YEG - Edmonton Int Airport - Page 426

hilman · #**8501** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 12:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocket252

And are any of those Rouge flights coming out of Edmonton to Sun spots this winter?
Any regular Air Canada flights going to sun spots this winter?

No on both counts.

Continued garbage service by a proclaimed national airline.

Exactly, two international flights a week in the winter to go along with their zero transborder, bravo Air Canada, bravo. With the massive amount of sun travelers here, you would think they would at least fly a few charters.

I'll continue to exclusive use Westjet in Canada and United for the US (and beyond) as they serve us very well.

tuffyy · #**8502** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 1:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hilman

Exactly, two international flights a week in the winter to go along with their zero transborder, bravo Air Canada, bravo. With the massive amount of sun travelers here, you would think they would at least fly a few charters.

I'll continue to exclusive use Westjet in Canada and United for the US (and beyond) as they serve us very well.

Rouge wont be serving Western Canada at all this winter, next year yes.

Air Canada certainly seem's to be having a shortage of aircraft as it moves into the Rouge project and other sun flying.

The big sun flying increase for 13/14 is from Sunwing with increased flying this winter. Transat is pretty much the same as last year except with larger A330-200/300's this winter being deployed instead of the smaller A310's.

It certainly look's like there is room for another tour operator, particularly in western Canada.

Another operator had planned to operate 737-800's this winter from Canada but appears to have not gotten past the aquisiton of just one aircraft.

Rocket252 · #**8503** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 1:49 PM**

While it is great that Sunwing has shown interest in serving YEG their history of on time performance has not been good. I am hesitant to fly with them.
With respect to Air Canada metal it seems they always are able to scrap together an aircraft for some obscure flight out of Toronto or Montreal but can't even provide one flight out of Edmonton. You don't even have to eliminate the route - even reducing frequencies can free up some metal. It is not that they can't - its because they won't

YegFan · #**8504** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 3:04 PM**

^ I don't think anyone should be surprised that AC drops frequencies to LHR in the fall. While it is true that our demand outstrips the current supply (as far as overseas capacity), our numbers are still limited. It makes more business sense to provide the extra capacity in a market that generates more yield and then channel pax through.

Once again, there are many similar sized cities in North America that have more passengers count, but lack international flights.

Can someone tell me how many Edmonton based companies employ people in London? Paris? Amsterdam? and require staff to fly back and forth? and are willing to pay top dollars for non-stop flights?

Let's not whine about AC's scheduling out of YEG. They had made a decision a very long time ago that we are going to be a spoke to their hubs. So, let's accept that and support what we can get until another competitor comes along.

And if someone doesn't like AC not providing flights to the US....fly United, US Airways, Delta, Alaska or WestJet. Seems there's plenty of choice.

Bottom line is this....Not every city is going to be a hub for some airline.

CMD UW · #**8505** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 3:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YegFan

^ I don't think anyone should be surprised that AC drops frequencies to LHR in the fall. While it is true that our demand outstrips the current supply (as far as overseas capacity), our numbers are still limited. It makes more business sense to provide the extra capacity in a market that generates more yield and then channel pax through.

Once again, there are many similar sized cities in North America that have more passengers count, but lack international flights.

Can someone tell me how many Edmonton based companies employ people in London? Paris? Amsterdam? and require staff to fly back and forth? and are willing to pay top dollars for non-stop flights?

Let's not whine about AC's scheduling out of YEG. They had made a decision a very long time ago that we are going to be a spoke to their hubs. So, let's accept that and support what we can get until another competitor comes along.

And if someone doesn't like AC not providing flights to the US....fly United, US Airways, Delta, Alaska or WestJet. Seems there's plenty of choice.

Bottom line is this....Not every city is going to be a hub for some airline.

I think you would be surprised how many people in the O&G sector that work in overseas locations. My father-in-law works for National Oilwell Varco and he flew back and forth from their sites in Asia, Middle East and Europe for years. He was one contractor of likely thousands located in YEG.

tuffyy · #**8506** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 3:56 PM**

This is likely why YEG looks attractive to FI, competiton is lacking in a region of 1.3 Million people (with a proven European travel/connection bug), connections have improved to the point of having connectivity if the timing is right for onward travel to Europe from other nearby cities and towns, they can be assured of little to no competition in the winter months (if they choose to operate year-round) and add in the fact that they are not Alliance dependant it proves that this airline has assured itself a good investment if it chooses to infact add the city.

The route will likely be seasonal if launched to start, but a little awareness of the flag carriers tendencies from your city could spark them to remain year-round.

Just my thoughts.

Rocket252 · #**8507** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 4:17 PM**

I am sure AC is aware of all this.

Would they stand by and let competition in or try to provide additional service?

tuffyy · #**8508** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocket252

I am sure AC is aware of all this.

Would they stand by and let competition in or try to provide additional service?

