Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW/CYOW) 1.0

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by YOWflier

“I don’t need your business, but here’s an offer just for you to purchase my product at a loss for me!”

On our already full plane. Weird logic. I mean sure it's a small percentage of their traffic and even less of their profit but they'd prefer to fill empty YUL and YYZ long haul flights with Ottawa passengers than not of course. Long term they probably need to add some Ottawa flights if they can't chase AF away.

[Dominion301]

Today's departure count: 73

Today's cancellation count (so far): 0

[Dominion301]

Today's departure count: 72

Today's cancellation count (so far): 0

[Dominion301]

Yesterday's departure count: 70

Yesterday's cancellation count: 0

Today's departure count: 73

Today's cancellation count (so far): 1

[YOWflier]

There seems to be a Hi Fly A343 inbound from Faro. ETA around 2000.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by YOWflier

There seems to be a Hi Fly A343 inbound from Faro. ETA around 2000.

No doubt a military charter. Once the RCAF have a larger fleet, I wonder how often we’ll still see the likes of HiFly popping in?

[MountainView]

Las Vegas on Flair starts today at 2x weekly, Monday & Friday.

[fanofYOW]

Porter’s route map just added CUN but the current “route” shows CUN-BOS and when you click BOS to show routes, it does not include CUN, so for sure this is a mistake. Maybe they are just playing around on the site map.

https://www.flyporter.com/en-ca/book-flights/where-we-fly/route-map

Might be a hint though that CUN could be next.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by MountainView

Las Vegas on Flair starts today at 2x weekly, Monday & Friday.

Hopefully Flair’s winter routes are successful enough that at least these return in 2024-25.

Today’s departure count: 63

Today’s cancellation count (so far): 0

[danishh]

I booked AF (YOW-CDG-Marrakech) in Feb 2024 and the plane is listed as a 787-9? Is that an upguage from the current A330? Have we had a 787 in ottawa before?

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by danishh

I booked AF (YOW-CDG-Marrakech) in Feb 2024 and the plane is listed as a 787-9? Is that an upguage from the current A330? Have we had a 787 in ottawa before?

They are running the B789 to YOW during the winter schedule (late Oct to April).

YOW has seen regularly scheduled B788 (and 789) service on AC's YVR route this past summer, and occasionally on YYZ flights and as a sub on LHR flights pre-covid.

[fanofYOW]

Originally Posted by MountainView

They are running the B789 to YOW during the winter schedule (late Oct to April).

YOW has seen regularly scheduled B788 (and 789) service on AC's YVR route this past summer, and occasionally on YYZ flights and as a sub on LHR flights pre-covid.

I don’t think the 788 to LHR actually took off did it? They announced it then COVID happened.

[JakeLRS]

Originally Posted by MountainView

Las Vegas on Flair starts today at 2x weekly, Monday & Friday.

Anybody have insight on current loads?

[RomanR27]

CUN resumes on Flair today as well.

[DarthVader_1961]

Any idea if Ottawa to London England direct flights will start?

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by DarthVader_1961

Any idea if Ottawa to London England direct flights will start?

When the A321xlr starts deliveries would be my guess

[fanofYOW]

Originally Posted by Harley613

When the A321xlr starts deliveries would be my guess

That might be 2026. Hopefully before that with another carrier so AC can eat it. There’s already signs their revenue from YOW is dropping.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Harley613

When the A321xlr starts deliveries would be my guess

Yeah. I expect YOW to LHR, FRA or MUC, CDG and maybe even BRU out of the gate with the 321XLR. It's the perfect sized aircraft for the YOW market. And if AC wanted to push AF out, all they have to do is fragment some of AF's YOW demand across multiple major destinations and Star Hubs (for connections). I really wish AF had gotten onboard with the XLR.

Originally Posted by fanofYOW

That might be 2026. Hopefully before that with another carrier so AC can eat it. There’s already signs their revenue from YOW is dropping.

Revenue is dropping because their services from here are poor. More 220s and XLRs in the stable will let them address markets like YOW much better. If somebody wants to go London, would they really pass up an AC direct on an XLR, choosing to connect at CDG instead? I doubt it.

Like it or not, the XLR was literally designed for YOW-Europe kind of routes. AC buying them provides them a real advantage against airlines that don't field them.

[YOWflier]

There will be no XLRs at AC before the latter part of ‘26. If AC’s goal is to kill AF here, giving them 3 more years to entrench without any direct competition seems a weird strategy.

Then again, maybe selling basic fares to Ottawans at a loss is the strategy until then. It might work given Ottawans’ affection for the pesos.

Anyway, I just booked my summer ‘24 holiday with AF. Some nice fares atm.

[Truenorth00]

I just don't think outside of a small set of frequent flyers that most passengers are all that loyal. And certainly not to the point that they'd forego non-stop travel and easier connections for close to the same price.

I don't see the need for AC to really defend anything till 2026. Especially in a government town where a good chunk of business travelers have far less flexibility on travel rules and budgets. They'll win back business when they launch. If there's a direct flight to LHR that is gate to gate in less than 8 hrs, guess what most people are getting booked on?

Maybe AF stays. But their growth can and will be capped. And other entrants could probably be discouraged from launching in the first place. That's an easy win for AC with 3-4 XLRs out of Ottawa.