Saskatoon and Regina Air Service - Page 40

casper · #**781** Posted **Aug 28, 2014, 3:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wacko

Too bad about United cutting the Chicago route. I thought it was convenient for flying to points east. I've used ORD to connect to Newark and (just this past spring) Harrisburg. I also finally visited the Windy City itself a few years ago, that was an awesome trip. Prior to that, flying to Chicago via MSP on Delta was both inconvenient and costly, so I never went.

I use DEN with some frequency also, mainly for getting to Palm Springs but also lately to visit a good friend who lives in Oregon. Hope United doesn't cut that route (the city my friend lives in is smaller than Regina).

I think part of it may be the move by the airlines to start phase out the 50 seater jets and move to larger aircraft.

What is going to be interested in what happens with WestJet flights once the US Airlines and American Airlines merger is complete. You may see more connections occurring in Palm Springs and Las Vegas.

SkydivePilot · #**782** Posted **Aug 28, 2014, 4:57 AM**

I heard that Southwest will be flying into Canada "soon."

Robag · #**783** Posted **Aug 28, 2014, 5:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

I heard that Southwest will be flying into Canada "soon."

I heard that as well, but I also heard that when they go into a new market, they only go if they can fly to 5 existing markets right off the hop. They want to make it worth their money to start up operations in a new market. Because of that, YYZ might be the only market that would work. I could be wrong, but I'm not sure it would make sense for Southwest to start up operations in Canada at all.

SkydivePilot · #**784** Posted **Aug 28, 2014, 5:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robag

I heard that as well, but I also heard that when they go into a new market, they only go if they can fly to 5 existing markets right off the hop. They want to make it worth their money to start up operations in a new market. Because of that, YYZ might be the only market that would work. I could be wrong, but I'm not sure it would make sense for Southwest to start up operations in Canada at all.

Ya, it's supposed to be the usual Vancouver; Calgary; Toronto; Montreal thing. Well, I guess we'll see.

Robag · #**785** Posted **Aug 28, 2014, 5:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

I think part of it may be the move by the airlines to start phase out the 50 seater jets and move to larger aircraft.

What is going to be interested in what happens with WestJet flights once the US Airlines and American Airlines merger is complete. You may see more connections occurring in Palm Springs and Las Vegas.

They are phasing out the 50 seaters, but that will take some time. As they do that, they are changing where the 50 seaters are flying. Because of that, we lose the Chicago flights even though they were probably over 80% full. For United, they shift the flights to other markets that make more use out of those aircraft. It does sound like the Regina airport authority is looking at other options. American Airlines for instance has a hub in Chicago as well. Maybe they will try and woo them here.

wacko · #**786** Posted **Aug 28, 2014, 3:03 PM**

If the airlines are phasing out 50-seaters, how do they plan to serve regional markets? Larger aircraft but less frequency?

Robag · #**787** Posted **Aug 28, 2014, 4:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wacko

If the airlines are phasing out 50-seaters, how do they plan to serve regional markets? Larger aircraft but less frequency?

That's why you see Air Canada now flying the Q400 prop planes between here and Calgary. Slower aircraft, but much more fuel efficient plus seats 28 people more than a CRJ 100/200. AC Express has retired their oldest CRJ 100/200 aircraft over the last couple of years.

United and Delta and their regional partners are in the process of replacing the 50 seat aircraft with larger 70+ seat aircraft that are way more fuel efficient. They have purchased E170 and larger CRJ 700 and 900 aircraft. Hard to say if we will lose frequency as they replace the 50 seat aircraft. But at the same time, it will take them 5 to 10 years to remove all of those aircraft.

casper · #**788** Posted **Aug 29, 2014, 1:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robag

That's why you see Air Canada now flying the Q400 prop planes between here and Calgary. Slower aircraft, but much more fuel efficient plus seats 28 people more than a CRJ 100/200. AC Express has retired their oldest CRJ 100/200 aircraft over the last couple of years.

United and Delta and their regional partners are in the process of replacing the 50 seat aircraft with larger 70+ seat aircraft that are way more fuel efficient. They have purchased E170 and larger CRJ 700 and 900 aircraft. Hard to say if we will lose frequency as they replace the 50 seat aircraft. But at the same time, it will take them 5 to 10 years to remove all of those aircraft.

Switching to the Q400 turbo prop only adds 5-10 minutes to the flight between Saskatoon and Calgary. Both WestJet and Air Canada keep adding Q400s.

Delta manages to operate an aircraft in the 70-75 passenger range jet between Saskatoon and MSP. Likely to eventually see the flight to Denver also go to a 75 seater.

