YEG - Edmonton Int Airport

[Jasper and one o nin]

http://www.flyzoom.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pubDsp.dspDepArrInfo&destid=16
what is up with Zoom? Edmonton is no longer an option>

[KrisYYC]

AC will be keeping the A330's. This decision was made around 6 months ago.

[CanadianCentaur]

I was at the Beer and Bull session held by six representatives from ERAA at Pub 1905. Not as many people attended this due to other commitments or refused to go because they didn't like how they were treated by the pub's staff in the past (the servers were far from rude last night and none of us had any problems with them or the staff, actually).

While they are frustrated like many of us about not getting routes like YEG-FRA, the ERAA reps were actually very, very upbeat, optimistic and great people to talk with. Something tells me that they're not giving up at all. The people from ERAA who attended the event included Jim Rudolph, (Communications), Peter McCart, (VP Marketing and Business Development), Traci Bednard (PR), and Carol Hutchins, who is the lady from TO and works as Director in Air Service Development.

As for any new routes forthcoming, I never heard anything about this (they could be withholding info on this, but I wouldn't bet on it right now, although one of the people who work for YEG has hinted that she's getting closer to landing something (pardon the pun)). I'm told that the decrease in some transborder flights this year was mainly due to scheduling problems rather than declining yields or load factors.

There's no doubt that the $1B terminal expansion is a go - they need it yesterday! As for the Courtyard by Marriott, it's expected to start going up maybe in early 2008 as soon as the land issues between NavCan and the developers are ironed out (Traci Bednard says she expects that to happen soon). Not surprisingly, rising construction costs were also a factor in the hotel's delay.

[rapid_business]

Hmmm....good to hear. So nothing concrete in terms of flights? I guess that only comes out at press conferences/releases anyways...

[ExcaliburKid]

From the Calgary Airport Thread:

WestJet eyes service pact with Air France: report
Reuters
Published: Monday, November 19, 2007

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's WestJet Airlines is in talks with Air France to consolidate their services and step up a turf war with much-bigger rival carrier, Air Canada , a newspaper said on Monday.

The Globe and Mail paper cited industry sources as saying WestJet, based in Western Canada, is in talks with Air France to reach an "interline" agreement to cooperate on services such as baggage transfer.

The agreement would see WestJet accepting inbound Air France electronic tickets by mid-2008, while Air France would accept outbound WestJet e-tickets by the end of 2008.

This would pave the way for passengers to book a flight to Paris through WestJet, with Air France receiving a portion of the fare.

One benefit of the partnership would be that WestJet would initially attract Air France passengers arriving in Toronto and Montreal and wanting to connect to other Canadian cities.

"Discussions with Air France have been very positive, and there is a strong desire by both airlines to move ahead on an interline traffic agreement," said Hugh Dunleavy, WestJet executive vice-president of commercial distribution.

Dunleavy said WestJet would announce "substantive airline partners" in 2008.

The partnership is seen as the beginning of a series of deals for the Canadian airline founded in 1996.

Other companies that could link with WestJet include Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd and British Airways PLC.

This, my friends, is YEGs only chance at a European Carrier after the big f*ck you from AC and the Star Alliance. Go WestJet, go.

I wouldn't say only, but it is a great option.

[ExcaliburKid]

^True, I shouldnt say only, however, WestJet has been kind to YEG through the years, and I would hope they gave us a consideration. If this deal goes through anyway.

[KrisYYC]

Originally Posted by ExcaliburKid

From the Calgary Airport Thread:



This, my friends, is YEGs only chance at a European Carrier after the big f*ck you from AC and the Star Alliance. Go WestJet, go.

Oh please...

If you honestly think Air France will start service to YEG IF (and that's a big IF) they form some alliance with Westjet then you're just kidding yourselves. At best you'll get pax coming in on Westjet flights from YYZ and YUL who came off their Air France flights. Aslo, Westjet has no business class or anything, could you imagine some European business man flying in F class to YUL and then boards his Westjet flight by sock colour?

You Edmontonians really need to lose this sense of entitlement. You sound worse than those mayors in small towns out East demanding AC switch from Dash 8's to big jets.

Airlines are in the business of making money, they do not purposely ignore cities just to spite them like you guys claim they do. I'm sure there are some routes out of YEG that AC could make money, the problem is there's another route option where they could make MORE money. YEG-LHR had shitty loads to start and even shittier yields. The loads are good now, but the yields still aren't that great. YYC-LHR however is one of the top yielding routes in AC's system.

If a route out of YEG can perform to AC's satisfaction then they'll start the route. AC has not abandoned YEG, don't forget you guys are only a 35 min flight from an AC hub so for YEG the number of directs will be limited.

AC and STAR alliance are not abandoning YEG and do not hate Edmontonians. Cut the NDP style crap already, it's embarrassing for Albertans.

