Canadian Airport Thread II

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by nname

As posted in another forum, just noticed AC got a daily slot back from OS:
https://www.acl-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/LHR-S26-OS_AC.png

The slot was originally used for the second daily YVR flight, and the flight number 862/863 matches it.

So what's AC's plan?

1. Restart second daily flight from YVR
2. Start flight from other city in Western Canada (ie. YEG?)
3. Increase YOW to daily and YYZ/YUL to 4/2 daily (although the slot more suitable for the West as it means 1:30am YYZ departure, or 2am YUL departure)
4. Restart YYT-LHR (again, timing is not suitable)
5. Launch LHR-DEL to compensate the loss of YUL-DEL
6. Lease to NZ for them to run AKL-YVR-LHR
7. Lease to another airline?

Unless I'm missing something from the link you shared, it seems the arrival time into LHR is 13:20 and departure is 14:05. That looks pretty much identical to what they currently have loaded for next summer on YVR-LHR.

[nname]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

Unless I'm missing something from the link you shared, it seems the arrival time into LHR is 13:20 and departure is 14:05. That looks pretty much identical to what they currently have loaded for next summer on YVR-LHR.

I guess they already adjust the time to have the YVR flight take that slot, and YYZ flight moved to the old YVR slot. I don't remember there's a YYZ-LHR flight departing close to midnight?

Still, AC should be able to run 10 daily flights into LHR next summer, compared to 9 last summer.

So maybe #3 is the solution. Then the next question is, if YOW flight to become daily, then most likely it will be XLR. How will AC rotate the XLR to run the YOW-LHR flight?

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by nname

I guess they already adjust the time to have the YVR flight take that slot, and YYZ flight moved to the old YVR slot. I don't remember there's a YYZ-LHR flight departing close to midnight?

Still, AC should be able to run 10 daily flights into LHR next summer, compared to 9 last summer.

So maybe #3 is the solution. Then the next question is, if YOW flight to become daily, then most likely it will be XLR. How will AC rotate the XLR to run the YOW-LHR flight?

I looked back this past summer and AC860/861 arrived/departed at LHR at 13:20 and 14:10, respectively as well.

But yes, YOW seems like a good candidate for a daily XLR next winter. Since they reduced LHR-BOM to 4x weekly at the last minute to enable YOW-LHR this winter (which I believe was the traditional timings it operated pre-Covid), perhaps they're going to forgo the fifth freedom flight next winter in order to run YOW-LHR on the XLR. And if so, it would make sense to run it daily this summer as well, rather than bump up frequency in the off-season. I have been tracking the premium loads out of YOW this summer on the LHR flight, and I really do believe that it could sustain, at the very least, a daily 788 in the summer.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Zmonkey

Air Canada wants to be profitable, not creative. The model from the 90's is dead. Its all about your hubs today, and Air Canada will maximize all of its hubs. The timing of this slot looks to be best for Western Canada, if thats the case its going to YVR.
Calgary is a good corporate market, and has some feed for Air Canada. Edmonton has essentially 0. Vancouver is a real hub and work off connections across Western Canada and Western USA plus o&d.


*Unless someone throws a big subsidy at AC.

I was living in Saskatoon at that time and regularly traveling to Europe on business. The Edmonton flight was excellent (as a frequent flyer), you have a much better chance of getting an free upgrade to the front cabin vrs either Calgary or Toronto where they would regularly see the business cabin sold out to customers willing to pay a premium.

That said, during the summer Vancouver has a lot of cruise ship traffic. While that helps fill those seats not certain how premium that market will be. Time will tell, with all the traffic to India that can connect in London, I suspect the dynamics of the Vancouver have changed a bit.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by nname

As posted in another forum, just noticed AC got a daily slot back from OS:
https://www.acl-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/LHR-S26-OS_AC.png

The slot was originally used for the second daily YVR flight, and the flight number 862/863 matches it.

So what's AC's plan?

1. Restart second daily flight from YVR
2. Start flight from other city in Western Canada (ie. YEG?)
3. Increase YOW to daily and YYZ/YUL to 4/2 daily (although the slot more suitable for the West as it means 1:30am YYZ departure, or 2am YUL departure)
4. Restart YYT-LHR (again, timing is not suitable)
5. Launch LHR-DEL to compensate the loss of YUL-DEL
6. Lease to NZ for them to run AKL-YVR-LHR
7. Lease to another airline?

I can guarantee you AC will not lease it's slot to a competitor, who will then use it to launch a route AC already operates.....

Anyway, it's almost a guarantee NZ will fly AKL-LAX-London (we still don't know if it will be LHR or LGW)

What about YWG-LHR with the XLR? Would make sense in my book. The timing would work, plus YWG is already an A320 pilot base. The smallest one, in fact. Maybe AC is training it's YWG A320 pilots for ETOPS flights, so having YWG-LHR to compliment that would make sense. They would need to announce the route ASAP though, S26 is right around the corner....

