Winnipeg Airport (YWG): A Look at the Central Canadian Airport

Overview

Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG), unsurprisingly, is dominated by two carriers - Air Canada and WestJet. These two airlines, with their regional carriers Air Canada Express and WestJet Encore, represented 69% of departing flights and 75% of departing seats. They have robust networks coast to coast with Air Canada’s presence strong in the eastern part of the country and Vancouver (YVR) while WestJet is more focused in Western Canada. Winnipeg is the crossroads of these two networks being roughly halfway between the airlines’ largest hubs - AC at Toronto (YYZ) and WS at Calgary (YYC). Below is an analysis of departures from the airport on Wednesday May, 22nd 2024. This date is arbitrary but it is worth nothing May is a slow month for leisure travel at YWG and being mid-week on a Wednesday most flights are daily departures.

Departures by Airline *Calm Air includes flights operated by Canadian North

Departures by Destination

Departing Seats by Airline *Calm Air includes flights operated by Canadian North

Departing Seats by Destination

YWG Facts

  • Cities served: 16 (May 22nd, 2024); 35 (including routes not served on May 22nd, 2024)

  • Total Departures: 58

  • Total Departing Seats: 7,323

  • Airlines by Highest Seat Count: Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Flair, Lynx, Calm Air, Delta, Bearskin

  • Destinations by Highest Seat Count: YYZ, YYC, YVR, YUL, YOW, MSP, YEG, ATL, YQT, YXE, YRT, YHZ, YTH

  • Perimeter Air flights departing from the Perimeter Terminal were not included in the analysis

  • Sunwing Airlines serves YWG but had no flights on May 22nd, 2024

Air Canada vs WestJet

Air Canada

  • Cities served: 5 (May 22nd); 6 (including routes not served on May 22nd)

  • Total Departures: 17

  • Total Departing Seats: 2,342

  • Mainline Departures: 15

  • Regional Departures: 2

  • All mainline flights are currently scheduled on the A320

  • The 2 regional fights are scheduled on CRJ-900s

  • US Partner Flights - Starting May 23rd United Airlines is restarting once daily Embaer E175 flights to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Denver (DEN)

WestJet

  • Cities served: 10 (May 22nd); 21 (including routes not served on May 22nd)

  • Total Departures: 23

  • Total Departing Seats: 3,186

  • Mainline Departures: 18

  • Regional Departures: 5

  • Mainline flights are a mix of 737-700, 737-800, and 737-8 Max

  • All regional flights are operated by Dash-8-400Q

  • US Partner Flights - Delta to Minneapolis/ St. Paul (MSP) and WestJet service providing connections primarily through ATL and LAX

Just Announced - United Returning to Winnipeg

While writing this article United Airlines announced a return to YWG starting May 23rd, 2024 with once daily Embraer E175 service to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Denver (DEN). Both flights will be operated by SkyWest Airlines. Below are details -

UA5632 departs DEN 9:45am arrives YWG 1:03pm

UA5835 departs YWG 4:15pm arrives DEN 5:46pm

UA5748 departs ORD 1:00pm arrives YWG 3:24pm

UA5871 departs YWG 2:15pm arrives ORD 4:36pm

This service resumption makes sense. United pulled out during the COVID pandemic as they trimmed certain cities from their network mainly driven by demand and pilot shortages. In 2023, WestJet strengthened their transborder network by introducing direct service to their partner Delta’s Atlanta hub. While not a hub for Air Canada, their strong cross border partnership with United and reconnection of Winnipeg with United’s ORD and DEN hubs opens up quick connections throughout the U.S. and beyond.