamilton) all within 50km's or so of eachother. There is absolutely no need for that much concentration and the end result would be the demise of one airport, that most likely being Hamilton

Hey YHM is starting to go international!

The June 2nd, 2005 Air Canada announcement introduced new non-stop service between Hamilton – Ottawa and Hamilton – Montreal with connecting service to Eastern Canada destinations: Deer Lake, Fredericton, Halifax, Quebec City, Moncton, St. John, NB, Charlottetown, St. John’s NF, Bagotville, and Sydney, NS, European destinations of Paris, London, Munich and Frankfurt.

Interesting, but really, why can't the Golden Horseshoe support two successful airports? City regions this size and smaller can support more! CanJet leaving, WestJet halving YHM service, this is not great news. This doesn't make a Pickering airport all that desirable (or at least it shouldn't). Pearson's getting more flights, even though airlines are annoyed at paying exorbiant fees!

Wiarton!!! the Wiarton International Airport

Will we get a free cute white Wiarton Willy teddy bear if we land at Wiarton International Airport? :tongue2:

I agree with Partybits, Pearson has lots of room for expansion, no need for a second airport except for freight, low cost airlines and charters. Hamilton makes more sense than Pickering.

More flights are proving a boost for London airport.


Boosted by more flights, London International Airport is moving to put a lock on the regional market, the airport's chief executive says.

"Our vision is to become the hub of aviation in southwestern Ontario," says Steve Baker.

He said surveys based on the postal codes of ticket buyers show the number of passengers from outside London has soared from 10 per cent to 55 per cent in the past five years.

The airport's recent $19-million renovation and the popular winter charter flights to vacation destinations are some of reasons the airport is gaining ground, he said.

Direct flights to the Mexican resort city of Cancun will return next winter and Hualtulco, a new Mexican destination, will be added.

Combined with existing flights to Veradero and Holguin in Cuba and Puerto Plata and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, the winter charter flights will climb to about 12 each week.

Cathy Cryderman, owner of Robert Q Travel in Byron, said the additional Mexican charter flights were a "smart decision." But she said prices still have to be competitive to persuade passengers to fly from home.

"As much as people complain they want a direct flight out of London, they will still go to Toronto or Detroit if its $50 bucks cheaper," said Cryderman.

This week London Airport officials learned they will gain two additional WestJet flights to Calgary-Vancouver after the discount airline decided to pull out of Windsor effective Oct. 30.

WestJet has been flying out of Windsor for two years, but a company official said volumes outside the summer months were low and the service was not profitable.

Baker said London's location gave it the edge in picking up the flights.

"Windsor has a big disadvantage in being so close to Detroit Metro," he said.

Also this week another rival airport, John C. Munro airport in Hamilton, suffered a setback when CanJet announced it was pulling out on July 18.

The Halifax-based airline stepped in to fill some of the gap at Hamilton Airport after WestJet moved its eastern hub to Toronto.

Hamilton Airport was chosen as WestJet's eastern hub in 2000, beating out a bid from London.

But the Calgary-based airline shifted most of its eastern operations to Toronto's Pearson Airport in April last year and plans for a major expansion at Hamilton were shelved.





Copyright © The London Free Press
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Ldoto

Here's Hamilton airport routes

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/Aallen396/yhm1.jpg

Meet Hamilton's new expanded routes
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/Aallen396/yhm22.jpg

The new routes includes New York, Georgetown, Montreal, Fredericton, Quebec City, Charlottetown, Bagotville, and Sydney, NS, European destinations of Paris, London, Munich and Frankfurt.

Windsor.
Hamilton is too close to Toronto, and Pickering is pointless.

Windsor.
Hamilton is too close to Toronto, and Pickering is pointless.

That would be the reason why they want an international airport in Pickering or Hamilton, because they are close to toronto. Who wants to drive two hours from Windsor to Toronto after a flight. BTW doesnt Detroit have an internatioal airport?

