YEG - Edmonton Int Airport

[LO 044]

Just got back from Cancun a couple of days ago. I used Air Canada Vacations and subsequently flew on AC's 763.

The customs took quite long in Cancun and somewhat long back in Edmonton. It is quite interesting that on Thursday's you have Air Canada, Air Transat and WestJet flying to Cancun and back. I'm not sure if there's something special about that day of the week or it is simply airlines trying to compete head to head. AC and AT were on time coming back to YEG but WJ was delayed about 40 minutes.

Overall i was quite satisfied with AC. The plane had maybe 1 or 2 empty seats.

[Rocket252]

^ I find AC more expensive compared to AT and Westjet with regards to Sun destinations.

Did you do a comparison on cost between the three when you decided to go to Cancun?

[LO 044]

Originally Posted by Rocket252

^ I find AC more expensive compared to AT and Westjet with regards to Sun destinations.

Did you do a comparison on cost between the three when you decided to go to Cancun?

You don't even want to know how much research i put into flights lol. Air Canada was less expensive at the time of booking and i booked almost the best deal. It dropped another $80 the week after but that's it. Sunwing was the closest one with prices and i was seriously considering them. Air Transat and WestJet were not as competitive and/or dropped their prices after i had booked. I followed the prices after i booked but AT and WJ prices were not that great but not that much higher either.

Again, i really like flying the 763 so i can get the 2 seats without anyone else next to me/us. Air Transat's 310 can accomodate this request in the back of the plane as well i guess. With WestJet you do get the seatback entertainment though so it is a bit of a tradeoff.

I am looking at perhaps heading to Varadero, Jamaica or the Dominican next month and the airlines are all relatively close. I find WestJet is the last one to drop prices. Air Transat drops prices second last. I have also noticed that many of WestJet Vacations packages require you to connect in Toronto using the red eye flight from YEG. The wait in YYZ is a bit too long in some cases. Air Canada Vacations uses connections with a few of their packages but the connection times are better / shorter. You connect in YYC with AC's Varadero packages. At least Sunwing and Air Transat fly non-stop albeit at night sometimes as well.

[Jasper and one o nin]

Guten tag! EIA welcomes Air Transat’s non-stop scheduled service to Frankfurt
Route will improve commerce and tourism

February 22, 2010 (EDMONTON, Alta.)—Edmonton International Airport (EIA) and Air Transat are pleased to welcome the return of non-stop seasonal service to Frankfurt. Service to the international hub of Frankfurt runs from June 15 to September 28, 2010, with departures from Edmonton every Tuesday and a return flight every Wednesday. With Frankfurt rejoining EIA’s family of destinations, the airport continues to celebrate its expanded range of non-stop air service.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE Date Depart Arrive
Edmonton to Frankfurt Every Tuesday 1310 0610 (+1 day)
Frankfurt to Edmonton June 15 to Sept. 28, 2010 0755 0910

“Air Transat is proud to again this year offer a direct flight from Edmonton to Frankfurt for summer 2010,” says Lyne Chayer, Vice-President, Marketing, Air Transat. “This non-stop flight makes Germany and Frankfurt even more accessible to EIA users. Our travel options, ranging from packages to a la carte accommodation, are ideal for discovering the flair of this global city and its vibrant culture.”

“Frankfurt is easily one of our most-requested destinations, so securing the route’s return was a top priority for our air service development team,” says Peter McCart, EIA’s Vice-President of Marketing & Business Development. “Frankfurt Airport’s outstanding connections into Continental Europe and beyond make this a vitally important route addition for EIA. When people are making travel plans, it’s important to choose services like the new Air Transat flight and other international non-stops to ensure they continue to be profitable, maintained and expanded in our community.”

Frankfurt Airport is the busiest airport by passenger traffic in Germany, one of the busiest airports in Europe by cargo traffic and serves 300 destinations in 109 countries worldwide with more than 100 airlines. Its major transportation hub status is supported by strong motorway connections and rail connections, with two train terminals directly adjacent to the airport, so getting to any destination in Europe is quick and easy.

The new Frankfurt service will provide a boost to tourism in Edmonton, Frankfurt and Europe overall. Events worth visiting in Frankfurt include the Open Air Art Festival from August 27-29 and the Rheingau Wine Festival from September 1-10. Hop a train and you can even catch the opening festivities of Oktoberfest in Munich, which runs from September 18 to October 3.

“We’re very excited about the new Air Transat flight from Edmonton to Frankfurt,” says Ken Fiske, Vice-President of Tourism and Economic Development, Edmonton Economic Development Corp. “Frankfurt is the largest financial centre on mainland Europe and the route will promote economic and tourism development between our cities.”

“Support of Air Transat’s Frankfurt service is vital to the ongoing development of non-stop international flights from Edmonton,” says Michael Bernd Reuscher, Honorary Consul of Germany for Northern Alberta. “With the region’s continuing impressive growth, EIA has become a major hub for Canada’s North and beyond. Having direct flights between Edmonton and Frankfurt is a perfect match to the Port Alberta concept, and its strategic expansion of major air, surface, rail and shipping transportation routes to Western Canada.”

“Air Transat’s non-stop service between Edmonton and Frankfurt will help improve all business and government relationships between the city and Germany,” says Klaus Maier, President of the German-Canadian Business & Professional Association of Alberta. “The Greater Edmonton area also has a large German population who will definitely appreciate the convenience of the route addition.”

[Coldrsx]

^great news... but lets keep pushing for year round on AC or Luft.

