YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion

[mezzanine]

[Hourglass]

Originally Posted by phesto

China Southern is going to announce YVR-HKG service in the next few months.

Just a correction - China Southern would be flying YVR-CAN, not HKG. Air Canada announced they would be launching this route as well in '07, but unfortunately doesn't look like that will be happening.

[tayser]

Originally Posted by Hourglass

Just a correction - China Southern would be flying YVR-CAN, not HKG. Air Canada announced they would be launching this route as well in '07, but unfortunately doesn't look like that will be happening.

I'm so tempted to book a sale fare as soon as China Southern start flying to Vancouver. The cheapest way to Vancouver from Australia is via Asia and at the moment you can fly via Taipei on China Airlines for $1376+tax (AUD).

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

I'm flying Lufthansa YVR-Frankfurt this March, so hopefully the new chevron will be open by then!!!

Pics of the new international chevron (non-interesting old PCL pics):





From PCL:

I hope it opens before spring break...I'm flying to Asia then.

[ckkelley]

I love this picture.

It's very Blade Runnerish.

[officedweller]

Nice! Thanks for the update.

[SpongeG]

Terrorists cleared for takeoff

With a few clicks of the keyboard, anyone with access to the Internet can download details of how to disable one of the country's biggest airports.

A technical report posted on the Vancouver International Airport Authority's website provides information and diagrams detailing the airport's fuel distribution and water and electrical systems.

It also provides what security experts are calling a terrorist's guide to the busy facility.

"I'm not aware of any airport anywhere in the world that [posts such data]," Mike Toddington, director of the International Association of Airport and Seaport Police, told The Province yesterday.

Toddington, former chief of police for the Port of Vancouver, said technical details like those on the airport website are generally considered classified. Releasing similar information about ports would have been considered a serious breach of security during his tenure.

"[The website posting] certainly wouldn't enhance security at the airport," he said. "You would have to assume that it provides an opportunity for those people who may not necessarily have the best intentions."

A retired RCMP officer who was asked to review the technical report said that, given the report's detail, attackers with a half-pound of C-4 military explosives -- readily available on the black market -- could take everything down with a single charge.

"It is absolutely incredible to me that the airport authority would publish this sort of stuff on a website," said the former officer, who asked not to be named.

"It's almost a malicious disregard for public safety."

The master plan can easily be found with a Google search. The same search on other Canadian airports produced no similar results.

RCMP declined to say whether police have security concerns over the availability of the report.

"I can confirm that we as an agency are aware of the report," said Richmond RCMP Cpl. Peter Thiessen. The detachment is responsible for the Vancouver airport.

Officials from Transport Canada, which oversees, funds and regulates security measures at airports, were asked about whether the diagrams' availability was a concern. They did not return repeated calls.

Ali Hounsell, spokeswoman for the Vancouver Airport Authority, said an RCMP member had sent an e-mail expressing concerns about the report, but airport officials decided to leave it on the website.

She said the authority has not been advised to remove the report for security reasons.

"Our view is this information is available in other places as well," Hounsell said.

"Have we made it available all in one place? Yes. But as far as we're concerned, it's also available elsewhere.

"You can Google just about anything in this day and age."

Hounsell said the airport authority is required to produce regular updates of its master plan for the federal government, and the technical report provides background information.

The authority must also consult widely on its plans, and the website is the most efficient way to distribute the details, she said.



"We always intended to make the report publicly available on the website -- that was top of mind," she said.

The airport authority's comments come days after federal Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day vowed to "aggressively" address security at Canada's airports. Day was responding to an aviation-safety audit by the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization that said screening and training at airports could be improved.

Day's office referred queries to Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon, who did not return calls.

An airport security expert contacted by The Province said the packaging and posting of the information makes the airport more vulnerable to attack.

"If you have an airport that does this, and an airport that doesn't, draw your own conclusions about which is more vulnerable," said the Vancouver-area resident, now an industry consultant.

He asked that his name not be used.

"If you're looking to determine a viable target [for an attack], that's what I would be looking for. They're making it easier."

[email protected]

[email protected]

- - -

DIAGRAMS ONLINE

Vancouver International Airport Authority has posted its 20-year "master plan" for the facility on its website. The technical part of the plan offers schematic diagrams for the airport's:

- Aviation fuel-distribution system.

