YEG - Edmonton Int Airport - Page 171

Rocket252 · #**3401** Posted **Jan 9, 2009, 2:51 PM**

When I was down there I got a kick out of the speed bumps they put on the highway as well as the police checkpoints Tuffyy mentioned. Don't blame you for moving there - it is a great place.

Flight Aware had the Mexicana Flight on one occasion as using an A320 instead of the normal A319 but it could have been a mistake on Flight Aware's part.

sdimedru · #**3402** Posted **Jan 11, 2009, 12:12 AM**

when do 2008's finals come out?

TimB09 · #**3403** Posted **Jan 11, 2009, 3:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdimedru

when do 2008's finals come out?

After everyone who flew Air Canada finds their luggage...

JBB · #**3404** Posted **Jan 11, 2009, 11:13 AM**

I've been generally happy with YEG's strong development over the past 5-10 years, especially with the addition of far greater transborder services and the passenger numbers which consolidation has brought. There is no vacillation now that YEG is Canada's 'fifth' busiest airport, well ahead of YOW and YWG. Just a few years ago, the spread in passenger numbers between YEG and YOW and YWG was alot smaller. I'm sure the 2008 numbers will further confirm Edmonton's increasing relative importance!

Yet, I am a bit frustrated that some of the smaller airports like YOW and YWG seem a step ahead of us. Aesthetically speaking, I would argue that YOW and YWG (soon to be completed) made better decisions then YEG. That cascade waterfall at YOW is very impressive, as is the Cesar Pelli designed terminal at YWG. Moreover, why is it that YWG has managed to get is contiguous airport hotel built while YEG's modest Courtyard by Marriott is still postponed? Note that Halifax, another smaller airport has just announced plans for the construction of a full Sheraton by its airport. A final, somewhat trivial point, is that both YOW and YWG have second executive lounges (Servisair) while Edmonton is still stuck with only a Maple Leaf Lounge. That seems a bit funny when considering that YEG is Westjet's third busiest port, though I suppose that I can't think of a retail space to locate another lounge... but then that asks the question, why isn't there sufficient retail space in Edmonton?

sdimedru · #**3405** Posted **Jan 11, 2009, 1:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimB09

After everyone who flew Air Canada finds their luggage...

zing!

Jasper and one o nin · #**3406** Posted **Jan 12, 2009, 2:26 AM**

well said, jbb

0773|=\ · #**3407** Posted **Jan 12, 2009, 4:12 AM**

Let's hope the expansion addresses many of those shortcomings.

For what it's worth, I've always found 90% of YEG's terminal to be quite attractive (mind you, I wish they tiled over that old floor in the north end of the terminal, pre-security)

Jasper and one o nin · #**3408** Posted **Jan 12, 2009, 3:34 PM**

on the EIA website, expansion - they have removed the reference to hotel.

S_B_Russell · #**3409** Posted **Jan 12, 2009, 3:38 PM**

What a shock...

CanadianCentaur · #**3410** Posted **Jan 12, 2009, 8:00 PM**

Not a surprise (to me, at least) they would've removed all references to the hotel in YEG's website. Either the hotel project's now dead or it's been put on hold indefinitely.

SpikeyT · #**3411** Posted **Jan 13, 2009, 7:36 PM**

I remember working at the aiport when I was starting university (4 years ago) and they were telling us then we would have to move our cars to a temporary parking lot because of the hotel construction, years went on and they were still telling staff about a possible parking lot change. There are so many hotels very very close to the airport, I don't think it is absolutely necessary.

JBB · #**3412** Posted **Jan 13, 2009, 9:37 PM**

I concur that an adjacent hotel is not 'absolutely necessary', nor is a second executive lounge. That said, if we are trying to build and promote a world class airport that competes with the best on the continent, then I would argue that it is preferable to at least meet those features available at other comparable airports. Airports in Canada with contiguous hotels:

Toronto (Sheraton)
Vancouver (Fairmont)
Calgary (Delta)
Winnipeg (4 points by Sheraton)
Halifax (Sheraton, u/c)
Montreal (Marriott, u/c)

-In short, only 2 of the 8 largest airports in Canada do not have adjacent hotels and Edmonton is one of them.

I also understand that there are a number of hotels near the airport but it is important to note that the YEG area is noticeably lacking a 3.5/4 star grade property. So, I think there is room for a new flagship airport hotel that fills the business-grade niche.

Jasper and one o nin · #**3413** Posted **Jan 13, 2009, 9:42 PM**

Calgary's building a second hotel onsite I believe.
yeah, - 6.5 million pax
30 km from the downtown
and no airport hotel
kind of embarassing. (Over the last year, I met two people at the airport from Texas, and both of them said, ('cause I always ask what the thought of our airport) "reminds me of Wichita"
Now I have never been to Wichita, but I have seen Planes Trains and Automobiles and Wichita was the airport that they were diverted to... no hotel rooms... if there is any truth to that movie, we got a lot of work to do!!

Coldrsx · #**3414** Posted **Jan 13, 2009, 9:46 PM**

^exactly...

while there are m(hotels) in the area, there are not many nicer options without coming into town.

eemy · #**3415** Posted **Jan 13, 2009, 10:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBB

I concur that an adjacent hotel is not 'absolutely necessary', nor is a second executive lounge. That said, if we are trying to build and promote a world class airport that competes with the best on the continent, then I would argue that it is preferable to at least meet those features available at other comparable airports. Airports in Canada with contiguous hotels:

Toronto (Sheraton)
Vancouver (Fairmont)
Calgary (Delta)
Winnipeg (4 points by Sheraton)
Halifax (Sheraton, u/c)
Montreal (Marriott, u/c)

-In short, only 2 of the 8 largest airports in Canada do not have adjacent hotels and Edmonton is one of them.

I also understand that there are a number of hotels near the airport but it is important to note that the YEG area is noticeably lacking a 3.5/4 star grade property. So, I think there is room for a new flagship airport hotel that fills the business-grade niche.

YOW has also had a hotel built on site (Hilton Garden Inn), though it is not attached to the terminal building like the others are.

SpikeyT · #**3416** Posted **Jan 13, 2009, 11:49 PM**

Oh I totally agree that they should have a nice hotel if they want to compete with other airports and such. I just meant that at least they are not hurting for hotels.

Coldrsx · #**3417** Posted **Jan 14, 2009, 4:35 PM**

^actually they are... not in room numbers but in category and service level.

Jasper and one o nin · #**3418** Posted **Jan 14, 2009, 6:11 PM**

The hotels in proximity are travel lodges at best. one step above a motel

CMD UW · #**3419** Posted **Jan 14, 2009, 11:18 PM**

Or Holiday Inn Express...still, nothing close to a Hilton Garden Inn or Sheraton 4 Points, Radisson, etc.

ExcaliburKid · #**3420** Posted **Jan 15, 2009, 12:09 AM**

Consider the two hotels being built right now south of Ellerslie. I think a Hampton and the other brand I cant recall. Theres no good reason those couldnt have been built nearer to the airport.