[Jasper and one o nin]

I still think they should split up the LHR route to 4X LHR and 3X FKT
But... I guess if that happens, fewer people would connect in places like YYC and YYZ
Frankfurt is much better IMO than LHR b/c lower airport fees = lower ticket price; and better connections (at least for places that I go)

[Coldrsx]

^concur in full and that would be IDEAL.

4x and 3x would allow for some many more connection possibilities and likely a far more viable piece of metal of our city.

[Coldrsx]

Fly non-stop Edmonton to Frankfurt this summer on Air Transat


EDMONTONJOURNAL.COMFEBRUARY 22, 2010 10:22 AMBE THE FIRST TO POST A COMMENT


EDMONTON — Air Transat is launching weekly non-stop service to Frankfurt this summer.

The new flights will boost tourism in Edmonton, Frankfurt and Europe, said Peter McCart, Edmonton International Airport’s marketing vice-president.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Transat+direct+Frankfurt/2597368/story.html

[LO 044]

I actually like the Edmonton Journal but what is with the caption underneath the outdated tail picture of Air Transat. See the link from Coldrsx. It is quite funny. It is as if they used an old story of Air Transat starting up YEG-FRA flights and changing the dates to 2010.

All travel from Canada to Mexico has been suspended by airlines Air Transat, Nolitours and Transat Holidays, while Carnival Cruise Lines has cancelled all port stops to the sunny destination as it deals with a swine flu outbreak that has spread to 16 countries and is possibly linked to more than 150 deaths.

I do agree with Jasper and one o nin though. The LHR route should always have been split up with FRA in the first place.

[Rocket252]

Big deal. Where is the big city hall parade?

This was known a few months ago.

[Coldrsx]

FYI

book today on AC and you can fly 2 for 1 within Canada before April 30.

unreal prices

[Rocket252]

^ That news I will give AC some credit for.

Nice

[tuffyy]

Originally Posted by LO 044

I actually like the Edmonton Journal but what is with the caption underneath the outdated tail picture of Air Transat. See the link from Coldrsx. It is quite funny. It is as if they used an old story of Air Transat starting up YEG-FRA flights and changing the dates to 2010.



I do agree with Jasper and one o nin though. The LHR route should always have been split up with FRA in the first place.

I am wearing my mask right now, talk about deja vu...

Good to see FRA return but YEG numbers clearly show based on O&D that YEG can support LHR and FRA flights, the latter actual shows the need for a daily flight during the peak period April-October and atleast 4-5 flights per week during the winter based on B 767-300 aircraft being used.The route would perform with loads much like YEG-LHR.I will see if I can fetch the O&D report from 2008.

[MalcolmTucker]

^ If there is load, is the problem yield? A lack of cargo or business class passengers? Or even economy passengers willing to pay more than the Transat price?

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

^ If there is load, is the problem yield? A lack of cargo or business class passengers? Or even economy passengers willing to pay more than the Transat price?

I think you have nailed the issue for YEG. There has always been pretty good loads on most flights, but the yield is often low which is why you have seen a lot of flights dropped despite apparently good loads.

[tuffyy]

The main reason actually has little do with yield atleast on YEG-FRA, it shows a large number of people would use First or business on the route.

The actual unfortunate problem for YEG is LH is a star alliance member and AC's Calgary hub obviously made sense being its a star ''hub''.

YEG-AMS on the other indicates a busy but low yield route perfectly suited to a charter airline who doesnt rely on yields as a scheduled carrier would, even YYC has only moderate yields to AMS which may be why we dont see KL flying the route daily and yet see TS offer charters on the route come summer time.

[christopherj]

I guess semi-off topic, but looking to the experience of others here - for anyone who has flown to Europe (Germany specifically) in June-ish, when is usually the best time to purchase a ticket (price wise). Prices are quite high right now (over $800+ taxes one way) - I would certainly think they drop some?

[tuffyy]

Typically when the route begins fares drop.But make sure to book if you are planning to use the TS (transat) flight from Edmonton right around the time the route starts and not last minute...I might also add you may want to book club class if using TS as the basic seating is well... Painful!!!

[LO 044]

Originally Posted by christopherj

I guess semi-off topic, but looking to the experience of others here - for anyone who has flown to Europe (Germany specifically) in June-ish, when is usually the best time to purchase a ticket (price wise). Prices are quite high right now (over $800+ taxes one way) - I would certainly think they drop some?

Look out for seat sales all the time. If you have exact dates in mind, you should have no problem catching a seat sale in the next month or two. From experience, i have found that Air Canada cannot be beat to Europe. At one point last year, Lufthansa by themselves had seat sales and it showed up on AC's website but only on the YYC-FRA route. Frankfurt and Munich are obviously the main gateways but i believe LH is starting Toronto-Dusseldorf service again. With the seat sales, you might be forced to fly through Toronto or Montreal. You might also look at nearby countries from which you can take a train or plane from.

I paid $946 roundtrip to Frankfurt in 2007 and $1218 roundtrip to Geneva in 2009. I could have went to Germany last year but the best prices to Germany i (surprisingly) found were around $1500 to $1600. You can also go via London Heathrow as Lufthansa has cheap fares from LHR to most places in Germany. Saying that, YEG-LHR prices are off the wall and the pricing and scheduling was very uncompetitive when i was looking to fly to Europe last year.

Air Transat is a good option if you are flying to Germany specifically. It might be your best choice. I haven't found them competitive on pricing but the route might work perfect for you.

[Jasper and one o nin]

World Cup is this summer, and as a result I would suspect there will be more demand in Europe.