Calgary International Airport II - Page 90

Bigtime · #**1781** Posted **Sep 19, 2014, 3:01 PM**

This is odd, AC has a HND-YYC flight in their system for May 29, 2015. Operating that one time only with the 77W.

http://airlineroute.net/2014/09/19/ac-hndyyc-may15/

Cage · #**1782** Posted **Sep 19, 2014, 5:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

This is odd, AC has a HND-YYC flight in their system for May 29, 2015. Operating that one time only with the 77W.

http://airlineroute.net/2014/09/19/ac-hndyyc-may15/

I saw that tweet from airline routes as well. Confirmed with sources at AC that their computer systems do not show the flight mentioned by airline route.

Policy Wonk · #**1783** Posted **Sep 19, 2014, 10:24 PM**

Is it a positioning flight?

#**1784** Posted **Sep 20, 2014, 8:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Policy Wonk

Is it a positioning flight?

The only thing I could think of is if they were ferrying back a 77W that was doing heavy mx in Singapore and wanted to get it back to YYZ or YUL via our FRA or LHR flights. But you don't load something like that 8 months in advance. Must be a glitch.

Cage · #**1785** Posted **Sep 21, 2014, 11:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acey

The only thing I could think of is if they were ferrying back a 77W that was doing heavy mx in Singapore and wanted to get it back to YYZ or YUL via our FRA or LHR flights. But you don't load something like that 8 months in advance. Must be a glitch.

Repositioning flights are in the. Low 6000 flight number range, this flight has the standard AC006 flight number.

Johnny Aussie · #**1786** Posted **Sep 23, 2014, 12:42 AM**

Effective 12 Feb YYC-IAH reduces to 3 daily for the rest of the winter (2 on Saturdays)..... BUT all flights to be operated by 739s (the almost 757s in seats). This is actually a bump of 10 seats per day.

Bigtime · #**1787** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 1:17 PM**

Hmm, British Airways has the 763 scheduled to operate the LHR-YYC flights from October 26 to November 18. Replacing the newly introduced 788 for that time.

We've always heard the BA has been having a tough go of it in YYC, and the thinking was that the more efficient 788 could make the route better for BA. However them choosing to sub in the less efficient 763 again for a stretch seems to be an odd move.

Could this indicate the beginning of the end of BA in YYC (again)? Or is there a much less dramatic reason for the temporary change out (788 maintenance schedules)?

Johnny Aussie · #**1788** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 2:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Could this indicate the beginning of the end of BA in YYC (again)? Or is there a much less dramatic reason for the temporary change out (788 maintenance schedules)?

I wouldn't read too much into it:

1) The 787 programs for many airlines have been plagued with all sorts of delays and changes. I was able to get on one of the very first Jetstar 787 services knowing full well a last minute change may happen. Luckily my flight didn't change but others sure did. And BA (and YYC-LHR) is no exception. This route was delayed how many times?

2) This is only a very temporary move (3 weeks).

3) Mid October to end of November is notoriously the slowest time of year for air travel to Europe, so this may be just a temporary capacity adjustment to reflect this.

So yeah, in conclusion, I don't think it's a big deal.

Cage · #**1789** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 5:14 PM**

My take in on the BA 788 tail swap with 763.

BA received their last 788 back in august, so delivery delays should not be the reason for tail swap.

One possibility is the capacity allocation of r different aircraft. The 788 is a bigger airplane than 763, so all airlines have to decide how to allocate the increased capacity. AC chose to allocate the new capacity to the economy cabin. BA largely chose to allocate the capacity increase to business class club world cabin. If BA cannot sell the additional 11 club world seats on YYC-LHR, then swapping out the 788 with another route that can sustain larger CW cabin makes financial sense.

Another possibility is that BA Operates two types of cabin crew on their routes, traditional/world and mixed fleet. The BA 788 I believe are mixed fleet but the 763 could be traditional fleet. If so there might be crew scheduling issues that prevent BA from putting the 788 onto YYC ops. Essentially crew type has capacity and the other does not. I am by no means the BA expert but I am having coffee this afternoon with my BA avgeek contact. Will check out the status of mixed and world fleet cabin crews.

