Hearing rumors that Westjet is going to drop AA and rest of Oneworld for exclusive relationship with DL and Skyteam.

Unknown whether this will become full alliance membership, but at this point I doubt it. More likely this will be an exclusive long term dating relationship rather than DL making an honest partner with WS.

Wow didn't realize Halifax had such poor connections to Western USA. Otherwise pretty impressive route network.

The other day I booked a flight to Cincinnati on Westjet, and 3/4 flights were delta. Then I tried to see if i could book a flight to AMS through Westjet (because I use their rewards) and it did not let me. It would be nice if this would happen.

Would love to see that happen. We need a second domestic airline in a second alliance to keep the other airline honest with its loyalty program.

Nevermind. It's here. just found this:
https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/rewards/member-exclusive

I think nearly every airport except for true giants like LHR has weak spots. For instance, YVR doesn't have one single regularly scheduled flight to Central America or South America.

I'd think that YVR-PTY by COPA is something we'll see eventually.

That part of the world is not quite top of mind for me, but I do find it a little strange how few point to point routes there are from Canada. From this part of the world, if you're heading to South America you're basically going through either Toronto or Houston. Seems like there is some room for growth.

The thing about PTY is its easy connections to an amazing range of destinations throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean. If I were in Vancouver, I imagine that Houston would be my preferred transit point at the moment.

Back in the day....Canadian Pacific which was headquartered in Vancouver....flew to Mexico City then onto Lima, Santiago & Buenos Aires on Jet prop Britannia's and DC8s

The obvious choice out of Halifax to western USA and South and Central America is thru Newark on United - Anything to avoid Air Canada

Mexico city is the most logical connection point from Vancouver to Central America. Probably followed by LAX, Houston and Dallas. That said, I just hate the layout of Houston airport.

As far as direct flights to Central America from Western Canada, WestJet flying into Belize City from Calgary. Mexico City also has a number of options with several airlines serving both Calgary and Vancouver.

We had a flight from Halifax to O'Hare on United until a couple of years ago that offered good connections throughout the US mid-west and to the west coast. That's the flight Dave Carroll was on when he wrote this little piece.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

Eat your hearts out.

http://i68.tinypic.com/2ushheg.png

:haha: I hope the big things to come is more carpet.

When flying south Houston is usually my last choice. Mexico City is definitely number one, I'd pay a decent premium to not have to fly through the US. If I have to it's LAX. Would prefer SFO but their Latam network is surprisingly weak. YVR badly needs PTY and BOG to really round out their service south.

Yes! Surely western Canada has a large enough market now to support daily, year round service to South America - like YVR to BOG - with all the benefits of the connections to other SA points from there.

For Central America I just see the continuation of the odd (low-yielding) seasonal winter leisure flights to ferry sun seeking Canadians back and forth - Like the seasonal, 1x a week, YYC-BZE.

PTY-YVR is an 8 hour flight. It's longer than some of AC's flights from Europe to YUL. Not doable with the B737-700/800NG, and tight with the Max 8. I'm sure Copa would like to serve YVR, but it's just too far for their planes.

They already fly to SFO, so YVR won't give them much in terms of additional TPAC connections with Star Alliance.

PTY-YVR 3252 nm
FRA-YUL 3171 nm
LHR-YUL 2824 nm
BRU-YUL 3004 nm

Copa's longest flight today is to Montevideo, Uruguay, 2942 nm.

Well they did order 61 737Max planes due to start arriving mid next year so I would imagine that could help the viability of the route.

PTY-MVD is actually tighter on a 737-800 than PTY-YVR on Max 8. I wonder if it takes payload restriction on that route, since the range stated on wiki for 800 is only 2935 nm, while Max 8 is 3515 nm.

I can't swear to it, but I seem to recall something about restrictions being required for COPA's flights to both Montevideo and to Buenos Aires. I did not realize that YVR was greater distance.