YEG - Edmonton Int Airport

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Edmonchuck

Mergers are bound to happen in the US..and AC is simply cannon fodder here. Holy crap though, could this mean open skies?

No, open skies is a no go in the USA with the Democrats (at least with full cabotage etc.), it will be a long while until that happens. Why should there failing airlines be forced to compete against the profitable air canada?

When Canada's airlines are doing ok on there own, there is no reason to do this from Canada's side)

You could have open skies (at least from the gov of Canada side) if Westjet and Air Canada acted like a duopoly and new airlines were unable to break into the market, even after intervention from the competition bureau.

There will likely never be a drop in foreign ownership restrictions.

What ACE should do is form a consulting company that goes into airlines and fixes them.

Politically, the conservatives wouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole, and neither would the liberals.

The NDP would have a highly visible example of the selling off of a "Canadian Icon" to the USAmericans, that the NDP could use a bludgeon and example for the 'hollowing out' of Canada's economy.

[Rocket252]

"Canadian Icon"

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Rocket252

Would be nice.

As always I wonder how this would affect flights into YEG

In full open skies (with a customs union), Edmonton would be super relegated to spoke status. Most of even Calgary's flights would be through Minneapolis/St. Paul or Vancouver.

In open skies with the passport problem, I think we would just have worse service on worse airlines. Going to the USA Edmonton might have more hub connections, but not more 'destination' connections. It is possible since short haul is profitable the US airlines would start running Calgary-Edmonton CRJs and end direct service from YEG. In that sense the current system protects Edmonton from being treated like a minor spoke.

Calgary would likely get more like a hub (even if just only one step up from a spoke), since airlines like to play follow the leader.

[etown]

I just want to weigh in and say the Mexicana announcement is fantastic. People that are disappointed in this perhaps don't recognize the significance of this new flight. As a business traveler I endured years of travel relying on NWA and its flights through Minneapolis - I am grateful that they were available as the rest of the US carriers stopped serving YEG and AC routed everything through Calgary.

Mexico is a world class city, aside from Chicago and London I don't think YEG has any other direct flights to cities of that size and importance.

As for the comment about 12 goats and 100 chickens - obviously you underestimate Mexico, its people, and its economy. The world's richest man is now from Mexico.

[KrisYYC]

A merger is not possible with foreign ownership laws in both Canada and the US. At best you might see a partnership with a US carrier.

It should also be said that Foreign ownership laws have nothing to do with Open Skies.

[Edmonchuck]

You are correct, open skies and foreign ownership are both mutually exclusive.

HOWEVER,

Both are open for revision.

[eemy]

Originally Posted by etown

Mexico is a world class city, aside from Chicago and London I don't think YEG has any other direct flights to cities of that size and importance.

Don't they have a flight to LAX?

[Coldrsx]

^yes...point being

[tuffyy]

Damn I hate when my senses tingle...

[rapid_business]

.... here we go again.

[McLovin]

tuffy, you should change your name to "Spidey"hehe

[marts1x]

Originally Posted by etown

Mexico is a world class city, aside from Chicago and London I don't think YEG has any other direct flights to cities of that size and importance.

As for the comment about 12 goats and 100 chickens - obviously you underestimate Mexico, its people, and its economy. The world's richest man is now from Mexico.

I don't think any of you are clueing into what is happening here. A mexico city flight to edm and cgy??? There is limited to no reason for this flight other then a mexican governments willingness to ship its poorest and most undesirables into Canada. Our weak immigration policy is being exploited.

Mexican refugee claims are sky rocketing in Canada, these flights spell nothing but disaster for our immigration people. There are people that do fly to mexico city for business but there are not enough to warrant a direct flight.

Thousands of illegal mexicans in Alberta will soon be bolstered by several more thousand courtesy of these wonderful flights into Mexico city.

[S_B_Russell]

^You can go back to your cave now.

[JBB]

Ok, the mexicana flight is not HUGE in the sense of the recent billion$ plus expansion announcement or a new transcontinental service, but I still think its big. This is the first new mainline carrier to introduce scheduled passenger service in a while, and the first non US/Canadian carrier to do so in what, a decade? Last one might have been the short-lived JAL service in the 80's. It is also, barring the AC London flight, the first new scheduled service to a non-US/Canadian destination in a very long while too. So, new mainline carrier AND new non-US/Canadian destination are very big

I also think it important to note that Mexicana is effectively putting YEG on par with YYC by spliting the aircraft 4days-3days between the two cities. This has most certainly NOT been the trend over the past 10 years when most carriers, be they Canadian, American or whatever would far more disproportionately weigh service in Calgary's favour if giving any service to YEG at all. This is definitely a good signal that YEG's relative position to YYC is rising, albeit very tentatively.