It was no secret when AC suddently pulled LHR out for YEG that it was a strategic move. BA was on the verge of adding YEG along with YYC because the numbers justified the route. I do recall the initial plan calling for 772 service by BA over a LHR-YYC-YEG-LHR routing. AC obviously became aware and suddenly we had a daily flight to LHR by the carrier. The airlines move at the time left little room for another carrier to offer LHR as the numbers that where available at the time had now been consumed by the 767-300. Changes where made and YYC still had room for the airline, the 772 service was short lived and the switch to the 763 occured as YYC's numbers could/can support that type. Had YEG been tagged in would the 772 still be flying the route? Maybe...

AC had a reputation for trying to block competition particularly from Alberta as it was a direct threat to a "small hub" at the time. Martinair applied for YEG and YYC to become scheduled year round destinations and was blocked by AC running to the government at the time the application was made.

The tide has/is turning and they have alot less say in certain moves by other carriers. With the exception of a few Super seat A380 operators...

Rocket252 · #**8509** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 4:49 PM**

Amazing they were able to find metal for the YEG -LHR route so quickly

lubicon · #**8510** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 6:01 PM**

Sorry YEG. Quite a kick in the nuts between the downgrade of frequency for LHR and the pretty significant drop in Westjet mainline ops (although overall WS ops are up with all the new DH8's you will see). I feel for you - honestly.

hilman · #**8511** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 6:29 PM**

Looks like Edmonton to Maui will stay at 3 times a week.

Quote:

Albertans to fly non-stop to Aloha State

WestJet, Thomas Cook partner on direct daytime service to paradise

CALGARY, July 25, 2013 /CNW/ - WestJet announced today it has once again leased two Boeing 757-200 aircraft from Thomas Cook Airlines to deliver non-stop, daytime service between Calgary and Honolulu, Calgary and Maui, and between Edmonton and Maui.

Pending regulatory approval*, flights are scheduled to begin December 13, 2013, and continue through April 26, 2014.

http://westjet2.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=800

Rocket252 · #**8512** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 7:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lubicon

Sorry YEG. Quite a kick in the nuts between the downgrade of frequency for LHR and the pretty significant drop in Westjet mainline ops (although overall WS ops are up with all the new DH8's you will see). I feel for you - honestly.

Westjet=Son of Air Canada

tuffyy · #**8513** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 8:20 PM**

Seems like capacity to Europe is dropping in a few markets, Lufthansa is reducing YVR-FRA to 5x week this winter aswell. I am not sure thats happened before?

Johnny Aussie · #**8514** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 8:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffyy

Seems like capacity to Europe is dropping in a few markets, Lufthansa is reducing YVR-FRA to 5x week this winter aswell. I am not sure thats happened before?

I would argue there is an actual capacity increase on this route. This flight was operated by a 343 in all previous winters. They will now be flying the 346 year-round. So frequency drops from 6 to 5 but the larger aircraft is actually adding seats to this market. Also, a majority of North American routes on LH are being seasonally adjusted for the winter. There was a good summary on airlineroute.net awhile back... Too lazy to dig it up right now.

All other YVR-Europe routes no change from prior years including AC to LHR. And YYC - AMS also up 1 frequency per week.

Edit: I don't see the YEG-LHR drop to 2 I still see 3 weekly. The YYC-LHR drop to 6 weekly is only for a few weeks after the Xmas rush as well.

dansk · #**8515** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 9:10 PM**

Flight still shows up as 3x on (Sun, Wed, Fri departures). The PDF shows something different, but I never go off that document as it is ever changing.

tuffyy · #**8516** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 12:13 AM**

Yep it was the PDF that is showing just the two flights per week... If its still 3x week as it usually is then thats good.

FYI, August 23 should have some news regarding FI.

Antigonish · #**8517** Posted **Jul 28, 2013, 6:55 PM**

Hey everybody I'm new to the Alberta sub forum, just moved here to Edmonton the other day for a new job.

Just wanted to comment on why the airport is so damn far out of the city?! I mean in Halifax it needs to be there due to heavy fog problems but whats the deal in Edmonton's case?

CMD UW · #**8518** Posted **Jul 28, 2013, 8:58 PM**

^Welcome to YEG. Why is the airport so far, well it has to do with a number of things.

1) The former mayor of Edmonton, William Hawrelak, either owned or was associated with the land that the airport sits on. I believe this had a major influence on the location of the airport.

2) During the late 50's-60's the Feds were looking at locating major airports away from urban areas as a way of mitigating noise concerns due to increased use of jet aircraft.

Coldrsx · #**8519** Posted **Jul 28, 2013, 9:25 PM**

And while it is a bit far km wise, it really isn't too bad to get to. Downtown to there is 35-40mins most days and I can lrt and bus in 55mins.

tuffyy · #**8520** Posted **Jul 28, 2013, 11:25 PM**

and don't forget south Edmonton is just 10 minutes from YEG.

So ''far'' is relative to where in Edmonton you live. I suppose someone in East Toronto could ask the same question about YYZ?