YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion

[SFUVancouver]

It's apropos of nothing, but I'm taking the biggest flight of my life later this week:

YVR-LHR-JNB

33,294km/20,688 miles round trip. I'm taking BA 744s for both legs.

[mezzanine]

Sweet. How close would you be to one world ruby?

I've throw my lot in with star alliance, but you can get a lot of intl flights on one world from YVR. I miss taking the CX direct red eye to JFK, getting the airtrain/E-train and having an extra full day. AC's direct service goes to newark, transfers are a little more hassle and it eats up a whole day of travel.

[Vagabond]

Originally Posted by craneSpotter

Air Canada considers direct flights between Vancouver and India

BIV Nov 11, 2013

This whole article highlights what seems to be a carrot/stick approach by AC towards YVR (and YEG, etc.).

"Don't even think about Open Skies but hey, we'll toss you a bone and let you have one 787. We'll even consider flying it to (the apparently only airport in) India, so there's no need for you to court Emirates, etc. What more do you want YVR!?"

I've said here before that I don't think a non-stop flight from YVR to India (Delhi) is particularly likely for numerous reasons - distance, seasonality, low yield, etc. I doubt AC are going to venture into this market anytime soon, and if they do, it will 99.9% be from YYZ and not YVR (at least initially). Plus I believe that markets like India will be much better served from YVR by the cheap connecting flights via major (Asian & European) hubs brought on by more Open Skies agreements, not expensive ultra long haul flights on AC 787s.

[trofirhen]

In the BIV article, it mentions one 787 being based in Vancouver. However, I thought that was for an upcoming service to Brisbane / Frankfurt.
In an earlier article posted, an Indian businessman who travels between Vancouver and India said he believes that not only would there be a large enough business class
to make the route profitable, but additionally, that it would be the only polar route to India from the West Coast, and would catch a lot of Seattle traffic.

I think Air Canada is up to its old "protectionist" tricks. That is: "route 'em through Toronto!!"

[Thousands Wouldn't]

Is there a thread created with regard to the new Outlet Mall u/c at YVR yet?

[Vagabond]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

In the BIV article, it mentions one 787 being based in Vancouver. However, I thought that was for an upcoming service to Brisbane / Frankfurt.
In an earlier article posted, an Indian businessman who travels between Vancouver and India said he believes that not only would there be a large enough business class
to make the route profitable, but additionally, that it would be the only polar route to India from the West Coast, and would catch a lot of Seattle traffic.

I agree that if AC timed the flight correctly, then it would be an attractive option for those travelling to Delhi FROM the US West Coast. However, Canada requires visas for transiting passengers from countries like India (as discussed earlier in this thread) so the demand going the other direction would be minimal unless this requirement was lifted.

Also, while the leisure traffic from YVR to India largely does go to Delhi, the business traffic is far more diversified (and equally heads to Bangalore, Mumbai, etc.) A non-stop from YVR-DEL would ill serve these markets unless a comprehensive codeshare deal was struck with an Indian airline to carry passengers to other airports in the country (definitely feasible).

I'm also skeptical of the anecdotal "evidence" describing legions of Indo-Canadian businessmen flying to/from India multiple times a year in J or F. In my (equally anecdotal-based) opinion, I would guess that demographic (here in the Lower Mainland) probably numbers only in the dozens. I'm happy to be proved wrong on this count.

Just to disclose, I and/or my extended family do fly at least a couple times of year between YVR and India, so I'm all in favour of better connectivity between these two markets. However, I've watched this process carefully for the past couple of years and come to the conclusion that the drivers for a non-stop flight from YVR-DEL are largely political and not economic. A desire to pander to the politically influential Indo-Canadian community in the Lower Mainland along with the pretense that such a flight would boost trade results in a lot of buzz, but not much of a business case.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

Sweet. How close would you be to one world ruby?

Just under half-way. I will earn 140 tier points under the BA Executive Club frequent flyer program and I need 300 to move up from 'Blue' to 'Bronze', which qualifies as OneWorld Ruby status. If I have understood their system correctly, I have a year to earn enough points to move up to the next tier. What's unclear is whether the tier points reset at the end of that year.

[wrenegade]

Originally Posted by Thousands Wouldn't

Is there a thread created with regard to the new Outlet Mall u/c at YVR yet?

No, I believe updates would be just posted here (as well as anything for the Pacific Processing Centre). I've been going out to Iona once a week for the past month or so but have been on my bike so no chance to take any photos. Pre-loading is underway at the outlet mall and the post office building is probably 85% complete. A friend of mine works for Canada Post and has been there to work on some equipment but it is not fully up and running yet. My understanding though is that there are some Canada Post employees there full-time working on setup inside.

[Johnny Aussie]

It's little things like this that will help YVR into the future.

http://www.biv.com/article/20131108/BIV0...ar-tourism-promotion-deal-with-Guangzhou

"In turn, we look forward to assisting our colleagues at Tourism Guangzhou with access to the North American market through Vancouver – which has more direct flights to China than any other city in the Americas."

The agreement seeks to strengthen the growing market of tourism from China. By 2014, China is expected to be Vancouver's second-largest group of international tourists, second only to the United States.

With China Southern publicly stating YVR will be one of its next 787 routes, I would expect them to increase frequency as well.

Eventually will we see all of the big 3 Chinese carriers with double daily YVR-China??

