Quote:
Originally Posted by zahav
I just saw that press release. Wow what a shock, I never would have thought PMI would be the first A321XLR route, definitely a very odd move by AC. For so many reasons. First, Mallorca is very much an inter-European destination, a quick sun holiday with a zillion cheap flights from all over Europe. I went in 2007 on a whim when me and my friends were in Barcelona, it was so cheap and super easy. But Mallorca is not a thing for North Americans, especially compared to tons of other European destinations. And 4 days a week, I would think it's more like a once a week kinda destination, if anything. And I would've thought AC would first deploy the XLR on routes it currently operates or has operated, not a totally new one right away. Within Europe I could imagine so many better routes to start with, Mallorca is so surprising. And Edinburgh is surprising as a first route, but far less so than PMI. Obviously it has operated before so that's a plus, but I wouldn't have expected it to be high on AC's list of routes to upgrade to the newest aircraft. What was it using before, 737 or a widebody? Toulouse makes sense more than the others I suppose, but even then I feel like it would support a widebody still, so wouldn't have been my first guess either, but on the opposite end of the spectrum from PMI.
It's so hard to imagine that Mallorca is more in demand than Berlin, Warsaw, Budapest, and especially Prague. They all seem far stronger as tourist and O/D markets from North America than PMI. And with the demise of CSA Czech Airlines in 2024, the timing would be good I'd think? I just never thought PMI would be the debut announcement of a new route, with soooo many potential Euro and Latin American routes, just so surprising. And YUL getting both a brand new plane type and another unique destination before YYZ? A decade ago this would be laughable. Yet another indication of AC making YUL arguably their main Euro hub. They kinda went from a clear secondary hub, to an equal hub, and now to a primary hub. It used to only be francophone cities that gave YUL uniqueness, now it's all over Europe.
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The initial XLR route was pretty much guaranteed to be from YUL. Don't forget, the plane has limited range (~4500 nm. Airbus ran into problems with the rear center tank, and so I believe the advertised 4700 nm range wasn't achieved), so YUL is at an advantage compared to all of AC's other hubs when it comes to TATL service with that aircraft.
As for why PMI, it's very simple. AC is seeing healthy demand from Canada to PMI. In fact, two separate family members of mine went to PMI this year, and plan on going next year as well. It's no coincidence. AC wouldn't be launching a random route with it's XLR's. It's all been thought out.
UA was the first North American carrier to fly non stop to PMI 3 years ago. So AC isn't the first, and the fact both these carriers will be at PMI next year is proof there is North American demand to that island.
As for YYZ, AC already flies to PRG. The route began this year, 3x weekly B788. It's currently operating. As per today's PR, it will go up to 4x weekly next summer.
TS started YYZ-BER this year as well. So YYZ already has service to both those destinations. As for Budapest, well AC today just announced a return there next summer as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RomanR27
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It was only a matter of time for AC to announce Sicily, and on the dreamliner to boot ! Demand is booming to that island.
I was wondering why they didn't announce both CTA and PMI yesterday. I guess they wanted the XLR TATL hype to have it's own day. Anyway, CTA will be the 5th AC destination from YUL to Italy.
When it comes to Italy, Spain, France and Portugal, AC at YUL is unbeatable in Canada, and is #2 in North America, with 14 destinations for next summer. Apart from UA at EWR (with 17 destinations), not a single North American hub airport has as many destinations in all of these 4 countries on a single carrier. And to think ~15-20 years ago, all AC had at YUL in terms of long haul was LHR, FRA and CDG ! Crazy.
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