YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion

[whatnext]

An Air Canada-organized flashmob at YVR. (I'm not sure what the "Abandon Paris" poster means - maybe its a coded message to trofirhen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu42bQFe7VI

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by whatnext

An Air Canada-organized flashmob at YVR. (I'm not sure what the "Abandon Paris" poster means - maybe its a coded message to trofirhen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu42bQFe7VI

Maybe "ABANDON PARIS" is the name of the group. The singing was appropriate to the time of year, the dancing mediocre, but anyway, I've resigned myself to having to change planes in any case.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Maybe "ABANDON PARIS" is the name of the group. The singing was appropriate to the time of year, the dancing mediocre, but anyway, I've resigned myself to having to change planes in any case.

I was pulling your leg. And you're right Abandon Paris seems to be the name of the group: http://www.myspace.com/abandonparis

[SpongeG]

dropped off at the airport this morning - they had a TV crew there for the international departures with the whole heathrow mess going on we are pretty much cut off from europe since its probably the main place the flights here go to this time of year

[whatnext]

Uh oh, it appears there might be something to that Abandon Paris poster after all. Apparently Air Canada is cancelling their one plane YVR-YUL-CDG service for next summer. Guess it didn't perform well.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Uh oh, it appears there might be something to that Abandon Paris poster after all. Apparently Air Canada is cancelling their one plane YVR-YUL-CDG service for next summer. Guess it didn't perform well.

Perhaps people are just flying from Seattle instead?

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Uh oh, it appears there might be something to that Abandon Paris poster after all. Apparently Air Canada is cancelling their one plane YVR-YUL-CDG service for next summer. Guess it didn't perform well.

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Perhaps people are just flying from Seattle instead?

Messieurs .... talking to a YVR sales rep, that YVR-YUL-CDG routing was very profitable and pleasing to AC. (which was a refreshing surprise)

However, given that AF flies scheduled nonstops Seattle - CDG, (and that probably the fares are lower; hey if they're lower From Sea-Tac to Frankfurt, the it stands to reason they'd be lower Sea-Tac> CDG, n'est-ce pas?)

I know most people on the airport thread don't care much about this route, but the Canadian government's tight-assed attitude lost us Air France, which is a shame, anyway, IMHO.

(I hate changing planes, waiting around terminals for hours) C'est la vie.

I'll just have to wait a few years. I hope I live to see it !!

[twoNeurons]

I'll admit, after AC canceled their YVR-KIX(Osaka) flight, I flew family into Seattle on Delta's new direct SEA-KIX flight.

It was less convenient for us, but much more convenient for them.

Saying that, we won't do it again, as US import laws are super strict when it comes to bringing in pretty much any meat products, (Even chicken-flavored instant noodle packages) and so they had half their FOOD luggage confiscated and disposed of. They definitely came out with a bad taste in their mouth when it comes to traveling through the US.

And yes, they had Chinese employees trained to read Chinese characters like 鶏肉、as well as the Japanese-transliteration: チッケン。

Be that as it may, most people won't have the same concerns and would prefer a direct flight.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Perhaps people are just flying from Seattle instead?

I'd heard speculation that with AF putting their A380 on the YUL-CDG route, there's too much capacity. I guess Vancouver wasn't generating enough traffic to keep it viable, without the leg out of YUL.

[SpongeG]

my friends just booked a flight to miami in january - they are flying out of seattle - its about $300 return, all taxes fees etc incl. a flight out of Vancouver was going to be just over $600

[Johnny Aussie]

G'day all and happy holidays from Melbourne.

I think the loss of the "direct" YVR-CDG flight was more of a loss to YUL than YVR. I mean, even though it was a direct flight, it wasn't really truly a real direct flight. The morning flight to YUL was always a 763 anyway, by changing the flight number from 150 to 828 (or whatever it was) and by putting it through to CDG was just aircraft utilisation. Perhaps a little different than the YYZ-YUL-BRU and the YYZ-YUL-GVA which I will take a stab at and say there would be more pax travelling from YYZ to both BRU than GVA than YVR to CDG on the "direct" flight anyway. I didn't really see it as a direct flight despite the definition of a "direct flight". Besides it is over 800 miles longer to CDG through YUL than LHR or AMS for eg. Until there is a non-stop YVR-CDG flight (other than Transat) I won't believe there is such a thing.

Now... gotta finish packing les bags for the llllooonnnnggggg flight to YVR via SYD... very much looking fwd to the flight!

PS... when you grow up in Canada it is hard to be festive in a place where it is 30+ degrees - even if they do decorate with snowy scenes and play the same Christmas carols.. it just does not work for me.... LOL

[Rusty Gull]

Well, it's official. The rift between the federal government with Air Canada and UAE has morphed into an international incident. The latest diplomatic fiasco is making headlines around the world.

It begs the question: Is protecting Air Canada really worth all of this? (and please forumers, don't bother playing the patriotism card with me on this one.)