Meet Hamilton's new expanded routes
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/Aallen396/yhm22.jpg

The new routes includes New York, Georgetown, Montreal, Fredericton, Quebec City, Charlottetown, Bagotville, and Sydney, NS, European destinations of Paris, London, Munich and Frankfurt.

That's good news AC will begin flying direct to the new European destinations. Interesting that the YHM website still lists CanJet as flying to Hamilton (though it doesn't). Now without CanJet no longer flying to YHM, St. Petersburg and Orlando are no longer served, which isn't bad, as the other airlines serve the cities CanJet did from Hamilton.

CanJet will still be flying out of YHM until mid July. They left YHM because of Air Canada arrival. They knew they wouldn't compete. Most of CanJet routes from YHM are being replaced with Air Canada. Plus YHM get more routes from Air Canada so it's like taking one step back but taking two steps ahead (arrival of Air Canada and Universal Airlines).

^That's even stranger then, CanJet's website doesn't have Hamilton on their route map anymore... Strange that Air Canada didn't have flights out of Hamilton before!

CanJet leaves July 18 which I believe is also the same day Universal Airlines starts at YHM. Air Canada arrives to YHM Sept 18.

When Air Canada took over Canadian Airlines they had an agreement to have flights to YHM. Then Air Canada got into financial problems and scrapped that idea. Then WestJet came to YHM and that got Air Canada planning to do flights into YHM again, this time Air Canada filed for bankruptcy protection.

Now it seems that Air Canada got its crap together.

Oaronuviss, Windsor already has an international airport.

That would be the reason why they want an international airport in Pickering or Hamilton, because they are close to toronto. Who wants to drive two hours from Windsor to Toronto after a flight. BTW doesnt Detroit have an internatioal airport?

Two hours??? That's some crazy driving. On a good day, it's a four hour drive.

Will we get a free cute white Wiarton Willy teddy bear if we land at Wiarton International Airport? :tongue2:

ohh im sure that can be aranged! lol

Oaronuviss, Windsor already has an international airport.



Two hours??? That's some crazy driving. On a good day, it's a four hour drive.

What's wrong with crazy driving? I can get from Chicago to Minneapolis-St. Paul in 5 hours :)

I think Hamilton would get a lot of people from Niagara Falls to London to Guelph. Highway 6 goes there and could be expanded to a 4 lanes. It is also a bit outside of the city so they can expand it. People are used to the airport already as opposed to Pickering where the new airport will create some opposition I am sure.

Whatever the case, it is good news cause it means construction!

Is there not already and International Airport in Hamilton? Don't the Toronto Raptors fly out of there?

I was under the impression that Munro was an international airport already too. It's a natural evolution for Munro to be taking on the role as the region's second major international airport. It will have the added benefits of alleviating congestion at Pearson and putting downward pressure on Pearson's cost structure if it evolves into a strong rival.

Hamilton International Airport is an international airport, see the logo:
http://www.flyhi.ca/images/logo_hi_title.gif

It's less busy than Thunder Bay in terms of passengers, so obviously they've got the room to grow.

Why not London??

Too far away. That's like making Kelowna Airport serve Vancouver.

I voted Hamilton. The infrastructure's already there. A few transportation links are all it needs, whereas Pickering would have to start from scratch. Plus, as someone somewhere else has mentioned, there is more development west of Toronto rather than east. Oshawa has it's own little airport if they really need one in the east.

And I'm sure it's already been mentionned, but isn't it MUNRO without the E?

It is Munro without the E.

Too far away. That's like making Kelowna Airport serve Vancouver.


not really, london is not all that far from anywhere in SW ontario.

it takes 4 hours of wilderness driving to get from van to kelowna

London is on the western edge of the area. Windsor has an airport and its adequate. Hamilton is the best location.

I'm not aware of any major international airports 200 km from the city it's designed to serve...

Sudbury's airport is about 200km from the city but its a minor airport. :\