I was at PVG a couple of days ago and I noticed that the YVR flight had been downgauged from a 777-300 to a 787-9. When did this happen? Or is this just a normal winter downgauge?

It's a normal winter downgauge, they do the 777 in summer only.

Seems that the YUL-ORN flight is back on...

http://www.huffpostmaghreb.com/2017/..._14970602.html

YYC January 2017 stats

1,219,639 +1%

Domestic 815,324 +0.2%
Transborder 237,859 +0.6%
International 166,456 +5.5%

YVR 2017 January stats


1,791,047 +9.4%

Domestic 842,572 +5.6%
Transborder/International 948,475 +13%

Yesterday I was on a Sunwing flight from VRA to YOW, and there was a very interesting quirk about the plane: most of the fixed signage (the emergency exit signs, the "lifevest is under your seat" text printed on the back of the seats) wasn't in English and French.. it was in Czech and English, with Czech first, and French completely absent (for example, the signs above the emergency exit doors read "Východ - Exit") Wonder how the hell that happened. Second hand plane purchase? Wouldn't it be against Canadian law to have no signage in French?

Lots of Sunwing planes are leased from European holiday carriers in the winter, and then those ones, as well as Sunwing's own planes, are sent back to Europe for the summer season over there.

Some great news for Saskatchewan airports.
Both Regina and Saskatoon airports reported higher passenger numbers in 2016 from 2015, plus Saskatoon's John G Diefenbaker International or Skyxe, won award for best airport in North America under 2million passengers/year in 2016, only a year after being awarded North America's most improved airport.

http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1041854

http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/saskatoo...gers-1.3312611

As Saskatchewan airports continue to increase passenger counts, talks have been confirmed between Saskatchewan Liberal MP Ralph Goodale and US President Trump to provide additional U.S. customs and immigration pre-clearance in Canada, including Regina and Saskatoon airports.

"And that eventually within the next numbers of years could well include airports in Regina and Saskatoon, we have to work on that, there have already been meetings between airport officials in Saskatchewan," Goodale confirmed on Gormley 650 CKOM radio.

http://ckom.com/article/1315393/us-c...atoon-airports

Like I was saying over on the YXE/YQR airport page, airports such as YTZ and YQB will get preclearance. Besides YYJ, I highly doubt any other Canadian airport will get it.

Of course Trump will want preclearance in YXE and YQR. He would put preclearance at every Canadian airport if he could ! We all know that will not happen.

this was a "sponsored" thing on my facebook just now. How long will this one last?

Canada Jetlines Ltd is based in Vancouver and Southern Ontario, the airline will offer ultra low-cost flights throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. $JET

http://business.financialpost.com/bu...canada-airline

http://wpmedia.business.financialpos...trip=all&w=620
Jetlines has ordered new technology Boeing 737MAX aircraft, as depicted, for delivery in 2023.

He's right on one count, using secondary airports with typically lower landing fees and other associated costs will help in being able to offer lower fares to consumers.

But saying point-to-point is more fuel efficient and and can lower the cost is nothing but marketing BS. It's only cheaper if people want to fly from point A to point B. Otherwise the whole hub and spoke model works much better.

Meetings to have US Preclearance at Saskatchewan's YXE & YQR have already begun though, Canada's Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale has confirmed this. If this upsets you or you have a problem with it, you need to write to your Quebec member of parliament right away!! :tup:

EVA Airways increasing both YVR and YYZ to daily effective June... (bottom half of article)

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/.../13/2003666642

Hong Kong Airlines adding HKG-YVR, may possibly expand to YYZ....

http://www.straight.com/life/877851/...american-route

Surinam Airways renewing fleet, could possibly serve NYC and YYZ...

http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/tops...wal-33768.html

Can't really see there being much of a market from Toronto to Paramaribo, but hey, you never know,,,,, :)

Paramaribo-Georgetown-Toronto perhaps? Although it does seem unlikely.

• Video Link

Published on 13 Mar 2017
On March 7, Tuesday, WestJet flight 2652 from Toronto was making a descent through a low ceiling to Princess Juliana. The first attempt through rain and low cloud cover was videotaped and photographed by plane spotters who are almost always at Maho Beach to watch incoming aircraft. On that Tuesday they caught a near miss: a near Controlled Flight Into Terrain

The first approach puts the Toronto flight short and low, low enough that jet wash from the Boeing can be seen creating turbulence on the surface of the water. The flight crew does an excellent job of immediately applying power and going around for a second approach. Commercial flight crews, and especially those trained and, in some cases, specially certified to fly into airports with unusual approaches, are well-drilled both in the simulator and as 2nd officers for flights into these airports before captaining a flight there.

Even with the low cloud cover the second approach in the video has a higher trajectory, is more on glide slope presumably and has no problem coming in safely over the water and clearing the famous fence at Princess Juliana.

YVR named by Skytrax World Airport Awards "Best Airport in North America" for 8th year in a row.

http://www.yvr.ca/en/media/news-rele...ic-skytrax-win

Neat video that was posted. I've been on a plane that needed to make a second approach and it's not fun. 2 years ago flying from Portland to Denver our plane aborted our landing about 100 ft from touching down. A Cathay Pacific pulled across our runway just as we approached. We were so low that you could see the licence plates on the service vehicles. Not fun.

You know the entire eastern Seaboard is snowed in when your only usable alternate for YUL is Gander !!!

http://www.flightradar24.com/data/fl...h2700/#cbc6b74