YVR & Sea Island Developments Discussion II

[Nick]

Originally Posted by whatnext

How much is the AC pilot’s employer paying out to passengers for missed connections, accommodation and meal vouchers due to Navcan’s issues? Maybe Navcan should be on the hook to the airlines for that.

It is patently false that controllers are keeping numbers down to keep overtime up. This is a baseless accusation that doesn't help anyone and needs to be retracted. Large towers are very short staffed, and the small towers are short so they can't release anyone to move to busier places. Nav is doing lots of work to help, but it will take a long time to fix. Qualification in a major unit such as YVR takes nearly a year, and that's for a previously qualified controller.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by whatnext

How much is the AC pilot’s employer paying out to passengers for missed connections, accommodation and meal vouchers due to Navcan’s issues? Maybe Navcan should be on the hook to the airlines for that.

Less than what AC would pay out in terms of lawsuits if a midair or runway collision happened at YVR involving one of its planes, because the controllers were forced to push 60-70 movements/hour, all the while being severely understaffed.

Discussions for financial compensation should take place at management level. I wouldn't be surprised if they already have. Pilots shouldn't be ranting to their passengers, accusing controllers of doing things that are absolutely false.

Air Canada is very involved with NavCan, in terms of daily operational coordination, especially at its three hubs. It's a guarantee they've already voiced their discontent with the current situation at YVR.

As I said over on the Canada airports thread, 8 of the 15 board of directors at NavCan are elected either by Government, or the airlines/business aviation community. It is the BoD that make the big decisions at this company, including the stupid decision to fire all the trainees and stop recruitment during the pandemic. Therefore, our government and our airlines, including AC, are directly to blame for the situation at YVR.

You reap what you sow.

Meanwhile, the controllers are trying to do their best, all the while keeping the skies safe.

Originally Posted by Nick

It is patently false that controllers are keeping numbers down to keep overtime up. This is a baseless accusation that doesn't help anyone and needs to be retracted. Large towers are very short staffed, and the small towers are short so they can't release anyone to move to busier places. Nav is doing lots of work to help, but it will take a long time to fix. Qualification in a major unit such as YVR takes nearly a year, and that's for a previously qualified controller.

[nname]

Quick update while on vacation...

One weekly DUB move to PEK starting Aug, now flights are 4/5 weekly each

KIX now extend into Nov and March, 3x weekly. Not sure if the flight is year-round or just 2 months extension.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

Less than what AC would pay out in terms of lawsuits if a midair or runway collision happened at YVR involving one of its planes, because the controllers were forced to push 60-70 movements/hour, all the while being severely understaffed.

Discussions for financial compensation should take place at management level. I wouldn't be surprised if they already have. Pilots shouldn't be ranting to their passengers, accusing controllers of doing things that are absolutely false.

Air Canada is very involved with NavCan, in terms of daily operational coordination, especially at its three hubs. It's a guarantee they've already voiced their discontent with the current situation at YVR.

As I said over on the Canada airports thread, 8 of the 15 board of directors at NavCan are elected either by Government, or the airlines/business aviation community. It is the BoD that make the big decisions at this company, including the stupid decision to fire all the trainees and stop recruitment during the pandemic. Therefore, our government and our airlines, including AC, are directly to blame for the situation at YVR.

You reap what you sow.

Meanwhile, the controllers are trying to do their best, all the while keeping the skies safe.

I'm not blaming the individual controllers but I am 100% blaming Navcan.

Don't Canadians pay a fee to them? Then they should be expected to deliver. I had a buddy working a regional flight from Comox the other day. 1 hour delay on a 20 minute flight, thanks to flow, missed connections for pax. Who gets blamed by the public? The airline of course.

[whatnext]

Further to the above:

Air Canada offering free flight changes due to Vancouver delays
Find out what you need to know about the delays at YVR.
Elana Shepert
2 minutes ago

Canada's flag carrier is offering complimentary ticket changes for travellers flying to and from Vancouver on Friday, May 30, amid significant delays.

A Vancouver International Airport (YVR) spokesperson told V.I.A. that crews couldn't complete overnight paving work on its north runway to allow for re-opening in the morning due to an "unforeseen equipment issue" with its asphalt supplier, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.

Nav Canada has implemented a temporary Traffic Management Initiative (TMI) to keep flights moving safely and "as efficiently as possible," Nav Canada spokesperson Maryam Amini told V.I.A.

FlightAware's online flight tracker indicates YVR is experiencing inbound flights delayed at their origin, an average of an hour and 23 minutes.

According to YVR's departures page, 24 flights are delayed and nine are cancelled. However, the airport doesn't specify the cause of delays or cancellations..

....Flair Airlines comments on YVR delays
On its website, Flair Airlines advises travellers to YVR about "significant delays due to air traffic control" issues, adding that they should check their flight status regularly.

"Please be aware that the time you should come to the airport is based on your new departure time," the airline states. "For domestic flights, please arrive two hours early. For international flights, please arrive three hours earlier."

Eric Tanner, vice-president of commercial operations at Flair Airlines, told V.I.A. that "YVR's air traffic control remains understaffed."...

