As winter schedules roll out across Canada, travellers flying through Saint John Airport now benefit from stronger year-round access to two key national hubs.
Air Canada is operating two daily flights to Toronto from YSJ this winter – up from this time last year – along with daily service to Montréal. These routes form the backbone of our global connectivity and remain essential for business and leisure travel alike.
Air travel naturally sparks strong opinions, and from time to time we hear comments that flights are frequently cancelled, for instance. Or that there is only one Air Canada flight a day (there are three). We understand how these comments take hold – but when you look at the real numbers, a much more encouraging picture comes through.
Reliability at YSJ is solid. Over the past 12 months, there were only seven cancellations each on the Toronto and Montréal routes – five of which occurred during February’s severe weather. Outside of those storms, service has been steady, and more travellers are choosing to begin their journeys here at home.
Connectivity is also expanding beyond Air Canada. Pascan Aviation has strengthened regional options by restoring Halifax service and adding Montréal and Québec City. This spring, Pascan’s Montréal flights will connect directly into Porter’s new terminal at Montreal Metropolitan Airport, opening up another efficient pathway for east–west travel.
Behind the scenes, our focus is clear: building air service is YSJ’s Number 1 priority. Airlines make network decisions carefully – aircraft and crews are limited, and adding a flight to one community often requires removing it from another. That’s why we are working closely with partners across the region to build strong, data-driven business cases that demonstrate Saint John’s demand, momentum and long-term value.
With rising passenger volumes, growing regional engagement, and strong relationships with our airline partners, YSJ is moving in the right direction. The future of air service in southwestern New Brunswick is being built on data, partnership and strategy – and we’re committed to earning every new opportunity for our community.