Non-event? I'd say it was a pretty big deal. A huge message from WestJet that YYC is THE western airport in their minds. If you're in Vancouver you fly AC or you connect in Calgary.

Given the current economic state in Calgary, and massive O&D advantage YVR has, putting all their eggs in the YYC basket was a huge statement.

Wouldn't say a non-event, as CDG and DUB are a big deal for YYC. They were predictable, though, especially CDG.

Will be interesting to see what effect all this has on KL and BA at YYC, and also on YVR-Europe ops.

I also take note from the release that they're using the 787 on domestic routes. Most likely YYC-YYZ and possibly YYZ-YVR, I would speculate.
That will free up 737s for other routes, either new destinations or increased frequencies on established routes. What they'll be is anyone's guess. Nonetheless, it's a sign of WestJet expanding, which to me is a good thing.

So did he lie or just not know what he was talking about?

They don't speak English in Dominican either. Guess that's why you guys have such limited service there from YVR...

Quebecers don't even fly within Quebec itself that much.

All of this is really a question of what you might call "geodemographics".

It’s definitely a gamble, and I hope for them it works but I am somewhat skeptical. Launching the first flights from their home base makes sense but they definitely can’t/won’t ignore the massive international markets of YVR and YYZ.

Also interesting is how after their news, the WestJet stock went down.

6 Million people in Quebec live between Quebec city and Gatineau.

Really there is little reason for the majority to fly within Quebec.

Quebec has fairly high taxes on flying as well, so shorter distances take the train or drive.

Airline stocks were down across the baord today. WJA was down the most but it seemed like a bad day for airline stocks in general.

I'd be surprised if we saw any of the dreamliners in YVR aside from the odd diversion, flights to YYZ and the eventual replacement of YVR-LGW.

WestJet's recent build up has cut capacity in Vancouver during a period of growth and built it in Calgary, I think their strategy is pretty clear. They've ceeded YVR to AC and are putting all their chips on YYC as their western hub.

Well maybe one day we can be as sophisticated as you guys. Until then we'll have to keep looking on in awe from our asterix laden airport.

I respectfully disagree, I think in the next few years we’ll see plenty of WestJet 787 routes from YVR. These first routes are right out of their map that they show at investor days of potential 787 routes.

I work with a lot of people who have ties to Asia and there’s no way they’d backtrack to Calgary to fly for business or to see family. There are some markets that can’t be ignored.

And probably 95% (or maybe more... 98%) of Canadian francophones tend to settle in an arc that goes roughly from Hearst in northern Ontario to Moncton in southeast New Brunswick.

That's a fairly big area but of course most people tend to settle in areas within that arc that are a day's drive or less from most of their family members.

While the news might not have been groundbreaking for anyone hoping for a super exotic destination right off the bat, these routes are good strong additions. Admittedly it's DUB and CDG that are the only real additions, LGW is just replacing the 767. But those two routes are nice adds and should get decentloads. I don't think it will affect YVR's routes to either of those destinations, YYC knows YVR is well served, so YYC is more focused on feeds from the other Western Canadian spots (YEG,YQR, etc.).

As for future, I think it will be a lot of YYZ, they are desperate to go head to head with AC there. I also agree with Leftcoaster, I don't think they will gamble too much with YVR and Asia, they will get slaughtered by the competition IMO. But who knows, anything is possible. I suspect we would get a new AC route (SIN or BKK for f*** sakes ugh!) before much more than an LGW dreamliner replacement from WS

Well, they sort of already gone head to head with AC on DUB and CDG. Obviously WS would want to steal AC's traffic from YVR for both of those routes. Now I'm even more curious of what AC going to do with YVR-DUB...

And a big f-you to the rest of the West (except Vancouver).

Has YYC sorted out its intl terminal issues? I know that the baggage system will be unified in 2019, and they stopped CTG but they had issues with gate congestion by D70, process issues with security and CBSA and constriction to the shuttle bus system.

Is WS getting its own branded lounge if YYC is their new hub?


FWIW, I am getting some new routes thru DUB if I am looking for a European flight on *A, eg. TAP from Portugal to DUB, DUB to YVR. I suspect this will change more if a no-deal brexit happens. They just put in new renos to the MLL at LHR and now transiting *A trafficis in jeopardy from brexit..

Clap
Clap
Clap WJ

The domestic flying, likely between YYC and YYZ, will occur for a few months only in the beginning for familiarization by flight crew, cabin crew, maintenance, and under the wing teams, as well as completing government regulatory requirements, as was the case when the 767s arrived.

WS has not gone head to head with AC yet in any concrete way. Siphoning off YVR to CDG and DUB would require a connection in YYC, hence why this isn't "head to head", that would be if they launch the same routes from the identical airports. The LGW really isn't a news event as it was already served, this is just with a new shiny aircraft. Ultimately all that was added is a new daily service (4x for CDG and 3x for DUB, so 7x total). And none of those routes are to airports that AC even served from YYC. Once they launch identical airport pairings on routes AC already serves (LHR and FRA from YYC, and everything from YYZ) then it is really head to head. I feel like Transat is going to be squeezed for sure, right off the bat with the added capacity from YYC, and most likely from whatever routes they launch from YYZ.

**EDIT - This is only in reference to the new Dreamliner service and long haul expansion. Obviously they are head to head with AC on tons of international and US destinations, I strictly mean in regards to the new and future service on 787s**

Will Westjet still have ghetto food options? I was watching a review of someone who used them to fly to Vancouver from London and was questioning why the food had to be preordered and when she got it it was just a sandwich, no hot food option. She said she wouldnt book a flight with them again, was very unimpressed by this weird Canadian airline.