Overall I think the YYC avgeek and freq flyer community should be getting worried about BA constant tail swaps on the YYC route. BA is not known for constantly swapping aircraft onto their routes, almost the exact opposite of UA who change aircraft more than they change socks.

tuffyy · #**1790** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 11:08 PM**

I'll be in town next week (Tuesday to Friday) flying from MEX to YYC on a mexican registered G-V before heading to YEG to participate in talks with one of "our" carriers. I'll be staying at the palliser for a few days, looking forward to checking out YYC with all the changes upcoming!

PPAR · #**1791** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 11:22 PM**

Flying to Nice early February, tell your BA contact to keep the 788 on route and I will go with them!

Johnny Aussie · #**1792** Posted **Sep 24, 2014, 11:58 PM**

So we have one vote for don't worry and one vote for worry in regards to BA.

In all seriousness and without overanalysing.... I'd be more worried if frequencies were cut but really there is no real indication that BA is in trouble at YYC. The YYC-UK LFs at least are performing well. Everybody flies empty planes at that time of year from NA to Europe.
The 788 is a perfect fit for this route and the economics of it will help. We seem to have achieved a good balance after LH pulled out.

Hey Cage, get back to us after your BA avgeek contact! :-)

Bigtime · #**1793** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 1:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffyy

I'll be in town next week (Tuesday to Friday) flying from MEX to YYC on a mexican registered G-V before heading to YEG to participate in talks with one of "our" carriers. I'll be staying at the palliser for a few days, looking forward to checking out YYC with all the changes upcoming!

Flying up in a G-V? You lucky SOB.

YYCguys · #**1794** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 3:25 AM**

Is there any talk/desire for Westjet to operate a MEX route from YYC or another Canadian city?

tuffyy · #**1795** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 6:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YYCguys

Is there any talk/desire for Westjet to operate a MEX route from YYC or another Canadian city?

Westjet? Nope, but Interjet and Volaris are very much looking at Canadian markets right now.

Cage · #**1796** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 5:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

So we have one vote for don't worry and one vote for worry in regards to BA.

In all seriousness and without overanalysing.... I'd be more worried if frequencies were cut but really there is no real indication that BA is in trouble at YYC. The YYC-UK LFs at least are performing well. Everybody flies empty planes at that time of year from NA to Europe.
The 788 is a perfect fit for this route and the economics of it will help. We seem to have achieved a good balance after LH pulled out.

Hey Cage, get back to us after your BA avgeek contact! :-)

My contact said that both aircraft are on traditional fleets.

Contact also said that he expects BA will convert a few 788 over to small business class cabin. The BA 763 mission was to operate into routes that could not sustain large business cabin, so it's possible that BA would replace the second biz cabin that is behind doors 2L/R.

Bigtime · #**1797** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 5:57 PM**

So the most likely explanation for the temporary switch to the 763 is the upgrade they are doing for the 788's in VCV?

tuffyy · #**1798** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 6:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Flying up in a G-V? You lucky SOB.

Oh, I'm excited, it'll be my first corporate jet trip...

The Gulfstreams just the icing in the cake!

Bigtime · #**1799** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 6:11 PM**

Will you be able to snap a few pics? I'd love to see the view, especially if you can get yourself on the flight deck for takeoff and landing.

Also if you are allowed to disclose any arrival time info I'm sure we can put the word out to the YYC spotters and get some shots.

Cage · #**1800** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 7:21 PM**

AC released the summer 2015 international schedule. Main feature is significant expansion of YYZ/YUL to Europe. Not much for Western Canada rouge expansion beyond the all ready announced YVR-KIX.

For YYC, we will see the 77W twins comming from FRA and LHR. Much to the chagrin of some YEGers, AC898/899 sticks around.

AC9/10 is currently listed as 763, however there is no new announcements on 788 conversions. Much like last year the 763 to 788 conversion will come out later.

One thing that is certain, AC has added 763 product on both YYZ and YUL to CDG. These flight are in addition to the 77W and 77HD from the current schedule. Its safe to assume the 788 will stay off these markets.

One 788 tail swap, YYZ-HND gets the 77W while the 788 goes onto YYZ-NRT.