Calgary International Airport II

[MalcolmTucker]

For a call to gate area, perhaps this is being done for 'floor feel' (if that is a thing) rather than aesthetics. Of course, could be value engineering. People won't be in this space for long.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Thanks for the update!

In other news, WestJet is picking up a 5th 767 from Qantas.

Yeah... Looking good.... And huge!

I've probably been on all of those 5 former QF birds!

[Cage]

Originally Posted by yyc_engineer

I'd be surprised if WS were to join an alliance. They have got it pretty good right now doing codeshares with Airlines from both Oneworld and Skyteam. This is a significant revenue generator and part of the reason they have been so successful in negotiating these is because they are not in an alliance.

WS has it pretty good right now with inbound codeshares, but the widebody operation to Europe will require a large number of outbound codeshares. Also, not much left in the way of juicy low hanging fruit for WS to get into. The low hanging fruit is to get into an alliance and then start doing codeshares to the alliance hubs and getting into outbound codeshares in Europe.

Inbound codeshares are where the other airline gives WS pax. Outbound codeshares is where WS gives the other airline pax. Outbound code share would be YYC-LHR on WS with a connection to LHR-TLS marketted b y WS but operated by BA.

If WS were to join Skyteam, I could easily see them getting into all sorts of European adventures. YYC-AMS (4 week KL , 3 week WS) YEG-AMS ( 3x KL, 2x WS) YVR-AMS for 10x week combined. Maybe even WS YVR-CDG. WS Skyteam flying would be a great base to then offer riskier routes on a less than daily basis like YYC-DUB. YYC-LHR/LGW, YVR-LHR-LGW. YYC-EDI, Maybe even YYC-FCO.

Finally, while there is a business model for national narrowbody focused airlines to codeshare with partners from competing alliances (WS, AS, Virgin Australia). I don't believe there is an international longhaul airline that has same breadth of codeshare partners without being in an alliance.

Update on some construction activities:

1) Rubber Tile Flooring install is progressing in the Piers. The majority of the building has granite floor however the Piers (Gate Areas) as well as Arrivals Sterile Corridors has this floor (similar to what you'd see in a rec centre).

2) Glass is being installed to divide the upstairs Transborder area from the lower International departures area.

3) Not IFP construction, but the new Mezzanine Level (near Food Court) Tim Horton's is nearing completion and should be open shortly!

1. Put me down for loving the rubber floor. Easier on the feet for walk long distances, less slippery, easier to maintain, and a lot less noise. Granite is good but get a gaggle of FA's ion high heels and its very noisy.

3. I'm going to love the new full service timmies.

[simster3]

Cage, what were you doing in TLS, not a common destination for Calgarians. I go there every year or two to see my in-laws. It is pretty cool to see the Airbus facilities there.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by simster3

Cage, what were you doing in TLS, not a common destination for Calgarians. I go there every year or two to see my in-laws. It is pretty cool to see the Airbus facilities there.

I was there as part of a charter flight of frequent travel geeks flew ARN-TLS-LGW with 3 hours in TLS to see the Airbus facility and tour around A380 MSN1. Was supposed to have also toured A350 MSN1 however that aircraft was required fort test flight purposes.

Also was in ARN to meet with SAS folks and see some of their new services. Finally LGW was destination so that next day hosted by Star Alliance for a tour of Terminal 2. T2 tour included lots of lounge hopping experiences.

[Bokimon]

3hrs in TLS is certainly not enough, the airport is one thing but the city center itself is a UNESCO world heritage site with the Midi canal feeding off of the Garone River. You can actually go on that canal all the way down to the Mediterranean Sea I believe..
Love Toulouse, we need some Western Canadian seasonal flights as it is so close to the sea and some other historic towns nearby like Carcassione, the center of France for Bastile Day!

I love the new updates, please keep em coming.. I am still waiting for them to announce volunteers to stress out the new IFP once it is substantially complete. I was debating whether to head to Paris in a few weeks to catch the airshow as I snagged a wicked deal at the Hotel right at Le Bourget Airport next to the exhibition grounds for 40 euros/night. Recently had to cancel my booking due to some situations here at home, so I will opt for Farnborough next year instead.