UAE: New fees for visiting Canadians
By Mohammed Jamjoom, CNN
December 30, 2010 12:03 a.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
A dispute over airline landing rights is going to cost Canadians visiting the UAE
The United Arab Emirates says that starting January Canadians will pay a visa fee
Until now, Canadians have not had to obtain a visa or pay fees to visit the UAE

(CNN) -- Beginning in January, Canadian citizens visiting the United Arab Emirates will have to pay as much as 1,000 Canadian dollars to obtain a visa, according to the website of the UAE Embassy in Ottawa.
This major change in policy is the most recent development in the ongoing altercation between both countries over airline landing rights.
Canadians, who until now have been allowed entry into the UAE without a visa and free of charge, will not only be required to pay for a visa starting next month, they'll also have to apply for one at least 15 days before departure. According to the embassy, Canadians will be charged 250 Canadian dollars for a 30 day visa, $500 Canadian for a three month visa, and $1,000 Canadian for a six-month multiple entry visa. (The Canadian dollar is almost exactly equivalent in currency value to the U.S. dollar.)
At the heart of the dispute are the number of flights per week that UAE airlines are able to make into Canada. The UAE. maintains that the current level of six weekly flights for its carriers, Ettihad and Emirtaes, simply doesn't come close to meeting rising demand.
In a statement from the UAE ambassador to Canada, Mohammed Al-Ghafli, posted on the embassy's website, he lamented the breakdown in discussions between both governments:
"The UAE is disappointed that despite intensive negotiations over the last few months the UAE and Canada have been unable to arrive at an agreement on expanding the number of flights between the two countries," Al-Ghafli said in the statement. "It is unfortunate that this process has been so protracted and frustrating. The UAE entered negotiations in good faith on the understanding that a solution would be reached and that constructive ideas would be brought to the table. The fact that this has not come about undoubtedly affects the bilateral relationship."
According to Al-Ghafli's statement, 25,000 Canadians live in the U.A.E., 200 Canadian companies are active in the UAE now, and the UAE. is Canada's largest trade partner in the Middle East and North Africa. "Six flights per week." added Al-Ghafli, "does not service the economic needs of both countries or the potential for growth."
CNN could not reach the embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi for comment

[Yume-sama]

This will hurt the UAE far more than Canada. I'm NOT paying $1000 to visit there. Ever.

[SpikePhanta]

Protecting Air Canada = protecting canadian jobs according to some people!

[Rusty Gull]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

This will hurt the UAE far more than Canada.

Are you sure about this?

According to the Globe and Mail, "Canada and Dubai do an estimated $1.5-billion in bilateral trade annually. Lawyers, architects, oil experts and other industry leaders have been flocking to the Persian Gulf nation – a gateway to the rest of the Middle East, as well as Africa and Asia. Multinationals, such as Bombardier, are there bidding on lucrative contracts. Experts say all this trade and travel will be put at risk if relations degrade further."

[teriyaki]

Originally Posted by Rusty Gull

Are you sure about this?

According to the Globe and Mail, "Canada and Dubai do an estimated $1.5-billion in bilateral trade annually. Lawyers, architects, oil experts and other industry leaders have been flocking to the Persian Gulf nation – a gateway to the rest of the Middle East, as well as Africa and Asia. Multinationals, such as Bombardier, are there bidding on lucrative contracts. Experts say all this trade and travel will be put at risk if relations degrade further."

This. I believe there are a lot more business transaction type trips than casual tourists that go to that area. With this in-place, there could be a lot less business being done between the two countries.

In any case, I think its pretty safe to say that any barrier to trade will hurt the countries involved in this growing global economy.

I don't think this argument has run its course though, they'll certainly be more talks in the future. UAE sure isn't playing nice though are they

[Waders]

The following quote sums up my thinking about this dispute.

However it chooses to respond, Ottawa should first and foremost make clear that it will in no way concede any ground to threats and tantrums. If the UAE chooses to continue its existence without the benefit of visitors from Canada, too bad for the UAE. Canadian exports to UAE for the entire year are roughly equal to one day’s trade with the U.S. That’s pretty indicative of the amount of time Canada should expend on this dispute until the UAE’s rulers change their tactics.

Source:http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010...emper-tantrums-in-the-uae/#ixzz19ZmrERrh

[jlousa]

The UAE is going to shoot itself in the foot on this one, if Canada does not back down it won't have to stand alone for long as other nations will join suit. The UAE certainly fails to grasp how things work and isn't making many friends of late.

[Canadian Mind]

Originally Posted by Rusty Gull

Are you sure about this?

According to the Globe and Mail, "Canada and Dubai do an estimated $1.5-billion in bilateral trade annually. Lawyers, architects, oil experts and other industry leaders have been flocking to the Persian Gulf nation – a gateway to the rest of the Middle East, as well as Africa and Asia. Multinationals, such as Bombardier, are there bidding on lucrative contracts. Experts say all this trade and travel will be put at risk if relations degrade further."

That's economically insignificant. Trade with Dubai amounts to about 0.06% of our GDP per year.

My knee jerk reaction would be to shut them out entirely. But we'd lose friends and the moral high ground. Better to let the U.A.E. show themselves to be the young, inexperienced, and childish nation that they are. Sure it's an annoyance, but it isn't going to hurt us any. It could cripple them.

[giallo]

While I'm no fan of Canadian protectionism, the UAE government can go fuck themselves on this one. They look ridiculous in my eyes and in the eyes of my continentally (sic) diverse group of friends here in China.