Heavy traffic hits northeastern Ont. as Civic Long Weekend begins
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CTV News
10 hours ago
- CTV News
Statistics show increase in U.S. travel from Ottawa airport
The vehicle drop-off area for U.S.-bound flights at the Ottawa International Airport on Aug. 9, 2025. Statistics show an increase in travellers going to the U.S. from the Ottawa airport in 2025. (Dylan Dyson/CTV News Ottawa) More travellers chose to fly to and from the United States out of the Ottawa airport compared to this time last year, breaking a wider trend of falling trips across the southern border. Data provided by the Ottawa Airport Authority shows there were 406,786 transborder passengers departing and arriving from the U.S. between January and June of this year. That's up from a total of 379,984 passenger trips during the first six months of last year, a seven per cent increase. There were 741,449 passengers leaving and arriving from the U.S. in all of 2024. So far this year, there were 2,389,041 trips through Ottawa, including 1,702,152 domestic passengers and 280,103 international travellers. The increase stands in contrast with declining numbers of Canadians heading south since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January. Ottawa Airport Authority spokesperson Krista Kealey said it's unclear why the nation's capital has been bucking the trend as other Canadian airports report declines in transborder passenger volumes, but notes steadily strong numbers of travellers going to Florida and Washington D.C. 'Service to Florida – traditionally a strong market for the Ottawa-Gatineau region – has been scaled back, though it continues to perform well, possibly due to property owners continuing to travel. The sustained strength of the Washington routes may reflect ongoing trade and tariff-related activity,' Kealey said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa. Kealey says there appears to be a softening of leisure travel, pointing to Porter Airlines' decision to pause its service to Las Vegas for the summer. WestJet will also be halting its non-stop flights to Fort Myers, Florida this winter. 'As airlines begin loading their winter schedules, we're seeing some reductions in service to U.S. sun destinations,' Kealey said. 'However, we're encouraged by increased capacity to popular destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean, along with the introduction of new routes, including Costa Rica, Nassau, and Grand Cayman, that help meet our community's continued appetite for travel.' Travel consultant Elliot Finkelman says Porter Airlines' increasing footprint in the capital may be having an impact on U.S. travel numbers. 'Porter is doing a lot of direct in Ottawa now down to the states, so I think a lot of people are hopping on that. It's helping the Ottawa airport see increases in flights because they have a lot of direct flights down to Florida. They have a lot of direct flights to Newark,' he said. The latest figures from Statistics Canada released in June show that Canadian-resident return trips by air and automobile from the United States have fallen sharply since the start of the year, with five consecutive months of steep year over year declines. In June, Canadian residents returning from travel to the U.S. was down 22 per cent for trips by air and 33 per cent for trips by automobile from the same time in 2024.
CTV News
13 hours ago
- CTV News
Cyclists in Guelph area for Great Waterfront Trail Adventure
A rider participating in this year's Great Lakes Waterfront Trail Adventure (Courtesy of: Martin Lortz and Barry Linetsky) Hundreds of cyclists are making their way through Guelph this weekend as part of the 2025 Great Waterfront Trail Adventure. The annual event sees participants ride a 640-kilometre loop connecting Lake Ontario, Lake Huron and Lake Erie. The route includes a mix of on-and-off-road cycling infrastructure, such as the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, the Greenbelt Route, the Guelph to Goderich Trail, London's Thames Valley Parkway and the Port Dover to Hamilton Rail Trail. On Saturday, riders will hit the 60-kilometre mark at Flow State Bike Company in Arkell between noon and 2 p.m. before arriving at the University of Guelph's W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday marks the longest day of the tour as cyclists set off along the Guelph to Goderich route. The ride, which began August 8 in Hamilton and runs until August 15, is organized in part by the Greenbelt Foundation and supported by CAA South Central Ontario. CAA is reminding motorists, cyclists and pedestrians along the route to share the road and be mindful of safety. Stops along the tour include Hamilton, Guelph, Goderich, London, St. Thomas, Simcoe and a return to Hamilton.
CBC
14 hours ago
- CBC
Step inside the Athletes' Village — home for over 4,000 Canada Games competitors this month
Memorial University is welcoming athletes from across the country. The university will be a place for athletes to eat, sleep, and spend time outside the competitions. It's closed to the public during the event, but reporters got a look inside the Athletes' Village on Thursday.