So, now we just need to keep moving forward with new flights and service improvements to YEG. Where's that hotel, and where's that second executive lounge (Servisair) like Winnipeg and Ottawa have!?

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by JBB

Ok, the mexicana flight is not HUGE in the sense of the recent billion$ plus expansion announcement or a new transcontinental service, but I still think its big. This is the first new mainline carrier to introduce scheduled passenger service in a while, and the first non US/Canadian carrier to do so in what, a decade? Last one might have been the short-lived JAL service in the 80's. It is also, barring the AC London flight, the first new scheduled service to a non-US/Canadian destination in a very long while too. So, new mainline carrier AND new non-US/Canadian destination are very big

I also think it important to note that Mexicana is effectively putting YEG on par with YYC by spliting the aircraft 4days-3days between the two cities. This has most certainly NOT been the trend over the past 10 years when most carriers, be they Canadian, American or whatever would far more disproportionately weigh service in Calgary's favour if giving any service to YEG at all. This is definitely a good signal that YEG's relative position to YYC is rising, albeit very tentatively.

So, now we just need to keep moving forward with new flights and service improvements to YEG. Where's that hotel, and where's that second executive lounge (Servisair) like Winnipeg and Ottawa have!?

Its four days Calgary, three days Edmonton.

From Mexicana's Calgary press release

Departing year-round from Calgary International Airport four times a week, Mexicana will operate an Airbus 319 aircraft, which boasts an award-winning 12 seat Executive class and 108 full-service hospitality class to passengers. Calgary is now Mexicana’s fourth Canadian gateway, in addition to Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.

From the EAA press release (Mexicana doesn't have a release or itinerary information about Edmonton on the website.)

Mexicana Airlines has announced that it will begin operating three flights per week on the Mexico City – Edmonton route starting June 1.

[Hardhatdan]

Originally Posted by marts1x

I don't think any of you are clueing into what is happening here. A mexico city flight to edm and cgy??? There is limited to no reason for this flight other then a mexican governments willingness to ship its poorest and most undesirables into Canada. Our weak immigration policy is being exploited.

Mexican refugee claims are sky rocketing in Canada, these flights spell nothing but disaster for our immigration people. There are people that do fly to mexico city for business but there are not enough to warrant a direct flight.

Thousands of illegal mexicans in Alberta will soon be bolstered by several more thousand courtesy of these wonderful flights into Mexico city.

Nice, that was good for a laugh.

[Edmonchuck]

I think he just misplaced the order kyle... I don't think JBB intentionaly had YEG at 4 days...

[Edmonchuck]

Originally Posted by tuffyy

Damn I hate when my senses tingle...

TEQUILA!

[marts1x]

Originally Posted by S_B_Russell

^You can go back to your cave now.

I knew that would be a response. Wake up, i guaruntee you this will happen. Unless a visa restriction is put in place on mexico much like the americans have you will see a major influx as a result of this flight. If you paid attention to the news in Canada you would have a better idea that what I said was not a joke but reality. Even without a direct non resort mexican flight into albertas airport the influx of mexican illegals is overwhelming our system.

Bask in your ignorance while it lasts, but untill more people wake up to what is happening in regards to mexicans abusing our system, nothing will be done..

Mexico city flight will have a net negative effect on our economy

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by marts1x

I knew that would be a response. Wake up, i guaruntee you this will happen. Unless a visa restriction is put in place on mexico much like the americans have you will see a major influx as a result of this flight. If you paid attention to the news in Canada you would have a better idea that what I said was not a joke but reality. Even without a direct non resort mexican flight into albertas airport the influx of mexican illegals is overwhelming our system.

Bask in your ignorance while it lasts, but untill more people wake up to what is happening in regards to mexicans abusing our system, nothing will be done..

Mexico city flight will have a net negative effect on our economy

With a labour shortage I don't think we need to worry about our 'jerbs' (a South Park reference).

Also, I remember seeing that Mexicans are less than a third as likely to be accepted to Canada as other refugee claimants.

700 people a year aren't going to destroy our economy, our society or anything.