- Electrical power-distribution system.

- Electrical power-backup system.

- Cable and fibre-optic communications network.

- Potable water-distribution system.

- Sewage-collection system.

- Sea Island dike system.

- Storm water-drainage system

- Proposed fuel and utility corridors.

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/s...-1fd9-410f-8907-877df0642fda&k=40662&p=2

[SFUVancouver]

Yikes! Extremely remote possibility of terrorism! The sky is falling!

[SpongeG]

Air NZ likely to fly long-haul to Vancouver

Air New Zealand is expected to announce a new long-haul route this week - most likely Vancouver, Canada.


New routes typically have about a five-month lead time, suggesting the first flight would be about July.

Air New Zealand would not be drawn on the speculation.

House of Travel retail director Brent Thomas said Vancouver would be an exciting year-round tourism destination.

British Columbia offered spectacular mountain and water scenery in summer as well as easy access to some of the best skiing in the world. It would also open the direct inbound market from Canada. Air New Zealand and Canada code-share via Honolulu at present

The airline's new Boeing 777-200ERs can fly direct to Vancouver with a restricted cargo load.

Air New Zealand has committed to adding a new long-haul route each year, with an announcement due in the first quarter of this year.

San Francisco became the first new route for more than a decade in July 2005, followed by Shanghai last year.

Chief executive Rob Fyfe has previously said he wanted to add direct flights to Vancouver, Johannesburg, Mumbai, Sao Paulo, Santiago, and Beijing to the departure board.

Some of these could be developed as one-stop services using the 777, before going non-stop using the longer range Boeing 787-9s which were due to arrive from 2011.

Meanwhile, analysts expect Air New Zealand's half-year profit, due to be announced on February 27, to confirm a turning point in its financial fortunes.

Forsyth Barr head of research Rob Mercer was forecasting Air New Zealand to report a half-year operating profit to December of $100 million, up from $73 million in 2005, and a tax-paid profit of $67 million.

"It will be the first confirmed turning point of the company's earnings for the last two years. The (new) fleet is in place, the yield environment is coping with the current high fuel price, and we see improvement in global economic conditions putting a favourable outlook on demand," Mr Mercer said. However, fuel costs of $580 million for the six months compared with $440 million a year earlier, would drive operating costs higher.

Air New Zealand's share price reached a record high of $2.19 last week. It closed at $2.04 on Friday.

Goldman Sachs JB Were head of research Marcus Curley said the second half of the year was expected to be even better as the impact of record fuel prices eased and yields continued to improve, albeit at a slowing rate.

He expected an operating profit of $108 million and a 49 per cent gain after tax to $68 million. Revenue would gain 9 per cent from $1.9 billion with operating costs up 7 per cent from $1.56 billion, including a 29 per cent increase in fuel costs.

Average yields were improving largely as a result of the new business class and premium economy seats which was creating strong demand.

However, the airline was under pressure to cut fuel surcharges, which would lower yields.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dailynews/3966629a13.html

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

Yikes! Extremely remote possibility of terrorism! The sky is falling!

true dat

but you have to admit putting such detailed plans online where anyone can access them is pretty dumb

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

Pics of the Link building from the steel frame fabricators. The tower actually is a small component, it seems that the back stucture extends quite a bit...

Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be able to watch planes take-off and land from the top... as it's planned to be offices according to a friend who works in the planning dept. of the airport.

[excel]

Air New Zealand, thats great news. Cant wait to see who else arrives this summer to the new terminal.

777-200ER

[Hourglass]

Originally Posted by excel

Air New Zealand, thats great news. Cant wait to see who else arrives this summer to the new terminal.

777-200ER

Official announcement today. Great news for YVR...

Air New Zealand Announces New Non-Stop Service Between Vancouver and Auckland
Beginning in November of this year, Air New Zealand will launch non-stop flights between Vancouver, Canada and Auckland, New Zealand. With the announcement of this new international route, Air New Zealand is making a significant step in its focus on strengthening its trans-Pacific network.

