I listened to the whole thing and yet again OAA is re-emphasizing the issues with YUL leakage. This is a massive drawback for YOW. They said they estimate 500-750k pax per year are driving to YUL, which is a much larger number than I expected (expectation of around 200-400k).
If YEG was able to get a couple more direct flights from stopping ~19k folks from driving to YYC 16 years ago, I cannot even fathom the results if all 750k stop the driving here. But yet according to some, we cannot blame the “lack of demand” on YUL. If anything, YUL is benefitting from Ottawa residents. I wonder how much service cuts they would see without the leakage from Ottawa..
Also, TS said they are looking at Ottawa as RomanR mentioned. They can’t mention what else is coming, “yet”. Reading between the lines, it shows TS wants to make Ottawa what WS has made YHZ, I hope.
Another interesting point I found fascinating is that OAA have been talking to AF for ~6 years before its launch in 2023. Meaning the article I read during the pandemic about how YOW was so close to a Paris route taking off was AF. I thought it was AC at the time. Go figure.
Last edited by fanofYOW; Jun 1, 2026 at 6:28 PM.
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