Quote:
Originally Posted by Yume-sama
To be honest, if we are going to get flights to Paris, Rome, and other locations in Europe, I have to wonder if it will *have* to be with someone other than Air Canada. They may be reluctant to give up some Toronto traffic, and Toronto will have a lot of say over what they do, I think. I just don't see us getting any new European destinations any time soon, unless Air France, Alitalia, and etc. decide to do it themselves.
And with the current economy, I don't know if they'll be risking picking up new routes.
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Yume, we don't need Air Canada. It is very clear whose side they are on; as they have augmented Vancouver further away from being a hub and sent everything 2000 miles to the east, even asia flights.
Who needs them. Vancouver can survive quite well as a gateway airport. Actually, somebody mentioned JFK - guess what, it is NOT a major hub for america, it is a GATEWAY airport. Tons of foreign flag carriers port there, the same can be done in Vancouver, the West Coast's Gateway airport.
Sure, we already have Asia Pacific flag carriers (and we need more of them), but we should shoot to be a World Gateway like JFK - touting Vancouver's position in tourism AND BUSINESS. I don't care if it starts out with just charter flights and conventions, we need to get the pro-business culture into the city where downtown becomes the business magnent that all of us vision it should be. What a great way to do it, than use YVR as the gateway to not just the pacific - but the world, the Olympics as the vehicle to introduce people to the city, and LEADERSHIP here to not rest on their laurels - but recognize the competition (Seattle, Calgary, TO mostly) and recognize the NATURAL advantage that Vancouver has to all of them be it economy of scale, location, population and diversity, or large yet compact downtown full of residents.
In order for this to work, we need a vision that has complete impact and flows throughout the city. This means expand the capacity of the Expo Line via 120m platforms and longer trains NOW, build the M-Line extension to UBC NOW, plan for the SkyTrain extensions and LRT for Surrey/Richmond, and possibly rethinking the M-Line (instead of Evergreen) and split it at Lougheed into Coquitlam (instead of calling that split a new line). It also calls for possibly taking on some debt in favor of creating economic stimulus for downtown, like a new and TRUE World Trade Center tower for international businesses to come and TRY OUT Vancouver before deciding to establish permanent roots here.
We have many models worldwide to look to (Singapore, Hong Kong, Osaka, Tokyo, Shanghai) that will work here. Instead of resting on our recent successes and laurels, we need to evolve as a city - relax some of the no-longer-necessary statutes (some of the view cones, entertainment zones/hours, density in the Financial District) to create the next impetus for the city. Sustainability means more than just density in residential, it also means places closeby for them to work and transit for suburbanites to come to work and shop/eat/dance/drink/play downtown! Downtown residents should not only be aware of this, but should encourage it in the entertainment districts - since, they live .. .. Downtown!
We need to use YVR and Downtown to move the Greater Vancouver Lower Mainland (yes, including the valley and island) as the next Asian, excuse me - WORLD Tiger! How do we get the word out, that this is what we want and demand from our leaders!
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Perhaps I worded it wrong. Please let me explain
Then of course there is a market, largely business, in which flyers will come to Vancouver from either Asia, do business, and seek a flight onward to Europe, and vice versa. And as Canada's principal Western city, having an airport that serves as many corners of the world as possible, including U.S. destinations (given the relatively small size of Vancouver when compared to many other cities) is a good investment. Otherwise stated, it's good to be an airport that has "polyvalence" or versatility, and as much choice as possible. This will stimulate the economy and warrant the ambitious long-term expansion plans of YVR. That's all. 
My point exactly! Thank you! Thank you!
Please excuse my "dancing banana," but, YES! That's precisely the concept I had in mind when I made the statement! I wish there were more readers who thought the way you do, instead of worrying about too many Ryanair flights, or boo-hooing the concept, saying we DON'T neeed it, when in fact, it's exactly what would make this airport, YVR, a major air hub!! Again, thank you sir!
It's good to see readers starting to think more about European destinations.
The government shackles that have held us back for decades are coming off next year. Now is the time to be thinking about European destinations, and how they will augment our position from an air traffic point of view, and from the long-term point of view of the economic and logistic importance of Vancouver and YVR.
... p.s. If you thought Vancouver was Canada's "Gateway to Asia," ... think again
Excuse me, but .........
Nobody..... and everybody. If we can all stay on track, we can take this airport concept - and the city that goes with it - to great things ahead. Sure this is an internet forum, but it's also the SKYSCRAPER PAGE column about the future of YVR. If you like jokes about "chicken periods" (eggs), warm beer, and making an art of personal ad hominem insults, there are forums that specialize in stuff like that ..... even better than here! Airline destinations, anyone? Or had you forgotten?
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