New United connection to Washington illustrates FlyYOW’s post-pandemic recovery

Published Feb 08, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 2 minute read

Ottawa International Airport has reached 80 per cent of its pre-pandemic activity levels. Photo by Julie Oliver /Postmedia

It’s been a struggle, but Ottawa’s Macdonald-Cartier International Airport continues to recover from the beating it took under COVID-19.

The latest development is a recent announcement by United Airlines that it will be increasing its trips between Ottawa and Washington-Dulles airport this spring.

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Beginning in April, the U.S. carrier will fly three times daily between Dulles Airport (IAD) and Ottawa. United currently offers two daily flights.

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The increase is part of a larger plan for the carrier to broaden its services across Canada. This summer, United said it would serve nine Canadian cities with a total of more than 150 daily flights.

United Airlines is currently the only U.S.-based carrier that operates through Ottawa, according to airport vice-president Krista Kealey.

Kealey said the United announcement was the latest evidence of the airport’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We reached 4.1 million passengers in 2023 — about 80 per cent of pre-pandemic traffic,” Kealey said via email.

“Domestic traffic has been recovering since 2021, so the increase year over year appears to be meager at 18 per cent (a year), but is demonstrative of continued growth,” Kealey said.

Transborder travel is recovering well, Kealey said, with United Airlines adding frequency to routes to Newark, Washington Dulles and Chicago..

International traffic, led by Air France, experienced 241 per cent growth, while non-stop destinations to sunshine destinations continue to grow.

Beginning April 7, Air France intends to upgrade its aircraft to a 324-seat A350-900, and begin daily service as of June 10.

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Meanwhile, the Toronto-based Porter airline continues to grow its Ottawa operation, with new service to Calgary and added frequency to many domestic destinations.

Porter continues to introduce their new Embraer E195-E2 jets to longer haul routes. They’ve been in service at YOW since the airline inaugurated service to Vancouver last spring.

In addition, Porter is expected to open maintenance hangars at the airport soon.

“All of this puts us on track to reach pre-pandemic levels in 2025,” Kealey said in the email.

“Business travel, particularly from the federal government continues to lag,” Kealey said.

Leisure traffic volumes confirm that Ottawa-Gatineau passengers are anxious to travel, Kealey said.

Kealey also noted the airport has rolled out new concessions in the Canada/International “holdroom,” making local flavours such as Big Rig, La Bottega Nicastro and Bridgehead in the new Canal Market Hall food court.

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