Category Archives: Montreal

Canada opens up four key airports to private investment

15 Tuesday Sep 2026

Posted by in Airports, Aviation, Business, Canada, Investment, Montreal, Transport, Travel

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The airports are in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary.

Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada’s largest. Photo: GTAA.

TORONTO – Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Tuesday that his government will seek private investment to operate Canada’s four largest airports while retaining ownership of their land and assets.

Carney was addressing business leaders from around the world gathered in Toronto for the first Canada Investment Summit, which aims to mobilize C$1 trillion for 167 projects by 2030.

Mark Carney at a campaign rally in 2025. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

“Following best practice in other countries, the Government of Canada will retain ownership of the underlying land and assets, but we will unlock their true value, by bringing new capital and expertise to their operations and growth,” he said.

“We will reinvest the tens of billions of dollars of capital we raise into the infrastructure that Canada needs for the next generation.”

The announcement came amid speculation that the government was planning to privatize the airports outright.

The Canadian Labour Congress warned in a report released last week that privatization would “put upward pressure on the cost of flying and put airport workers at risk.”

Carney, however, stressed what his government is offering is a long-term concession, not privatization. He said the investment will help provide better and more affordable air connections to regional and remote communities.

Carney noted that Canadian pension funds already invest successfully in many airports around the world.

“It is time to bring that same expertise home to more directly benefit all Canadians,” the prime minister added.

Global 7000 : ‘There’s no competition’

03 Tuesday Nov 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Business Aircraft, Canada, Embraer, GE Aviation, Global 7000, Global 8000, Gulfstream, Luxury Travel, Montreal, News, Toronto, Transport, Travel

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P3P1Work is progressing rapidly at a Bombardier facility in Toronto on what is being billed as the ultimate long-range business aircraft.

The super-luxury Global 7000 boasts of many firsts, among them a four-zone cabin that includes a bedroom.

Two Global 7000 flight test vehicles are being assembled on what the company calls “the most advanced production line in business aviation.”

Two additional test vehicles are in various stages of production.

Coleal, Ouellette and GE's Kathy MacKenzie in Toronto on Tuesay.

Coleal, Ouellette and GE’s Kathy MacKenzie in Toronto on Tuesay.

“With a no-compromise approach and forward-thinking technology, we are focused on bringing the game-changing Global 7000 aircraft to market,” said David Coleal, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft.

He noted that Bombardier is employing the highest-calibre technology throughout the entire manufacturing process for the Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft program.

“The final assembly line in Toronto features a state-of-the-art automated positioning system that moves the wing structure into place for joining with the fuselage.”

The program’s integrated aircraft ground tests are also making good progress across 15 facilities, the company said.

When the Global 7000 and 8000 program was first announced in 2010, many thought it was in response to Gulfstream’s G650. More than 100 G650s are in service now.

But Coleal doesn’t agree with that argument.

Design Manager Tim Fagan

Design Manager Tim Fagan

“The G650 is not a competitor because of the four-zone cabin,” he said Tuesday as Bombardier showcased the test vehicles to the media.

In fact, Coleal doesn’t think there is another business aircraft currently in operation or in development to compete with the Global 7000.

Powered by the next-generation General Electric engines, the Global 7000 aircraft will have a range of 7,400 NM (13,705 km) at M 0.85 with 8 passengers, and will be able to connect London to Singapore or New York City to Dubai non-stop.

The Global 8000, which is also under development, will have a longer range and feature a three-zone cabinet. It will also be powered by GE engines.

B6“We’re excited by the unprecedented precision and quality we’ve observed on the assembly of the first two flight test vehicles,” said Michel Ouellette, senior vice-president of the program.

“This further validates that Bombardier made the right choice in the technology it is employing to build the most advanced business jet on the market.”

The Global 7000 is expected to enter service in the second half of 2018.

As for customer interest, Ouellette said, “We’ve a healthy backlog of orders.”

A full-scale mock-up of the Global 7000

A full-scale mock-up of the Global 7000

All images are by Abdul Latheef

Wow! Reykjavik for $99 from Canada!