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by Myst

I think we can guess what will be in the S26 schedule, as far as where the capacity goes -

Look for capacity into YHZ, possibly YYT, and connections east

I was rather surprised WS didn't add back YOW/YUL-YHZ for the summer to feed the Europe flights like they did pre-COVID.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by nname

I guess they already adjust the time to have the YVR flight take that slot, and YYZ flight moved to the old YVR slot. I don't remember there's a YYZ-LHR flight departing close to midnight?

Still, AC should be able to run 10 daily flights into LHR next summer, compared to 9 last summer.

So maybe #3 is the solution. Then the next question is, if YOW flight to become daily, then most likely it will be XLR. How will AC rotate the XLR to run the YOW-LHR flight?

AC do have a 2350 YYZ-LHR departure.

YOW-LHR will mostly likely only be XLR in the winter once the route's back up to daily. Widebody summer, XLR winter to maintain daily year-round. The XLR wouldn't be enough premium capacity over the summer months (not enough J and no +Y - both cabins were around 90% full out of YOW this summer).

Rotating the XLR in winter on YOW-LHR wouldn't be hard. YHZ-LHR will be an XLR after the MAXes move to Rouge and once the day tripper moves back to YYZ, it'll almost certainly be an XLR too. Also, it would be easy to just do a YOW-YYZ, which is how AC used to rotate the 763 pre-2020.

[Myst]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

I was rather surprised WS didn't add back YOW/YUL-YHZ for the summer to feed the Europe flights like they did pre-COVID.

That is an interesting thought.

WS has shown pretty much zero interest in eastern domestic, even as feeders. But it would make sense as a place to deploy capacity. And even if YUL is not a strong market for them and the stop is a handicap, European point of sale works if the fare is attractive.

[Myst]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

What about YWG-LHR with the XLR?

I’d like to see it. Maybe a 3x/4x split also offering YEG-LHR. But i don’t think it has much chance. Especially with neither city having a feeder network on AC anymore.

[LO 044]

Frankly I don't really care if YEG gets a LHR flight. Although I find AC and WS OK to fly, I prefer KL over our own and prefer connecting in AMS rather than LHR.

Saying that, many people would want this flight in my neck of the woods. I always think of the 788 as being the perfect aircraft and 3-4 weekly is fine. What I don't understand is people suggesting wanting to waste a small 321 aircraft on a YOW-LHR flight for example. Would AC not want to maximize profit to an expensive slot airport like LHR by using a widebody aircraft? YHZ-LHR on a 319 or 737 is OK because the LHR slots are not during peak periods I believe. I just don't see AC flying the 321 to LHR or CDG or FRA or MUC. Sure maybe EDI or MAN or BCN.

In terms of feeder services at YEG, I think 3-4 weekly is fine without much of a feeder system. AC would offer YYC-YEG-LHR and YVR-YEG-LHR anyways which would probably funnel more passengers than any small City in Alberta.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by LO 044

Frankly I don't really care if YEG gets a LHR flight. Although I find AC and WS OK to fly, I prefer KL over our own and prefer connecting in AMS rather than LHR.

Saying that, many people would want this flight in my neck of the woods. I always think of the 788 as being the perfect aircraft and 3-4 weekly is fine. What I don't understand is people suggesting wanting to waste a small 321 aircraft on a YOW-LHR flight for example. Would AC not want to maximize profit to an expensive slot airport like LHR by using a widebody aircraft? YHZ-LHR on a 319 or 737 is OK because the LHR slots are not during peak periods I believe. I just don't see AC flying the 321 to LHR or CDG or FRA or MUC. Sure maybe EDI or MAN or BCN.

AC themselves have said that YOW-LHR will be on the XLR in some capacity, but I agree it would be a waste in the summer to not have the route on a widebody.

[hollywoodcory]

YYC September stats are out... Transborder fell off a sharp cliff this month.

Domestic: 1,232,850 +4.6% [YTD: 10,005,117 +4.72%]
Transborder: 322,621 -11.7% [YTD: 2,943,595 -1.44%]
International: 204,709 +2.7% [YTD: 1,936,591 +4.97%]

September 2025 Total: 1,760,180 +0.9%

2025 YTD: 14,885,303 +3.48%

I still think YYC will fall just short of 20 million for the year.

[LeftCoaster]

Similar look for YVR in Sept too, strength in domestic and Intl' but transborder is obliterated.

Domestic: 1,208,162 +10.5% [YTD: 10,075,250 +3.8%]
Transborder: 525,224 -7.9% [YTD: 4,888,164 -5.6%]
International: 604,688 +10.2% [YTD: 5,551,417 +9.3%]

September 2025 Total: 2,338,094 + 5.7%

2025 YTD: 20,514,931 +2.8%

First time YVR has cracked 20 million in 3 quarters as far as I know, which is exciting.

My guess is just shy of 27 million, unless there is a big December.

[nname]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

I can guarantee you AC will not lease it's slot to a competitor, who will then use it to launch a route AC already operates.....

Anyway, it's almost a guarantee NZ will fly AKL-LAX-London (we still don't know if it will be LHR or LGW)

Well depending on how desperate NZ is, and that is the goal for AC.

