Quote:
Originally Posted by RomanR27
I figured that was going to be one of the routes they deployed the 767 on. Have they scheduled it into the summer yet, or just what was originally announced thru the end of April?
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I checked AC's latest schedules, and their YYZ-SFO plans are a bit surprising/confusing. It looks like the once daily A330 is strictly for the month of May... Winter scheds up until end of April are 4x daily frequency, consisting of 3x 737 and 1x 220. Then for month of May only, they go up to 5x daily consisting of 4x 737 and 1x 330. So added 1x frequency and on a 330 to boot! Then for month of June, the 330 is replaced by a 321, but overall frequency stays at 5x daily. Then in July, the 5th daily is dropped entirely and it is just 4x daily 737. And this appears to be the schedule through to November at least.
I am surprised to see a frequency bump for these two months, then down in peak summer. Just shows how valuable those widebodies are in the summer and how awkward they can be in shoulder seasons, hence short term temporary placements. But the fact they aren't replacing it with a 737 is surprising, you'd think there'd be more demand on the route in July-September than in April-May. For a somewhat comparison, YVR-EWR is another transcontinental route that gets a widebody in the winter season (787-9), but then loses it (in YVR's case on April 30). The month of May goes to 1x daily 737, but then doubles to 2x daily 737 from June 1 until end of October. Then immediately reverts back to 1x daily 787 for winter again. So summer capacity is significantly higher than winter. I seem to remember at least one wide body was always on YYZ-SFO in summer, but not 100% sure. YUL has 2x daily to SFO in summer, also on 737. This is another route I thought AC would sometimes operate a wide body on, but again not 100% sure. Regardless, AC will only have narrwbody service to SFO this summer (and it would be all 737s if it wasn't for that damn 1x daily Express CRA they have for YVR, ugh it is so annoying).
I know UA is part of the reason, since YYZ used to be exclusively AC and then UA started flying its own metal. But still is surprising to me and could indicate some softness on the route, as SFO has taken lots of hits since Covid and this might reflect that, even though small. I might also be overanalyzing something that isn't there lol equally likely
. Some other small changes I noticed this week that don't think have been mentioned:
-UA is starting their seasonal EWR-YVR earlier than usual I think, listed to start March 30th. I don't remember it ever starting that early before, but again I am not certain. And then starting June 26 until Sep. 24th, they add a 2nd daily flight. I certainly don't think there's ever been 4x daily YVR-EWR before (2x AC and 2x UA this summer). Nice to see some heft on a historically underserved pairing
-Sun Country isn't operating MSP-YUL in 2025, so that only lasted one season. Not surprised, seemed like a poor fit on that route/market. YVR and YYZ still there, 2x weekly each. Even YYZ surprises me still being there. It's a 737 twice weekly on a type of US leisure airline that Canada doesn't normally get. That honestly is only fitting for YVR and just for cruise season, that's it. Hence why they operate what is potentially the shortest seasonal flight at either airport (~11 weeks, mid June to late August for both YYZ and YVR). So it is absolutely no material loss for YUL at all, a one summer season blip. I'd be shocked if they stick around long term at YVR or YYZ either. There's a reason why we never got Spirit, Allegiant, or Southwest, and Frontier tried and failed on both YVR and YYC. Maybe Sun Country has cracked the code, but I don't think so
-it appears Alaska Airlines has increased YVR-PDX to 2x daily from May 15 to Oct. 3rd. Yes it is comparatively minor news and a small difference overall. But it is worth mentioning for me because of how Alaska has been in the last decade +-, basically just focusing on SEA. As most seasoned readers of this thread know, they used to have tons of YVR service from a zillion different airports in the US West, and then it just evaporated and widdled down to just SEA and PDX for well over a decade. So then when PDX got chopped, it was a tough blow symbolically. So when it was reloaded for S25, it was a relief (shows how low the bar is when just a once daily E-jet is considered a relief lol, but it sure beats the next step down, which is full out cancellation). So now not only is the route returning, but they're even adding a 2nd daily frequency. So yes it's a small tidbit, but significant because of the carrier's history. Going from potentially losing the route altogether, to once daily, and then doubling to twice is a small victory. Incidentally, it appears the extra PDX flight is directly at the expense of one of SEA's frequencies, and so is not even a net gain for AS service to YVR. Yes I know it's petty, but I DO NOT cheer for SEA to get even more dominant in the PNW, they are already such a direct competitor to YVR in almost every way. So I will enjoy my pettiness and relish a tiny loss for SEA in favour of PDX
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