Is Building out Markham Airport, Pickering Airports Plan B?

Before the last federal election, members of the former Liberal cabinet unexpectedly announced plans to cancel Pickering Airport. This move went against studies sponsored by Transport Canada and came amid growing calls for new aviation infrastructure to foster economic growth. If not in Pickering—on land already zoned for an airport—where will the necessary aviation facilities […]

Toronto’s Economic Bottleneck: Airport Slots

Toronto’s Economic Bottleneck: Airport Slots Your mobile phone rings at 6 a.m. in Toronto, alerting you to an issue with a significant client based in London, England, which is five hours ahead. To address the situation, you reserve a seat on the earliest available flight from Pearson Airport to London Heathrow—a red-eye departing at 6 […]

Why was Pickering Airport Cancelled?

By Ted Nickerson First, an admission: I am a long-time supporter of the full economic development of the federal Pickering lands, including a new major airport. Sure, I was disappointed by the federal decision not to build an airport in Pickering. I was surprised, too, since all studies commissioned over the last 20 years by […]

A Rabbit-hole of Pickering Airport Conspiracies opens wide

“I almost wish I hadn’t gone down the rabbit-hole…and yet…and yet” Alice in Wonderland   I should have realized that, in this day and age, it doesn’t take much to bring out the conspiracy theorists but that’s exactly what my recent posting “Missing Aviation Capacity”, has done. Thanks to a recent freedom of information request, […]

Southern Ontario Airport Capacity Study has Vanished!

In April 2023, Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra announced a study on aviation capacity. This continued the tradition of using independent advisors to ensure good governance of Canada’s airports and prevent influence from business interests, regional competition, and corruption. However, recent events suggest a serious issue has arisen. The introduction of the announcement of the […]

Why stop Pickering Airports development now?

On Monday, a surprise dramatic announcement took place that could cost taxpayers billions. Canada’s Transport Minister, Anita Anand, said the Federal Liberal government has decided against allowing the development of Pickering Airport. Minister Anand’s promised to transfer the “vast majority” of federal land set aside for economic development and an airport to Parks Canada. This […]

Overcoming the Scarcity for Profit Corporate mindset

The Toronto region’s rapid growth is creating a demand for new infrastructure. Any land development project will have its supporters and its detractors.  The latter are typically individuals or small groups concerned about development impacts like traffic congestion.  They want to maintain the status quo fearing a reduced quality of life.  A few people are […]

Passenger Recovery Snapshot

By Ted Nickerson Back in March 2023, I posted my “Final” update to passenger recovery post-COVID.  Well, I couldn’t let it go and have discovered some surprising insights that everyone needs to hear. Here is a June 2024 snapshot (a snapshot since Statistics Canada, a key credible data source, has not released the 2023 Canadian […]

MEGATOR – Toronto in the year 2100

Do you remember the future? Flying cars, high-speed trains, and robots servicing our every whim?   The Greater Golden Horseshoe or just the “Toronto Region” to the rest of the world, has been Canadas golden child of growth since the 1970s.  For decades the region has been an unstoppable economic engine fueled by immigration, industry, and […]

Pickering Airport Passenger Routes Part 1

The Pickering Airport Advantage- Location, Location, Location!   Airlines are in the business of operating routes between cities. Airports are the gateways between these cities.  Profit and customer satisfaction are an airline’s goals.   Airlines around the world are constantly looking to add profitable new destinations to their route networks to satisfy customer demand. Both the […]