McCurdy Sydney Airport Announces New Airline Partner to Service Sydney - Halifax Route

The Sydney Airport Authority is pleased to welcome our newest airline partner Pascan Aviation to restore regional connectivity to the Cape Breton community.

Quebec based Pascan Aviation will provide twice daily service on weekdays and once daily service on weekends to Halifax Stanfield International Airport. This route marks the re-establishment of connectivity to Halifax which was halted in November 2022.

“We are so happy to welcome Pascan Aviation to the McCurdy Sydney Airport.  Service between Sydney and Halifax is a vital component of keeping people and goods moving within our province and beyond our borders. The connection and comradery between both Nova Scotian airports is imperative to the success of our aviation industry and our economy” says Myles Tuttle, CEO of the Sydney Airport Authority.

“It was important to our team to find a partner who would not only serve this route but also see the value in our community. Julian and his Pascan team truly exemplify values consistent with our own and those of Cape Breton. Their proven service model will immediately create full time employment opportunities and we know that their impact to our economy and our community will not end there”, continues Tuttle.

"The launch of this new airline represents a major milestone for the CBRM and our business community," says Megan Penney, CEO of the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce. “The new route offers increased connectivity, opening up more opportunities for collaboration and growth for our local businesses. Enhanced connectivity will also boost our capacity to attract investments and visitors to our community. This addition will play a vital role in supporting our community's growth and prosperity."

PASCAN will utilize SAAB 340B aircraft with a 30-passenger capacity to service the route. Smaller sized aircraft are better suited for regional air traffic, offering more frequency while still being profitable for airlines. This route will also allow people to connect to the increased international routes being offered by Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

Julian Roberts, President and CEO of Pascan Aviation says: “We are very excited to start offering flights out of Sydney.  We have been looking at this market for a while now and we believe this is the right time to launch, as the local community has gone way too long without a regional carrier.  We hope to simplify everybody’s life by bringing a real service offer with two daily return flights to Halifax, allowing anyone to make the return trip the same day or connect onward with other carriers out of Halifax”

The service will begin on October 7, 2024 - in time to better serve tourists attending the Celtic Colours International Festival. The Celtic Colours International Festival is a unique celebration of Cape Breton Island’s living traditional culture. For nine days in October the festival will host hundreds of events and activities taking place in communities across the Island.

“The announcement of this new route is huge for Cape Breton Island-Unama’ki's tourism industry,” states Terry Smith, CEO of Destination Cape Breton. “The return of the connection to Halifax makes it much more convenient for visitors to get here and will strengthen our position to attract leisure travelers, business travelers and major events. We look forward to working with Pascan Aviation and the Sydney Airport Authority to make this route a success."

Speaking to the economic impact of this service, Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO, Cape Breton Partnership says "The Cape Breton Partnership is very excited about this new route and partnership the McCurdy Sydney Airport has established, one we believe to be an important step in enhancing our Island's connection with the world that will have a profound economic impact on our region. We are proud to offer a sincere welcome to Pascan and its team as they get settled on the ground and in the skies over Unama'ki - Cape Breton, and look forward to the future of air travel on our Island."

Pascan, founded in 1999, transports more than 80,000 passengers annually. Its operations are based at Montreal Metropolitan Airport. Fifteen minutes from downtown Montreal, the airport is undergoing a significant expansion and will serve up to four million passengers annually as Porter Aviation invests in a new terminal.

PASCAN is working on agreements that would allow for seamless connections with the flights offered by larger airlines.

 

YQY Welcomes New Restaurant

The J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport has landed a new restaurant in its terminal with the addition of Runway Pub and Grocery.

Dedicated to serving the needs of passengers at YQY, Runway Pub and Grocery provides a variety of delicious options that can be enjoyed in their restaurant space or can be packed for travel. Their current hours are Monday through Friday from 12 PM to 6 PM.

In addition to delicious food choices, Runway Pub and Grocery also offers a selection of specialty cheeses and other products designed and produced by local artisans including Cape Breton Beard Factory, Margaree Valley Maple, A1 Cape Breton Sausage, and Canapa Candle, and Skye Glen Creamery among others.

“Our airport restaurant is vital to not only our passengers but our community. From families to local businesses even to aviation enthusiasts, the restaurant serves as a point of connection. In response to our passenger's needs, Runway Pub and Grill has quickly and effectively differentiated itself to meet those needs and we are so happy to welcome them to our airport” said Myles Tuttle, CEO of the Sydney Airport Authority.  

Runway Pub and Grill serves as a sister store to the iconic Brook Village Grocery, located in Whycocomagh.

Masks are no longer required at JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport, or onboard aircraft flying in Canada, however their use is recommended. 

This aligns with updated guidance from the Federal Government:

https://www.canada.ca/.../government-of-canada-to-remove...

Masks will continue to be recommended by the Federal Government as a public health measure. We support those who want to continue to wear masks at our airport.

We are pleased to see the remaining COVID-19 Canadian border measures removed; passengers travelling outside of Canada should be aware of any requirements remaining at their destination:

https://travel.gc.ca/

***

Airline Flight Schedule Updates:

Air Canada:

• Sydney/Toronto operates once a day. 

• Sydney/Montreal operates once a day.  

• Please contact Air Canada directly for flight booking information -  https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home.html#/

REMINDER TO ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT A MINIMUM OF 90 MINUTES PRIOR TO YOUR FLIGHT DEPARTURE TIME:

It is important to arrive at the airport well in advance of your flight, so you have plenty of time to check in, drop off your bags and go through security screening.

• Check-in deadlines
  To avoid delays at the airport, we encourage you to check in from 24 hours prior to departure using your airline app or online. If you prefer to check in at the airport, please arrive well before the check-in deadline, so that you are not bumped from your flight. 
• Baggage drop-off
  Make sure to arrive well before the airline check-in counters close, as you cannot check bags once the deadlines have passed. Overweight baggage can take longer to check. 

Check-in deadlines

It is important to respect the airline check-in deadlines for your itinerary. Failure to respect them may result in the reassignment of any reserved seats, the cancellation of reservations, and/or ineligibility for denied boarding compensation.

Please check with your individual airline to ensure you are planning to arrive on time for your flight:

Air Canada: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/check-in-information/check-in-and-boarding-times.html#/