YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion

[craneSpotter]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

I would guess bookings were looking good and since there is an a/c available... why not start earlier. Good plan as October is a great month to visit LAS.

This added daily flight pretty much replaces the lost capacity when Philippine Airlines dropped the YVR-LAS tag a couple of years ago. So it should push YVR-LAS numbers back up again.
Compared to last winter... this is a decent 28% increase in the YVR-LAS market compared to last winter.

Thanks. Makes sense.

This is somewhat interesting..article from USA today:

"The 50 longest airlines routes from the USA and Canada"

YVR has two:

#50. Vancouver - Auckland, New Zealand (6,131 nautical miles): Air New Zealand (Boeing 777-200); 14 hours (outbound)

#21. Vancouver - Sydney, Australia (6,746 nautical miles): Air Canada (Boeing 777-200LR); 15 hours, 35 minutes (outbound)

I know lots of people who have done #21 - it's a looooong flight.

[SpongeG]

it looks like they have changed the security for pier b - when i walked through yesterday after arriving it seemed different from the other side, will find out when i use it next week looks like there is more space for lining up now

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by craneSpotter

Thanks. Makes sense.

This is somewhat interesting..article from USA today:

"The 50 longest airlines routes from the USA and Canada"

YVR has two:

#50. Vancouver - Auckland, New Zealand (6,131 nautical miles): Air New Zealand (Boeing 777-200); 14 hours (outbound)

#21. Vancouver - Sydney, Australia (6,746 nautical miles): Air Canada (Boeing 777-200LR); 15 hours, 35 minutes (outbound)

I know lots of people who have done #21 - it's a looooong flight.

As somebody who does #21 a lot... It's not that bad at all.

About to do #50 again soon.

Perhaps one day soon there will be another long - haul from YVR on this list which would suit me just fine. It would leap into the top 20

Today's flight only 3 hours so easy breezy!

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

It made sense they used the 763 for startup as they also have to test and prove the market. Don't forget YVR is still a relatively small market in the scheme of things. The natural progression will be for their 763s to get replaced by 788s as they are phased out.
Like a lot of new routes an airline's expectation isn't necessarily to be profitable for even a couple of years. You will notice ANA is really starting to ramp up codeshares with Air Canada for domestic routes out of YVR. These types of changes will help develop the route and make it a profitable venture eventually. Also, Air Canada "right-sized" the YVR-NRT route to a 763 due to NH's entry. But not surprising YVR-NRT will be one of the first routes to see the 788. We think there is competition here? The ANA / JAL bloodbath is notorious. JAL really protested ANA's slot allotments awarded out of HND to the point of legal threats. But that's that.

As for JAL when they almost collapsed a few years ago I was pleasantly surprised that they even held on to YVR when I looked at all the other bases they closed. It is certainly common knowledge that Japan has really struggled with recovery but there is hope on their horizon. And the 788 is just the perfect fit for this route right now. I think YVR will continue to see JAL tails for years to come.

It's certainly well-timed for code-shares. Leaving at the end of the business day, basically allows for any morning flight in North America to arrive in YVR with enough time to make the 16:50 ANA to Haneda.

It wouldn't surprise me if they started promoting the YVR connection to places like Denver or Chicago, which have flights to NRT, but not to HND.

I know ANA is gaining a reputation in Japan for being the stronger airline, especially since the bailout of JAL. Either way, I'm glad that 2 out of 3 flights to Tokyo from Vancouver are currently or will soon be Dreamliners.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Can anyone shed some light on this?

From YVR twitter today....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LPvUxhUtqcs&feature=youtu.be

• Video Link

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

As somebody who does #21 a lot... It's not that bad at all.

About to do #50 again soon.

Perhaps one day soon there will be another long - haul from YVR on this list which would suit me just fine. It would leap into the top 20

Today's flight only 3 hours so easy breezy!

Haha any chance its YVR - MEL??
And what about YVR to Manilla? Or does it stop somewhere else in Asia first?

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Haha any chance its YVR - MEL??
And what about YVR to Manilla? Or does it stop somewhere else in Asia first?

Going on a serious note from this, I'd love to see (seriously, folks) YVR to MEL, although BNE seems next up on the YVR - to Australia lineup list. In a year, maybe two, according to AC. BNE may be closer, but it would seem that MEL would provide a larger market. Maybe not. My dream would be to see both MEL and BNE added to the list, perhaps one Air Canada, the other Jetstar. I doubt that'll happen for a number of years.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Haha any chance its YVR - MEL??
And what about YVR to Manilla? Or does it stop somewhere else in Asia first?