01 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Aviation, Business, Iceland, Montreal, Montreal Airport, News, Pearson Airport, Reykjavik, Toronto, Tourism, Transport, Travel, WOW air

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W6Iceland’s only low-cost airline is making an irresistible offer to Canadians travelling to Reykjavik: $99 one way from Toronto or Montreal, tax included!

For an additional $149, passengers can travel one way to several destinations in Europe, including London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen and Amsterdam.

WOW air made the announcement in Toronto on Thursday ahead of the launch of flights from Toronto and Montreal in May.

Service from Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau will begin May 12 and Toronto’s Pearson on May 20. The flights will be operated, using a fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Wow2“WOW air prides itself on offering the lowest fares possible as well as the biggest smile and the friendliest service,” said Skuli Mogensen (right), owner and CEO.

“I’m thrilled to now announce our new routes to Canada, especially as I lived in Montreal for nearly a decade and also because the Icelandic people feel a special affinity for Canada.”

The airline said its entry into the Canadian market was expected to create an estimated 100 jobs.

Launched in November 2011, WOW air flies from Reykjavik to 20 destinations in Europe and the United States.

Its expansion into the Canadian market follows the launch of transatlantic services from Boston and Washington, D.C., in early 2015, the airline said.

Wow5“We have just had our best summer ever and, with these new routes launching in May 2016, next summer is another chance to break records,” said Mogensen.

“These great Canadian cities will become our newest destinations but I look forward to announcing even more in the not-too-distant future!”

All images are courtesy of WOW air.

Bombardier CS300 makes maiden flight

27 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by in Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Bombardier, Business, Canada, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Mirabel, Montreal, News, Quebec, Tourism, Transport, Travel

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CS2“It’s a pilot’s aircraft.”

Those are the words of Capt. Andris Litavniks, who was in command on Friday’s maiden flight of Bombardier’s CS300, designed for the 100- to 149-seat, single-aisle market.

The airliner departed Montreal-Mirabel International Airport at 11 a.m. and returned four hours later, marking a major milestone in the CSeries program after years of delays and cost overruns.

“It was an absolute privilege to fly the first flight of the CS300 airliner and I’m absolutely ecstatic with how well it handled,” Litavniks said after landing the aircraft.

“It’s a pilot’s aircraft and handled exactly as predicted by simulation.”

The CS300 is expected to enter service in late 2016.

Test flights for the smaller CS100, which can carry up to 125 people, began in 2013. Certification for that aircraft is expected in the second half of this year with commercial flights starting shortly after that.

Bombardier believes the CS300 offers the best seat-mile cost in its category and is ideal for a range of routes from short-haul to longer transcontinental markets.

“Our CSeries aircraft program is progressing well, with results from testing as expected or better,” said Rob Dewar, vice-president of the program.

“The CS300 airliner will now join the five CS100 aircraft flight test vehicles that have amassed more than 1,000 flight test hours to date.”

Bombardier has won 243 firm orders for the CSeries aircraft, 180 of them for the CS300.

“It was a thrill to see the first CS300 aircraft take to the skies for the first time,” said Mike Arcamone, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

“We continue to see increased interest from all over the world and as our performance targets are validated, we expect the enthusiasm for the CSeries family of aircraft to grow even more.”

Images are courtesy of Bombardier.

Montreal welcomes Tunisian airline

25 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by in Airbus, Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Business, Canada, Montreal, Montreal-Trudeau, News, Syphax, Tourism, Transport, Travel, Tunisia

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MontrealMontreal today became the first North American city to be connected to the Tunisian capital Tunis by direct flight when the private airline Syphax launched its service.

SyphaxSyphax, which began operations just two years ago, will use an Airbus 330-200 for the flight to Tunis–Carthage (TUN), which departs Friday evenings.

“Following the recent announcements of the arrival of Turkish Airlines and Copa Airlines, this third addition for 2014 clearly illustrates Montreal–Trudeau airport’s (YUL) vitality as it seeks to strengthen its positioning as a hub connecting Europe/North Africa/the Middle East with the Americas,” said airport president and CEO James Cherry.

Montreal–Trudeau currently serves about 130 destinations by direct flight.

Syphax is based at Sfax Thyna airport in Tunisia. Its network includes Paris, Rome, Brussels, Belgrade, Istanbul, Jeddah, Benghazi and Tripoli.

Airport image courtsey: Montreal-Trudeau.