[ExcaliburKid]

^ Lol
Im aware of what AC's business plan is. Im not denying that YYC is a hub, good for you. Sorry I embarrassed you, and the rest of Alberta, by suggesting YEG should have more flight options. Why should we be limited to feeder status? Nobody wants to drive 3 hours/fly 35 mins and change planes to go over-seas, if they dont have to. If you cant handle speculative discussion, then dont bother replying, KrisYYC. I dont want YEG to be like YYC, and I dont think it should be, but if you think the demand isnt here for more world-wide connections, your only kidding yourself.

[KrisYYC]

If the demand was truly there then an airline would have started it by now. Obviously the demand isn't high enough YET to justify an airline starting the route especially to airports where slots cost a fortune (FRA is a good example). The demand for YEG-LHR grew enough to a point where AC was satisfied and started the route.

If huge demand at YEG is being ignored by AC and STAR then how come no other Airline like Air France or British Airways have started flying to YEG? Yet big bad AC started YEG-LHR?

YYC gets a lot of people from Asia to visit Banff, yet we still have to connect in YVR. The YYC'ers talk about how they'd like to have a direct flight to Asia, but you don't see them throwing their toys out of the pram and whining about how they're being ignored and abandoned.

[eemy]

Originally Posted by KrisYYC

If huge demand at YEG is being ignored by AC and STAR then how come no other Airline like Air France or British Airways have started flying to YEG?

To be fair, AF can't fly to YEG yet due to a restrictive bilateral agreement between France and Canada. I guess we'll find out whether there is enough demand when open skies are agreed on between Europe and Canada. Personally I'm quite skeptical of a flight starting up between YEG and CDG, except perhaps on a charter basis, but I suppose anything is possible. I'm still betting that AC will be flying to FRA as soon as their fleet isn't spread so thin.

[240glt]

You Edmontonians really need to lose this sense of entitlement

Funny, considering the source.

[ExcaliburKid]

Im not saying AC did a bad thing by (finally) flying to LHR. However, by doing this they effectively took away any opportunity by a non Star Alliance partner to come in and service a long overdue route. There is no open-skies agreement, and with AC flying the YEG-LHR route, who else would go there?

Im not whining, its just my sense of YEG being a premier airport in Canada, and I believe we deserve the best service. Is this any different than the YYC forumers thumping their chests about how "Calgary will get the next Emirates flight". "Emirates has their cargo hub in Calgary", "listen to all the YEG and YUL forumers whaaa whaaa whaa".

Check the stats, if you want, Im willing to bet that half the people filling YYCs international flights are from YEG connections, and that, my fellow SSP'er, is what it boils down to.

[KrisYYC]

Originally Posted by ExcaliburKid

Check the stats, if you want, Im willing to bet that half the people filling YYCs international flights are from YEG connections, and that, my fellow SSP'er, is what it boils down to.

I have the stats, and there is no question there's lots of YEG connections to the international flights out of YYC. It's not quite half though. I'd put it around 35% average. Still a decent number. Before YEG-LHR it was around half. So the demand is rising, however with AC being short on long haul aircraft and the cost of flying into airports like FRA currently YEG isn't a top priority. Of course once some more widebodies come online (especially when AC starts getting some 787's) and open skies is implemented then YEG will most certainly see some more routes. I'd guess AC YEG-FRA will be the first, probably start with 767 or A330 (now that AC is keeping them).

Just be patient. YYC for years only had one LHR and one FRA flight.

Kris

[ExcaliburKid]

^ I dont doubt that we will see more routes, and I think the hostile attitude you've been witnessing is from a promise of a strong '07 with great announcments, to absoultely zilch as far as new year-round flights go. Still strong numbers, but not what we as a community were looking for. The airport expansion was a nice surprise though. Hopefully it will gain the attention of the airline biz.

[KrisYYC]

^Who promised a strong 2007? Was it AC or Edmonton Airport Authority?

If it was EAA then take anything they say with a grain of salt. Airport Authorities are always making big claims like this, so unless it comes from the airlines themselves then be wary.

Airport expansion is definitely needed!

[ExcaliburKid]

No promises from any sources. Just alot of "I heard this" "Watch for some announcments" type of noise, which isnt out of the ordinary. But with not even a single announcement, I think a few noses got out of joint. (I should admit, I was expecting FRA. Dont ask why, it was more a hope than anything)

I'll sit idly by until '08, and watch the expansion and hotel get going. At least it will keep my mind occupied

[CanadianCentaur]

It's true that you got to take Edmonton Airports' claims with a big grain of salt. At that session I went to, they were certainly upbeat and all, but what really matters is what kind of results they'll actually get in the end. This is not to say I question their claims, but it's just that if you make upbeat claims without results, you'll only be just seen as a booster in the end.

And YEG will get flights to places like FRA eventually, whether it's going to be in 2008 or 2038.

[KrisYYC]

Originally Posted by 240glt

Funny, considering the source.

Give me an example where I've claimed to be entitled to anything.

[KrisYYC]

Originally Posted by CanadianCentaur

It's true that you got to take Edmonton Airports' claims with a big grain of salt.

I remember when construction of Calgary's D-wing was underway the Airport Authority was acting like it was going to be one of the most modern terminals in North America etc. etc. What we got was a life-size Fisher Price airport play-set. Embarrassing to say the least.