I hope so (YVR-MEL) - a prime flight for the 789s. The main issue is how much would that affect YVR-SYD as well. The same analysis done when AC added YYC-NRT. What affect would that have on YVR-NRT. Obviously, in that case, the decision wheel said "Do it!"

Since the whole issue between BNE and/or MEL has been discussed, all the rumours have been based on what was said by AC brass to whom. Basically talking to MEL people they say MEL, talking to BNE people they say BNE. Also, BNE came up on their investor day map of possible 787 destinations. As did YYC-PEK and YVR-FRA and now we know both of those are put on the back burner for now. So really hard to say.

Geographically of course BNE has the advantage. But in market terms MEL has been the fastest growing city in Australia for the past few years. We are also starting to see a slowdown in mining activity and along with that a lot of FIFO traffic. That is affecting PER and BNE the most. And the FIFO network in Australia is just so huge compared to Canada. It is just insane here. Just take a look at the tarmac in PER any morning. You wouldn't believe your eyes. This market has only a very small effect on MEL. So any calcs done a few years ago need to be reset. In addition, MEL airport is just growing like crazy..... fingers crossed but not holding my breath.

As for Manila.... PR already flies there daily non-stop. Or did you mean Air Canada? I wouldn't expect YVR-MNL be high up on AC's target list at the moment.

If I had to take a stab at AC's next Asian destination from YVR I would have to go with CAN or another city in China.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by madog222

• Video Link

My hunches were right!

Very clever little teaser earlier...

[Johnny Aussie]

Attention YVR spotters.

YVR twitter saying a 707 is due in to YVR at 11am.

No further info given....

[craneSpotter]

interesting.

McArthurGlen ramps up hiring as airport outlet mall launch looms
London mega-mall developer targeting luxury brand-conscious shoppers and travellers

BIV Aug 12, 2014 - link

London-based McArthurGlen Group is hiring a 10-person leadership team to oversee Metro Vancouver’s first outlet mall in the lead-up to the centre’s spring 2015 launch.

The company, which is building a 240,000-square-foot first phase of the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport in partnership with the Vancouver International Airport Authority has previously had little presence in North America...

...He added that tenants in McArthurGlen’s first North American mall will provide 650 jobs initially and another 350 jobs once a 140,000-square-foot Phase 2 is complete.

“It’s 100% guaranteed that we will build a Phase 2. It’s just a matter of time.”

However, Jove declined to say which tenants will lease space in the first phase of the mall’s 85 units, most of which are less than 2,000 square feet.

McArthurGlen’s European outlet malls showcase brands such as Burberry, Prada, Armani and Michael Kors. Jove said similar brands will be at the Richmond mall on the northeast corner of Sea Island, east of what was a 2,500-spot parking lot and directly north of the Templeton Canada Line station....

...New financing from deep-pocketed partner Simon Property Group (SPG) could helpMcArthurGlen increase the pace of its mall development. Last year SPG (NYSE:SPG) bought an initial equity interest in the private McArthurGlen for €435 million.

“We looked at both Vancouver and Toronto and liked both cities,” Jove said. “We decided we liked Vancouver better, even though it has a smaller population, because there is a strong Asian demographic, a lack of [outlet mall] competition and a large tourist market.”

He explained that a large Asian population was attractive because many Asian shoppers are brand-conscious and like outlet mall shopping.

McArthurGlen’s Sea Island mall is two SkyTrain stations from the Vancouver International Airport, and the company’s plan is to make the mall an extension of the airport’s retail offerings.

[Denscity]

When I mentioned YVR - Manila I meant shouldn't it be on the top 50 furthest flights list?

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by Denscity

When I mentioned YVR - Manila I meant shouldn't it be on the top 50 furthest flights list?

Oh, sorry!

No YVR-MNL is 476 miles shorter than YVR-AKL (which is #50)

Here is an excellent tool for calculating global mapping of routes...

http://www.gcmap.com/

Just type in any route or combo of routes in the white area near the top then hit "MAP"

EG YVR-MNL; YVR-AKL then hit "MAP"

[Johnny Aussie]

Prelim July stats are out.

YVR rolling along very nicely.