[craneSpotter]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

In the BIV article, it mentions one 787 being based in Vancouver. However, I thought that was for an upcoming service to Brisbane / Frankfurt.
In an earlier article posted, an Indian businessman who travels between Vancouver and India said he believes that not only would there be a large enough business class
to make the route profitable, but additionally, that it would be the only polar route to India from the West Coast, and would catch a lot of Seattle traffic.

I think Air Canada is up to its old "protectionist" tricks. That is: "route 'em through Toronto!!"

It would seem that an AC 787 to Brisbane is more likely than to India...(maybe India could be more of a 'Rouge' fit?). It also seems that there is a good probability of two 787s being based at YVR next year. More from BIV here:

BIV Nov 14, 2013

"Rovinescu had hinted to BIV that one potential future route could be between Vancouver and India – something that the Vancouver Airport Authority has sought for years.

In his VBOT speech, however, he hinted at two other possible flights: Vancouver-Brisbane, Australia, and Vancouver-Frankfurt, Germany.

Air Canada’s executive vice-president and chief commercial officer Benjamin Smith explained after Rovinescu’s speech that although it would not be hard to fill flights between Vancouver and India, it would be difficult to be reliably profitable because there is so much competition at major Indian airports. Fewer carriers fly to Brisbane, he added."

[twoNeurons]

To be honest, India is more of an Air Transat / Charter airline fit. There just isn't the same level of India - Canada business connections like Canada - China.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by craneSpotter

It also seems that there is a good probability of two 787s being based at YVR next year.

"Rovinescu had hinted to BIV that one potential future route could be between Vancouver and India – something that the Vancouver Airport Authority has sought for years.

In his VBOT speech, however, he hinted at two other possible flights: Vancouver-Brisbane, Australia, and Vancouver-Frankfurt, Germany.

Yeah we will see.... YVR-FRA is definitely the worst kept secret... LOL. I was thinking that might actually get delayed when LH announced boosting YVR-FRA to a 744 though.

Just had my first trip on the 787 this morning. A 3 hour flight from Melbourne to Cairns in (a budget airline's) business class. Cruised at 43k. Excellent plane and love the "electrochromism smart glass" window shades :-)

[casper]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Yeah we will see.... YVR-FRA is definitely the worst kept secret... LOL. I was thinking that might actually get delayed when LH announced boosting YVR-FRA to a 744 though.

You have to keep in mind that Lufthansa and Air Canada operate the flights into FRA as a joint venture They co-ordinate all of the timing and number of seats.

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Just had my first trip on the 787 this morning. A 3 hour flight from Melbourne to Cairns in (a budget airline's) business class. Cruised at 43k. Excellent plane and love the "electrochromism smart glass" window shades :-)

I really enjoyed Cairns. Hope to go back someday,

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by casper

You have to keep in mind that Lufthansa and Air Canada operate the flights into FRA as a joint venture They co-ordinate all of the timing and number of seats.

I really enjoyed Cairns. Hope to go back someday.

Yup. I know AC want (wanted) to do their own YVR-FRA flight. It is on their definite list of possible new routes. But then along came YVR-MUC... a similar market and route... then along came LH upping its YVR-FRA to be a 744... So with the JV it is really irrelevant (to a point) who operates it. So my point was I am (was) expecting AC to start its own YVR-FRA flights... but with LH's recent developments not as sure as I was a few months ago. Something will be announced soon regarding the 787s.

Cairns and region is my fave part of Queensland... nice to live in a country where you can travel to the tropics without a passport

[connect2source]

YVR Domestic Terminal B Pier construction well underway, taken from the observaton area.

Looks like the hammerhead area might be our last glimpse into the past at YVR if it's retained, even though the hammerhead was added in the late 1970's.

Photo By : connect2source

[SteveK]

Originally Posted by connect2source

YVR Domestic Terminal B Pier construction well underway, taken from the observaton area.

Looks like the hammerhead area might be our last glimpse into the past at YVR if it's retained, even though the hammerhead was added in the late 1970's.

Thought the plan was to replace the hammerhead area as well, once the current construction is completed. Is that correct?

Also, does anyone know if Westjet has plans for a more purpose built gate area for their Encore operations - similar to AC Express?

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by SteveK

Thought the plan was to replace the hammerhead area as well, once the current construction is completed. Is that correct?

Also, does anyone know if Westjet has plans for a more purpose built gate area for their Encore operations - similar to AC Express?

Funny but this whole A/B reconstruction still seems to be a bit of a mystery!

There do not appear to be any renderings or details about the expansion other than a really vague 21 second youtube video with about 5 photos in it.

If anyone has any more detail on this please post it.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Funny but this whole A/B reconstruction still seems to be a bit mystery!

There do not appear to be any renderings or details about the expansion other than a really vague 21 second youtube video with about 5 photos in it.

If anyone has any more detail on this please post it.

The C Pier was equally mysterious, I remember finding the only a photo of the model on the PCL construction website. Wonder why they keep us so in the dark?

[Gordon]

I suspect ther is space to add more gates for encore where the current 3 gates are?

[moosejaw]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Funny but this whole A/B reconstruction still seems to be a bit mystery!

There do not appear to be any renderings or details about the expansion other than a really vague 21 second youtube video with about 5 photos in it.

If anyone has any more detail on this please post it.

Agree
I would like to see plans, schematics etc...