The service will initially operate between November 2, 2007 and March 28, 2008 to coincide with the peak travel season between the two destinations, allowing Canadians to escape the snow by enjoying outdoor adventures in New Zealand's warmest summer months and giving Kiwis an opportunity to head north and take advantage of some of the best ski slopes in the world.

"We are committed to creating at least one new long haul international destination each year and Vancouver proved an ideal strategic fit, due in part to Canada's thriving economy," said Roger Poulton, Air New Zealand Vice President - the Americas. "At any one time, we have more than 20 routes under consideration as part of our long-term strategy to grow the airline."

Last year, Air New Zealand became one of the select carriers to offer round-the-world flights with the announcement of its non-stop flights between London and Hong Kong completing the loop; and in 2005, the airline widened its west coast gateway with non-stops flights from San Francisco to Auckland.

"In 2006, Canadians set a new record with 46,000 travelers visiting New Zealand, which marks an increase of more than 10,000 visitors in just a little more than five years," said Bruce Lahood, Tourism New Zealand Vice President for North America. "But even more importantly, according to a survey focused on Canadian travelers in January of 2006, 99 percent returned home satisfied with their vacation to New Zealand and more than 95 percent would recommend the destination to their friends, family and colleagues."

Air New Zealand is going to help make that recommendation even more appealing with three non-stop flights each week between Vancouver and Auckland. The new route reduces travel time to a little over 14 hours, whereas previous itineraries from Vancouver to New Zealand totalled an average of around twenty hours. Now, passengers will be treated to a luxuriously direct flight aboard Air New Zealand's new fleet of Boeing 777-200ERs, which feature lie-flat beds, vast entertainment options and award-winning food and wine. Star Alliance partner Air Canada will also be code sharing on this service.

Flight schedules from Vancouver will leave on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and are designed to meet the needs of both business and leisure passengers with an early evening departure time.

This new service will provide a convenient one-stop route for Canadians travelling to many Australian destinations and will minimize the requirement of transiting through the U.S.

Air New Zealand will operate the following schedule from Vancouver to Auckland, subject to timeslot, capacity and regulatory approvals:

Flight number Schedule

NZ83 Departs Vancouver 1830
Arrives Auckland 0600(a)

NZ84 Departs Auckland 1915
Arrives Vancouver 1200

(a) Note - The average length of the flight is around 14 hours,
however, due to time differences, arrival in New Zealand is two days
later than departure date.

Tickets are available beginning today with prices starting at CAD$1498 (excludes airport tax and fuel surcharges). For more information or to book online, please visit www.airnewzealand.com.

[excel]

Great thanks for the conformation^

[tayser]

pity it's only seasonal

not the greatest price either! $2100AUD return (NZ6 MEL-AKL NZ84 AKL-YVR & NZ83 YVR-AKL NZ5 AKL-MEL) for a mid-november departure returning 2 weeks later.

[phesto]

^QA extended their seasonal YVR-SYD service by a couple of months due to demand; if this route does well, who knows what will happen...anyway it is a great first step. QA and AZ coming to YVR in one year isn't bad either!

Canada Line guideway at YVR from a couple of weeks ago (from flickr):

[excel]

Some more good news for YVR:

Air China will be swaping their 767 for a A330-200 starting in June.


Eva Air will be swaping thier 747-400 for their brand new 777-300ER's (good and bad news loosing a 747 but gaining a new 777)
This now means YVR will see 5 777's this november: Air New Zealand 777-200ER, Air Canada 777-300ER, Eva Air 777-300ER, Singapore Airlines 777-200, Korean Airlines 777-200



And the biggest piece of news: AIR TAHITI will be coming to YVR starting in November (same time as Air New Zealand) bringing their A340-300's!

[excel]

New airlines announcing service direct to YVR this year so far include:

Flyglobespan 767-300ER to Manchester, London Gatwick and Glasgow

Frontier Airlines A319 to Denver

Air New Zealand 777-200ER to Aukland

Air Tahiti A340-300 to Tahiti

[muzhav84]

does anyone have a source, or confirmation of this Air Tahiti service, or is it just a rumour?

[phesto]

^There had been rumours of a CDG-YVR-PPT service a couple of years ago, but I hadn't heard anything since. Any news?

Apparently Air Tahiti uses YVR somewhat regularly to refuel on charters and military flights.