Following are load factors for Western Canada:

LHR: YVR 86.3%; YEG 86.2%; YYC 84.1%
LGW: YVR 92.9%; YYC 92.1%; YEG 84.2%
MAN: YVR 90.3%
MAN/GLA: YYC 89.1% (note: GLA and MAN a shared route on TS)
GLA: YVR 87.9%

Observations:

Both YVR-LHR and YYC- LHR had significant capacity additions. YYC's increase was due to AC replacing the 333 with the 77W and YVR's was due to the high density 77W being put on the route plus VS added a 5th weekly frequency. Due to this YVR-LHR saw over 4,200 more pax than last summer and YYC increased over 1,700. Both routes would have had LF decreases due to the additional capacity outstripping demand. This was expected. TS carried about 560 more pax to/from YVR compared to 2013.

YEG had declines on both its UK routes (down about 950 pax total). Last July YEG-LGW load factor was around 92% and YEG-LHR was 89.2% so significant declines. Again, I think Icelandair has had some effect on this. As reported earlier Air Transat has pulled the route next summer.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Prelim July stats are out.

YVR rolling along very nicely.

Following are load factors for Western Canada:

LHR: YVR 86.3%; YEG 86.2%; YYC 84.1%
LGW: YVR 92.9%; YYC 92.1%; YEG 84.2%
MAN: YVR 90.3%
MAN/GLA: YYC 89.1% (note: GLA and MAN a shared route on TS)
GLA: YVR 87.9%

Observations:

Both YVR-LHR and YYC- LHR had significant capacity additions. YYC's increase was due to AC replacing the 333 with the 77W and YVR's was due to the high density 77W being put on the route plus VS added a 5th weekly frequency. Due to this YVR-LHR saw over 4,200 more pax than last summer and YYC increased over 1,700. Both routes would have had LF decreases due to the additional capacity outstripping demand. This was expected. TS carried about 560 more pax to/from YVR compared to 2013.

YEG had declines on both its UK routes (down about 950 pax total). Last July YEG-LGW load factor was around 92% and YEG-LHR was 89.2% so significant declines. Again, I think Icelandair has had some effect on this. As reported earlier Air Transat has pulled the route next summer.

Unfortunately this is supporting the concept that Air Canada needs and can effectively use these High Density 77W. I much prefer the lower density version of the aircraft.

[TransitJack]

Was riding out to Iona today and stopped to take a pic of the new road near Templeton Stn.

It was the original access road to the employee parking and train station that now extends east, under the Arthur Laing to the secondary road.

All is good, but now I see they added parking spaces. Not angled, not parallel, but at a 90 degree to the road. That's going to make the road part of the parking lot and thus not very quick to use (not that many will use it, but still).

Sidenote, why is adding photos such a PITA?

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by casper

Unfortunately this is supporting the concept that Air Canada needs and can effectively use these High Density 77W. I much prefer the lower density version of the aircraft.

I suppose so. In July the market absorbed just over half the capacity added (including Virgin) Gives them room to grow still. I am guessing AC must be happy with this. And they seem to be filling J and Prem Economy quite well.
The LF on YVR-LHR at 86.3% is the exact same LF on AC's Atlantic routes in aggregate. Don't have the breakdown of AC, BA and VS available but a healthy sign especially with the large capacity increase.

YYC seems to be having a little less luck filling the 77W. Just under a third of the additional capacity has been absorbed.

Unsure of how HKG is faring but AC's July stats on the Pacific indicate the Pacific in general is doing very well from a LF perspective at least.

[Johnny Aussie]

To add to the already announced increases on transborder routes this winter...

From 17 December to 5 January UA is adding:

3rd daily flight on YVR-ORD
5th daily flight to YVR-SFO

Also, UA has applied for code-sharing on certain rouge routes. This should be approved soon then routes like YVR-SFO will be back to 8-9 daily on UA/AC.

Westjet appears to be the only carrier not increasing transborder services out of YVR this winter. In fact, this winter is the first time they haven't increased transborder flying out of Western Canada. There are a very few additional frequencies over the peak Xmas period but that's it. Most noticeable is the discontinued YYC-MIA route. However this loss is offset by additional frequencies on other YYC transborder routes so overall a wash.

The only route showing any sort of decrease is YVR-SLC on DL. It's going from 11 per week to daily only. However this returns to 11 weekly the second week of February anyway. The new 4 daily YVR-SEA on DL would be replacing some of SLC's connecting traffic for sure.

I'll do an overall transborder winter summary later. Looking good.

[officedweller]

YVR buys back ground leases to cargo facilities - and McDonalds on Russ Baker Way:

http://www.richmondreview.com/business/271407981.html

[Johnny Aussie]

Good to see YVR getting new J class.

From airlineroute.net twitter....

"China Eastern's A330-200 aircraft with new Business Class (1-2-1 layout) has entered service, mainly on Vancouver, Paris and Frankfurt route"