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/trave...t-changes-vancouver-delays-2025-10738579

[thenoflyzone]

Today’s delays are mostly due to the north runway being unusable, therefore not ATC related.

https://news.yvr.ca/reduced-flight-capacity-at-yvr/

[ninjakafi_81]

Not really related to YVR but just down south in Seattle, Alaska Airlines will be launching flights to Rome next summer. With both Calgary and now Seattle having flights to Rome, I wonder if YVR will get flights to Rome.

Alaska Airlines officially announces it will begin flying to Europe.

The airline will launch a new route from Seattle (SEA) to Rome (FCO) starting May 2026.

Flights will use the Boeing 787-9 with a “new global experience” operated by Alaska after Hawaiian’s operating certificate merges with Alaska’s.

• Depart SEA 6:00 PM Arrive FCO 1:45 PM (next day)
• Depart FCO 3:45 PM Arrive SEA 6:00 PM

Flights will operate 4x weekly with tickets going on sale this fall.

https://x.com/IshrionA/status/1929887248457118065

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by ninjakafi_81

Not really related to YVR but just down south in Seattle, Alaska Airlines will be launching flights to Rome next summer. With both Calgary and now Seattle having flights to Rome, I wonder if YVR will get flights to Rome.
https://x.com/IshrionA/status/1929887248457118065

Adding Rome to YVR destination roster would IMHO be great It would be our first Mediterranean desrination, and a feather in our cap (as it were) The LF & YF should be there if Calgary can do it.

[VancityAvgeek33]

I don’t think we are going to get flights to Rome anytime soon. ITA just announced there interested in Newark and Houston flights in North America! Wish they would add a YVR flight!

[mcj]

Originally Posted by VancityAvgeek33

I don’t think we are going to get flights to Rome anytime soon. ITA just announced there interested in Newark and Houston flights in North America! Wish they would add a YVR flight!

Makes sense they'd be establishing routes to major Star Alliance hubs with the switchover from Skyteam. Vancouver isn't really a big fish compared to Houston/Newark.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by mcj

Makes sense they'd be establishing routes to major Star Alliance hubs with the switchover from Skyteam. Vancouver isn't really a big fish compared to Houston/Newark.

I wonder if the fact that ITA switched from Skyteam to *Alliance has any weight in determining if, and how soo, ITA might be coming to YVR.
Yes, Houston is much bigger than Vancouver, but surely there's a market here, too.

[Johnny Aussie]

April stats are out!

https://www.yvr.ca/-/media/yvr/documents/facts-sheets/2025/04---april/april-traffic-update.pdf

Overall up 0.8%
Domestic up 1.8%
International down 0.1%

Standout was Asia Pacific again with a 17.2% increase
Meanwhile Transborder saw a 9.0% decrease

Europe overtook Misc Intl

Cargo also had a marginal increase

The rest is all in the link!

[connect2source]

Great views of YVR while flying back from Victoria yesterday!
*excuse the dirty plane window
Photo By Me :

[flipper316]

Great photograph.

[VancityAvgeek33]

Looks like Frankfurt to yvr for winter will reduce from 7 to 6 weekly with no Tuesday service.

[Johnny Aussie]

Standard seasonal reduction. With MUC now continuing going year round (3 weekly in winter) LH is 9 weekly in winter.

I’ll be flying from YVR on LH as part of our round the world trip around Christmas!

[Johnny Aussie]

Meanwhile Air France appears to be going daily year round effective second week of December.

Bumps AF/KL to 10 weekly through the winter

And British Airways moving to a daily A350-1000 again for the winter

[Johnny Aussie]

Also, looking at advanced schedules for next summer:

Edelweiss going daily by the third week of May

Condor also appears to be going daily earlier as well - from first week of May showing daily

[Johnny Aussie]

With Porter now flying to Hamilton their total daily departures is climbing to 11 as of next week. 12 on Mondays and Wednesdays.

[nname]

Recent F8 update shows YVR-GDL now operates daily for the peak winter season in December.

On the flip side, YVR-YKF will be suspended from Sept after the base closure.

For most routes, frequency now varies almost in week-by-week basis. Here is a sample frequency for peak (or almost-peak) service during a typical week in mid-December

21x weekly YYC (up to 4 daily flights)
20x weekly YYZ
15x weekly YEG
8x weekly PVR
daily CUN/GDL
5x weekly YWG
4x weekly LAX/SFO/LAS

Looks like after every update, F8 gradually concentrate more and more resource to YVR and YYZ. Though 95 weekly is not the most YVR receive for winter season..

This winter, only 2 routes left out of CUN
YVR-CUN
YYZ-CUN

PVR is somewhat similar, plus a single weekly flight to YYC and YEG.

And only 5 transborder routes left
YVR-LAX
YVR-SFO
YVR-LAS
YYZ-MCO
YYZ-FLL

There is still summer-seasonal YYZ-JFK though.

Compare this to a couple of winters ago, where F8 flies to CUN and LAS from maybe 6 or 8 Canadian cities each...