YEG - Edmonton Int Airport

[dansk]

[Rocket252]

So with LH leaving Calgary how is this going to affect our chances of securing that long awaited Frankfurt flight?

[LO 044]

^Just read that this morning myself. A bit of a shock since i'm sure Star Alliance likes to keep the competition out.

I'm not sure how this really affects YEG. In one sense, you'd think it would be easier to keep a flight full to YYC than to YEG. On the other hand, YEG has no competition so does that make it more attractive? I'm sure KLM and BA put a dent into YYC's FRA numbers not to mention the multitutde of charters in the summer on Air Transat.

Also remember that YYC used to have 2 AC flights to LHR. AC reverted to 1 flight to LHR but was it due to BA stepping in or was it due to the new YEG-LHR flight. Perhaps a little of both.

[Rocket252]

Its interesting considering that according to some of the posters AC is trying to funnel more traffic from the states through Canadaian cities that have London/Europe flights.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by LO 044

^Just read that this morning myself. A bit of a shock since i'm sure Star Alliance likes to keep the competition out.

I'm not sure how this really affects YEG. In one sense, you'd think it would be easier to keep a flight full to YYC than to YEG. On the other hand, YEG has no competition so does that make it more attractive? I'm sure KLM and BA put a dent into YYC's FRA numbers not to mention the multitutde of charters in the summer on Air Transat.

Also remember that YYC used to have 2 AC flights to LHR. AC reverted to 1 flight to LHR but was it due to BA stepping in or was it due to the new YEG-LHR flight. Perhaps a little of both.

I really liked the timing of the LH flight, a much earlier arrival into FRA than the AC flight. It will be missed. Plus I really enjoyed the service on LH, love that German efficiency.

The spotter in me had no problem with AC dropping LHR from 2x daily in the summer to 1x daily since they up-guaged to the 77W. Loved seeing it here!

BA keeps plugging along with LHR daily, and KL has continued to grow the AMS flight (including the up-guage to the MD-11 over the summer), I would assume they did take a bit of the LH/AC traffic to cause this.

Originally Posted by Rocket252

Its interesting considering that according to some of the posters AC is trying to funnel more traffic from the states through Canadaian cities that have London/Europe flights.

I wonder if that is more of a push out east where a flight from a major American centre to YYZ/YUL is much quicker than flying LAX-YVR/YYC to then connect onto Europe.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Rocket252

Its interesting considering that according to some of the posters AC is trying to funnel more traffic from the states through Canadaian cities that have London/Europe flights.

I doubt there is much traffic such as this, and if there is, it would be low yield as it would have to be priced competitively with airlines flying out of the USA airport fee/taxes regime.

[dansk]

I'm sure more insight on this will develop. My first though is that AC and LH might have talked more about streamlining their flights. Much like UAL and AC have done.

[LO 044]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I really liked the timing of the LH flight, a much earlier arrival into FRA than the AC flight. It will be missed. Plus I really enjoyed the service on LH, love that German efficiency.

Agreed. The LH flight schedule was top notch for making connections at FRA and i was planning to use this flight next summer to Europe. At least you guys at YYC can still make decent connections via AC's FRA and LHR flights.

Don't even get me started on AC's 22:25 departure time to LHR from YEG. Absolutely ridiculous.

[dansk]

Actually that time is perfect out of YEG, at least for the connections I use it for. I usually get into my destination around 5:30 because the departures are aligned perfect at LHR, usually only spend about 2hours in Terminal 3.

[Bigtime]

I liked the LH flight not even for connection options (never used it), we would rent a car and drive to Hannover and it was nice to be arriving bright and early in the morning in Frankfurt, giving you a nice full day to hit the road.

Back in 2008 I used the BA service to LHR, and even though it left later in the evening from YYC the connections in LHR were great.

[LO 044]

Originally Posted by dansk

Actually that time is perfect out of YEG, at least for the connections I use it for. I usually get into my destination around 5:30 because the departures are aligned perfect at LHR, usually only spend about 2hours in Terminal 3.

dansk what is your typical destination? Do you book it through AC or seperately? That would be nice to fly into LHR at 14:05 and connect at 16:05. Saying that, if the flight was 2 hours earlier, could you not connect even faster through LHR? This flight would draw even more passengers than it does if that were the case.

I see so many connecting through YYC, YUL and YYZ then FRA and beyond in my travels to Europe. Same goes with the return leg.

[dansk]

I usually fly within Europe. Last flights Oslo, Vienna, Amsterdam, Stockholm Jo Burg. All really easy access. Jo burg I connected through FRA. My job brings me to Europe alot and I have never had issue with the AC schedule. Pretty good.

[LO 044]

I guess for flying into major cities, it works out since arriving at 9pm or 10pm generally creates no issues. Travelling beyond the major cities creates problems.