If AC wants to maximize the profit on the single daily YVR-LHR flight, then no. But if AC wants to keep BA in check, and stop WS from potentially restart YVR-London when they got more 787... then why not just use NZ's frame, and let NZ take half of the risk and just codeshare with NZ for the route (while taking guaranteed profit from leasing the slot) instead of flying the second daily themselves. NZ already codeshare with AC for YVR-LHR. If NZ launch LHR flight through any other city, AC is going to lose some connecting passengers on the LHR flight anyways.

Plus AC already have a habit of outsourcing YVR-Europe to other partner airlines anyways...

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by nname

Well depending on how desperate NZ is, and that is the goal for AC.

If AC wants to maximize the profit on the single daily YVR-LHR flight, then no. But if AC wants to keep BA in check, and stop WS from potentially restart YVR-London when they got more 787... then why not just use NZ's frame, and let NZ take half of the risk and just codeshare with NZ for the route (while taking guaranteed profit from leasing the slot) instead of flying the second daily themselves. NZ already codeshare with AC for YVR-LHR. If NZ launch LHR flight through any other city, AC is going to lose some connecting passengers on the LHR flight anyways.

Plus AC already have a habit of outsourcing YVR-Europe to other partner airlines anyways...

AC can lease the slot to NZ, but they can't force NZ to operate YVR-LHR. If they do, it would be a coordination of schedules, and is illegal, as AC and NZ do not have a JV. Besides, like I said before, based on what I've read so far, it will most likely be AKL-LAX-London, not YVR-London.

Anyway, I think there is a better chance that AC leased the slot to AS, so they can operate SEA-LHR.

We still don't know where AS got their slot to fly to LHR in S26.

[thenoflyzone]

In other news, TS is starting YUL-DSS/KEF and upping VLC in S26.

https://www.transat.com/en-CA/corporate/media/news-releases/124576

First foray by a Canadian carrier into Sub-Saharan Africa I believe.

The exclusive service to Dakar will be offered from June 17 to October 21, 2026, with two flights per week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This responds to strong demand from the Senegalese diaspora and paves the way for booming cultural and beach tourism.

Flights to Reykjavik will be available from June 16 to September 27, 2026, with up to two flights per week on Tuesdays and Sundays. This allows passengers to experience Iceland's spectacular landscapes, hot springs, and outdoor activities.

Finally, from June 16 to September 8, 2026, Air Transat will add an extra flight to its route to Valencia.

[casper]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

AC can lease the slot to NZ, but they can't force NZ to operate YVR-LHR. If they do, it would be a coordination of schedules, and is illegal, as AC and NZ do not have a JV. Besides, like I said before, based on what I've read so far, it will most likely be AKL-LAX-London, not YVR-London.

Anyway, I think there is a better chance that AC leased the slot to AS, so they can operate SEA-LHR.

We still don't know where AS got their slot to fly to LHR in S26.

Would you not expect AS and BA to come to some arrangement? Both being in the same alliance, code-sharing etc.

I would give those US stops by NZ or Air France another year at most. Trump and company are trying to make the US a very difficult place for foreigners to visit. Each passenger have to pay several hundred dollars for a visa.

During the pandemic Air France and others switched to using YVR as the stop between Tahiti and Paris. We may well be back at that if the Americans keep escalating their border control measures.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by casper

Would you not expect AS and BA to come to some arrangement? Both being in the same alliance, code-sharing etc.

Yes, it is possible. However, AS and BA aren't in a JV. So BA is in no obligation to help AS. They still compete with one another. AS could have secured the LHR slot elsewhere. AC is one possibility.

Originally Posted by casper

I would give those US stops by NZ or Air France another year at most. Trump and company are trying to make the US a very difficult place for foreigners to visit. Each passenger have to pay several hundred dollars for a visa.

During the pandemic Air France and others switched to using YVR as the stop between Tahiti and Paris. We may well be back at that if the Americans keep escalating their border control measures.

I think that's an exaggeration. Yes, some people will avoid the US, but a good proportion will continue doing what they were doing before Trump. It's the same thing in this country, btw.

The pandemic - and the restrictions that ensued - was a whole other beast. You can't compare the two.

[casper]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

I think that's an exaggeration. Yes, some people will avoid the US, but a good proportion will continue doing what they were doing before Trump. It's the same thing in this country, btw.

The pandemic - and the restrictions that ensued - was a whole other beast. You can't compare the two.

It think it comes down to how the $250 "Visa Integrity Fee" pans out. My understanding is Australians and Europeans are exempt but have to pay some over $40-50 electronic visa fee.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

AC themselves have said that YOW-LHR will be on the XLR in some capacity, but I agree it would be a waste in the summer to not have the route on a widebody.

They have also publicly stated that the day tripper slot will move back to YYZ with the opening of a YYZ XLR base, meaning YHZ will be a nighttime LHR slot again on an XLR, reinforcing the notion that YOW-LHR will be XLR in winter.

I could see a scenario where AC bring back daily summer seasonal YOW-FRA on the XLR and simply use the same frame in winter for LHR while the latter gets a widebody in summer.