Edmonton International Airport (EIA/YEG)

[Beltline_B]

Don't want to a Debbie Downer but no high speed rail is happening in AB under Saddlebags Smitty or Nenshi when he takes over the province....let's keep up with current events and realize that $27B of projected debt for the next 3 years is not gonna allow a train for rich Asians to get to Banff quicker....let us please end this foolish discussion....especially when the new BoyChild Mayor to the South is already complaining about YYC'ers paying too much in taxes...

Maclab, don't let your hate on for Calgary get in the way of forward thinking True, a rail service to Banff would be nice for rich Asians to get to Banff, as well as rich Europeans and rich Americans. International tourists to Alberta spend $3.5Billion a year in Alberta, with $3Billion of that spent in Calgary and Banff. Not to mention an even larger number of out of province tourists, and as mentioned by IanO, would also be a way to help, house workers in Calgary instead of Banff/Canmore. On top of those reasons it's also a business that has been increasing rapidly, and will continue to do so. At some point rail to Banff needs to get done and will get done, it's just a matter of when.

As for HSR affecting YEG. It probably won't have much of an effect. Those who go YEG->YYC->* will keep doing so. Those who drive from YEG to YYC will keep doing so. some might take HSR to YYC, but it won't be a large amount. IMO, nothing changes for YEG.

As for HSR to YYC-Banff, I agree with others, it's not nice but not needed. Start within conventional rail, get the system in place, and upgrade to HSR later. Some sort of rail service is needed though. The traffic volumes are increasing every year, and every time an international flight is added to YYC, it adds more tourists to Banff.

This is 100% the path needed.

If so, it may become easier to get to Banff, but the rail service may end up making the congestion there worse and ultimately making it a less desirable location for those who do not like overly crowded tourist destinations.

I know what you mean. I imagine it'll make the towns of Banff and Canmore far more busier, and that would please the segment of tourists that are from the - 'more shopping and restaurants the better' crowd. Side bus routes to places around the parks will get somewhat busier also.
For tourists or locals like myself who use the Kananaskis and Banff parks regularly, but don't go the tourist spots, there are plenty of options, and thankfully they wouldn't be served by rail. It'll be mostly the way it is today, but be somewhat busier in some places. I mean the thing with the parks is that, the hotspots are getting crazy busy, but there are literally thousands of places to go where there isn't a single soul, and hundreds to go where they are slightly or moderately busy. It's a scale of 0 people to 1000's of people.

Anywhooo back to YEG related discussion.

 

[TAS]

I'm looking at flights to Montreal in May and I see that Porter now offers direct service from YEG to YUL. That wasn't the case in November.

Not sure if this was already announced previously, but good to see!

 

[AntonK]

I know what you mean. I imagine it'll make the towns of Banff and Canmore far more busier, and that would please the segment of tourists that are from the - 'more shopping and restaurants the better' crowd. Side bus routes to places around the parks will get somewhat busier also.
For tourists or locals like myself who use the Kananaskis and Banff parks regularly, but don't go the tourist spots, there are plenty of options, and thankfully they wouldn't be served by rail. It'll be mostly the way it is today, but be somewhat busier in some places. I mean the thing with the parks is that, the hotspots are getting crazy busy, but there are literally thousands of places to go where there isn't a single soul, and hundreds to go where they are slightly or moderately busy. It's a scale of 0 people to 1000's of people.

Anywhooo back to YEG related discussion.

I don’t actually mind that Banff is full of shopping and tourists, it keeps the wife and her friends happy .
Back in September a group of us went down to Banff, some of us did a mountain hike while others did the shopping thing.

 

[AntonK]

Thanks for sharing, we still haven't seen December or January numbers released from YEG (which I find remarkable) but good to get a sense. According to total screened passengers YEG was down a little bit in December 2025 from December 2024. Good to see January numbers up though for a positive start to the year.

Any idea why the delayed numbers?

 

[Airboy]

With the 2 new hotels opening late next year in Jasper, I wonder if we will see a move to update the other hotels. That would help getting more tourist trade in. Even though I like Jasper being small. Met a few euros a few weeks ago. some came in on the train. others flew to Calgary then drove up to ski. YEG could be doing so much more to promote travel to Jasper and Also points north.

 

[Oilguy]

T

With the 2 new hotels opening late next year in Jasper, I wonder if we will see a move to update the other hotels. That would help getting more tourist trade in. Even though I like Jasper being small. Met a few euros a few weeks ago. some came in on the train. others flew to Calgary then drove up to ski. YEG could be doing so much more to promote travel to Jasper and Also points north.

The former Sawridge side of forest park looks to be completely being redone from the outside. Jpl is investing. Suspect others will get dragged along when the newer ones open, but people will probably hold off as competing for trades there right now must be just awful.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

Display at YEG when I arrived the other day.
Celebrating our Olympic team

 

[David A]

I'm looking at flights to Montreal in May and I see that Porter now offers direct service from YEG to YUL. That wasn't the case in November.

Not sure if this was already announced previously, but good to see!

Yes, good to see. When I went earlier in the fall, I had to connect in Toronto.

 

[ADob]

Nice! We're planning a trip to Montreal in September for the world cycling championships and the thought of having to swap planes did not thrill me.

 

[BASE]

Any idea why the delayed numbers?

I wish I knew. YYZ have now released their numbers for 2025 and they have historically been the slowest.

 

[Airboy]

Nice! We're planning a trip to Montreal in September for the world cycling championships and the thought of having to swap planes did not thrill me.

Should be nice, I have volunteered for that event. But may just go out to watch instead.