I must disagree with you, though, about the AC schedule. Oslo is fine schedule wise but you pay a $1000 premium for flying via LHR. A flight to Vienna gives you a 1.5 hour connection time at LHR with a terminal change or a 5 hour connection time. A flight to Amsterdam gives you options of going through Chicago or Toronto / Munich. A Stockholm flight gives a you a 4 hour stopover in London which could be worse. Any flight to Germany gives you no options via LHR, all through Canadian gateways.

Note my above examples are for late June 2012 departures and late July 2012 returns.

[dansk]

My flights to osl have been around 1500 each time booking 6-8 weeks from time of departure. LHR is not the best route maybe for gunning through compared to LHR but and I highlight the but I will always use it of the price is okay and routing is fine over other Canadian gateways.

[tuffyy]

I am surprised by the LH move in YYC . I would have sooner expected BA to drop the bomb. Based on the amount of competition from AC and the charter operators especially during the summer months. The route has not been performing aswell as it was anticipated too according to various sources. perhaps it's not a high yielding route in Lufthansas pocket book. Although YYC is a big draw for German tourists heading to the Rockies many travel on packaged tours offered by German tour operators and using charter operations such as Condor, Transat etc... You may be able to pack a airplane with bums but how much each bum pays or is willing to pay obviously plays a major roll on the "top performers" list of airlines...

[Rocket252]

Air Canada Increasing Winter Season Capacity on Calgary – Frankfurt from Feb 2012

Posted: 06 Nov 2011 10:20 PM PST

Update at 0620GMT 07NOV11

As per 07NOV11 GDS timetable display, Air Canada from 04FEB12 is changing operational aircraft on Calgary – Frankfurt service, where it’ll operate Airbus A330-300 aircraft instead of Boeing 767-300ER, for the remaining of Winter season.

This coincides with Lufthansa’s pull-out on this route from 05FEB12, reported on this site Friday 04NOV11.

Schedule:

AC844/LH5479 YYC1740 – 1115+1FRA 333 D
AC845/LH5478 FRA1345 – 1545YYC 333 D


So in theory we have an AC 767 and also a slot available in FRA for a YEG FRA route.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Rocket252

Air Canada Increasing Winter Season Capacity on Calgary – Frankfurt from Feb 2012

Posted: 06 Nov 2011 10:20 PM PST

Update at 0620GMT 07NOV11

As per 07NOV11 GDS timetable display, Air Canada from 04FEB12 is changing operational aircraft on Calgary – Frankfurt service, where it’ll operate Airbus A330-300 aircraft instead of Boeing 767-300ER, for the remaining of Winter season.

This coincides with Lufthansa’s pull-out on this route from 05FEB12, reported on this site Friday 04NOV11.

Schedule:

AC844/LH5479 YYC1740 – 1115+1FRA 333 D
AC845/LH5478 FRA1345 – 1545YYC 333 D


So in theory we have an AC 767 and also a slot available in FRA for a YEG FRA route.

Where is the slot coming from? LH? Everything I have heard is that LH will use the slot from YYC to increase capacity on one of their South American routes.

[dansk]

Do you mean the slot for an Edmonton flight? Not sure what AC current slot positions are at FRA.

[Rocket252]

If that is the case then our chances of a YEG -FRA route are certainly diminished.

[Jasper and one o nin]

Air service is bigger to Texas
Public demand nets another non-stop EIA flight to Houston

November 7, 2011 (Edmonton, Alta.) — Continental Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, Inc., is adding another non-stop flight from EIA to Houston to capitalize on growing demand. In addition to Continental’s existing year-round non-stop flight, a second daily flight will be added to run Sunday through Friday, from February to June, 2012.

“Continental’s huge Houston hub has become an important destination for Edmonton business travellers looking to expand their presence in the Lone Star state or beyond into Central and South America. Sun seekers looking to escape those chilly Edmonton winters are also using Houston to make seamless connections to the many resort destinations in the US, Mexico, and Caribbean,” said Peter McCart, EIA’s Vice-President of Strategy. “Obviously this expanded airline service will also open new trade, investment, and tourism opportunities available in our region,” added McCart.

Nearly 100,000 passengers flew between EIA and Houston in 2010, making it one of Edmonton’s top US destinations. The new flights are also scheduled to give travellers great connection choices to and from EIA as well as into Continental’s network beyond Houston.

“We are pleased to be able to increase flights between Edmonton and Houston,” said Jim Ferea, managing director of domestic planning for United Continental Holdings. “These new flights will decrease travel times for Edmontonians while opening up one-stop service to 11 new destinations in Mexico and Central America over Houston, including Cozumel, Mexico and Roatan, Honduras. Both of these destinations are known for their world class scuba diving opportunities.”
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United/Continental Airlines Edmonton-Houston flights
Schedule effective February 16, 2012 - June 6, 2012
Flight Origin Destination Departure Time Arrival Time
1118 EDMONTON HOUSTON 0645 1154
1408 EDMONTON HOUSTON 2355 0509

1408 HOUSTON EDMONTON 1435 1811
1478 HOUSTON EDMONTON 1800 2125