“This is a test that American Airlines does. In the same way that they had tested Charlotte last year, ”immediately launches Marc-André Bédard, vice-president of business and technology development in YQB.
“They tested Charlotte almost in the same period with one flight per week on Saturday. It’s a way for them to see how the market reacts, ”he adds.
The answer was beyond the expectations of the airline, so that it came back with a daily flight.
“We hope very hard that as much as Quebec people that Americans will answer the call and that we can count on a daily flight to Dallas next year.”
— Marc-André Bédard, vice-president of business and technology development in YQB
Although there is a coincidence with the cruise season and the colors of autumn, it remains that the months of August, September and October are very attractive for our southern neighbors, according to Mr. Bédard. He adds by saying that the Quebec offer is of quality.
“Because there are lots of places on the planet which have a market and which ask American Airlines to put their planes there,” he explains. “What happens is that there are far fewer people who have a cheap.”
He continues by saying that in September and October, the markets are reduced to many places. “But we are the opposite. The demand, it increases, ”he says.
“It’s easier for them to find us devices, to be able to meet this growing demand. So Americans like this time of year in Quebec. ”
— Marc-André Bédard, vice-president of business and technology development in YQB
American Airlines will affect Embraer 175 devices that can transport 75 people on board.
“It is one of the longest flights of American Airlines with an Embraer 175. Because it lasts not far from four hours,” reveals Mr. Bédard. “They are therefore small devices for the distance.”
However, according to the vice-president, this makes it possible to think that YQB could have it on a daily basis. “We could have a bigger device, but we like to have a flight every day than a flight three times a week, for example.”
He also sees it as an opportunity to improve the access roads to the United States for travelers from YQB. “We must not forget that Dallas-Fort Worth [DFW]it is the biggest hub for American Airlines, ”he supports.
The Trump effect?
It is certain that the addition of such a connection between Dallas and Quebec is something that has been planned for a long time in advance. And this, well before Donald Trump’s arrival in power for his second term.
Has the Trump effect appeared in the traffic of flights to or from the United States?
“The figures for the greatness of Canada tend to prove it. For Canadians to the United States, there has still been a significant reduction, ”he replied. “Americans to Canada, in general, there has been a stronger reduction, but still a reduction that may seem.”
“However, towards Quebec, it was minimal. It is not huge the reduction that we are experiencing. […] And we had an incredible July with the Americans by plane this year. ”
— Marc-André Bédard, vice-president of business and technology development in YQB
“There are a little more Americans who come to visit Quebec than Quebecers who visit Dallas or Texas or who connect to the American Airlines network,” analyzes Mr. Bédard. “Dallas is the largest base of American Airlines. From there, we can go all over the world. ”
Just over 100,000 Americans in 2024
Destination Québec Cité (DQC) argues that a little more than 100,000 Americans landed at Quebec Airport in 2024, by direct flights from airports in the United States or through Canadian or international airport stopovers.
“We believe that there are about 600,000 American tourists who visit the region annually. It is therefore between 15 and 20 % of them who arrive by air, ”wrote Véronique Boulanger, communication counselor at DQC.
She adds that flights from the United States were a majority tourist “since less than half of the passengers on these flights were Quebecers on a return flight”.
In September and October, during the high season of cruises, around two thirds of passengers arriving from the United States are American tourists and not Quebecers who return from travel.
“Conversely, during winter months, it is almost 60 % of the passengers in these flights who are Quebecers who come back from travel, mainly from Florida,” said DQC spokesperson.
She finished by stressing that DFW airport hosted nearly 88 million passengers in 2024. “This is the third most busy airport in the world,” she concludes.