PhotoJim · #**789** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

Switching to the Q400 turbo prop only adds 5-10 minutes to the flight between Saskatoon and Calgary. Both WestJet and Air Canada keep adding Q400s.

Delta manages to operate an aircraft in the 70-75 passenger range jet between Saskatoon and MSP. Likely to eventually see the flight to Denver also go to a 75 seater.

The Q400 is a perfectly pleasant plane to ride. I haven't been on one ex-YQR yet but I've flown them between YYZ and YFC and quite enjoyed them.

As for Delta, I notice they've pared back the YQR-MSP service to one flight a day from two - not sure when that happened. I've been researching potential flights YQR-LHR / CDG-YQR for next spring and routing through MSP is not practical (10-plus-hour layovers due to the one early morning flight a day) and losing ORD makes flying United more of a chore, too. DEN is a great airport for US connections but not for overseas ones.

Draftsman · #**790** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 5:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

The Q400 is a perfectly pleasant plane to ride. I haven't been on one ex-YQR yet but I've flown them between YYZ and YFC and quite enjoyed them.

As for Delta, I notice they've pared back the YQR-MSP service to one flight a day from two - not sure when that happened. I've been researching potential flights YQR-LHR / CDG-YQR for next spring and routing through MSP is not practical (10-plus-hour layovers due to the one early morning flight a day) and losing ORD makes flying United more of a chore, too. DEN is a great airport for US connections but not for overseas ones.

I don't believe Delta (Skywest) has cut back on the YQR-MSP flights. I just checked FlightAware (http://flightaware.com/live/airport/CYQR) and there was a flight to MSP (SKW4543) that departed at 6:20 am while there is another flight that is scheduled to depart YQR at 1:20 pm (SKW4490)

Robag · #**791** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 8:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draftsman

I don't believe Delta (Skywest) has cut back on the YQR-MSP flights. I just checked FlightAware (http://flightaware.com/live/airport/CYQR) and there was a flight to MSP (SKW4543) that departed at 6:20 am while there is another flight that is scheduled to depart YQR at 1:20 pm (SKW4490)

They do have some days that there is only one flight, and others that they still have two. They may change to a more permanent 2 a day once the ORD flight is gone at the end of October.

casper · #**792** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 12:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robag

They do have some days that there is only one flight, and others that they still have two. They may change to a more permanent 2 a day once the ORD flight is gone at the end of October.

A good search tool to use is: http://matrix.itasoftware.com/search.htm

You can't do the booking with it, so you still have to go to a travel agent or another site but it is good at finding combinations that work.

kalin_10 · #**793** Posted **Sep 16, 2014, 3:09 AM**

All Photos Courtesy of YXE Facebook Page

SkydivePilot · #**794** Posted **Oct 3, 2014, 5:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Anyone know when the city of Regina will finally have Transit service to the terminal building?

Ok, as promised. Uh, transit services to the airport are to be "the next transit service when Regina Transit expands its routes."

That basically means the city doesn't care about any airport-related transit service. Regina is the only city without transit service. ( . . . and CYQR possesses 8% of Regina's GDP.)

Nathan · #**795** Posted **Oct 3, 2014, 5:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

Ok, as promised. Uh, transit services to the airport are to be "the next transit service when Regina Transit expands its routes."

That basically means the city doesn't care about any airport-related transit service. Regina is the only city without transit service. ( . . . and CYQR possesses 8% of Regina's GDP.)

Wouldn't be surprised if the taxis were pushing against bus service...

Stormer · #**796** Posted **Oct 3, 2014, 7:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan

Wouldn't be surprised if the taxis were pushing against bus service...

The buses are for the workers rather than the passengers.

Nathan · #**797** Posted **Oct 3, 2014, 7:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormer

The buses are for the workers rather than the passengers.

It would eat into the passengers too though. The only option now is to take a cab or get family/friends to take you/pick you up. With the monopoly like that, taxi usage/income only has one way to go.

casper · #**798** Posted **Oct 4, 2014, 5:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan

It would eat into the passengers too though. The only option now is to take a cab or get family/friends to take you/pick you up. With the monopoly like that, taxi usage/income only has one way to go.

The best way to do it is charge an extra amount for the bus when it departs from the airport. Calgary does it on the bus they run downtown. Vancouver does it on Skytrain.

One a few years when everyone is use to a bus being there get rid of the extra fee.

SkydivePilot · #**799** Posted **Oct 15, 2014, 8:03 PM**

The Main Apron rehab is complete; and that's essential for the upcoming terminal expansion. (More to come soon.)

SkydivePilot · #**800** Posted **Oct 18, 2014, 5:36 AM**

Next week, a meeting will be taking place with regards to the relocation of Taxiway "Charlie."

More to come soon.