[lubicon]

That's pretty significant about WestJet picking up a 5th 767. They must feel pretty good about the prospects or are seeing strong enough advance bookings that they feel confident about it. Good news for another ~10 pilots too who will get to upgrade.

[simster3]

That is pretty cool. About 8 years ago I went on the A380 tour, but I didn't book in advance and had to take a french tour so I missed out quite a bit.

[simster3]

Boki, Toulouse is a pretty great city that is usually overlooked on the standard France trip. Hanging out in the centre of the city is always a nice way to spend the day. My in-laws are south of the city so I have spent quite a bit of time in countryside. And yes the canal is part of a system that connects the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

[excel]

Anything official on WestJet getting a 5th 767?

[Policy Wonk]

Originally Posted by lubicon

That's pretty significant about WestJet picking up a 5th 767. They must feel pretty good about the prospects or are seeing strong enough advance bookings that they feel confident about it. Good news for another ~10 pilots too who will get to upgrade.

It's more a timing and commonality issue than anything else, they aren't the only taker for the Qantas 767's and others are headed for freighter conversion. It could be impossible to get a similar aircraft down the road.

[yyc_engineer]

Originally Posted by Policy Wonk

It's more a timing and commonality issue than anything else, they aren't the only taker for the Qantas 767's and others are headed for freighter conversion. It could be impossible to get a similar aircraft down the road.

Good to hear. More frames = More flexibility. I'd like to see them on heavy domestic routes such as YYC-YYZ year round. AC runs 2 daily 763's I don't see why WS can't do at least 1 rotation per day. I'd even wager they can make them work on YEG/YVR-YYZ year round. It would also be good for YEG's pride to have some [token] domestic widebody service.

YEG jokes aside, I know people (myself included) who would prefer and even pay extra to fly economy cross county on a twin-aisle 767 versus the oh-so-awkward 3-3 config on 737's and 319/20/21's. Talking about Plus, the business case is definitely there, and especially if they go with 2-2-2 in this section. Price "Plus" at 2X economy and it will be full all the time. AC's Executive class fares, especially on the new "Transcontinental" (ie. domestic widebody) flights is way out of whack for the average to above average non-business traveler, however if WS can offer widebody Plus YYC-YYZ at their current 2X Econo fare with free food, booze, 2 checked bags and common-use lounge access they will sell every seat!

Couple more shots of the IFP below:


View from the top


Curb-Side Signage & Check-In Podiums

Originally Posted by Policy Wonk

It's more a timing and commonality issue than anything else, they aren't the only taker for the Qantas 767's and others are headed for freighter conversion. It could be impossible to get a similar aircraft down the road.

It's for sure that. People that fly WS aren't specifically jumping ship and booking WS based on the fact that they now have widebodies, and even if a handful of folks are, you don't drop a tenth of a billion dollars just for them.

[PPAR]

Originally Posted by lubicon

That's pretty significant about WestJet picking up a 5th 767. They must feel pretty good about the prospects or are seeing strong enough advance bookings that they feel confident about it. Good news for another ~10 pilots too who will get to upgrade.

Committed to 5 767s before they have flown one flight: Go big or go home! The shareholder in me just hopes they have it right...

[holhm22]

Awesome batch of updates this past few days yyc_engineer!

[evolv]

KLM AMS-YYC is a 77W today. If anyone is up at the airport today would be great spotting opportunity

[Bigtime]

Nuts, it's PH-BVC which is not in the new livery.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by outoftheice

Thanks for the great photo updates!! As someone who spends his time at YYC working with crews from across the country, I really wish they hadn't gone with the rubber floor option. I've lost track of the number of times I've heard people remark about the floors looking cheap and tacky and I must admit I share their opinion. I feel your comment about the floors belonging in a rec centre is bang on.... my first thought on seeing them was that they were something that belonged in a Good Life Fitness and not a multi-billion dollar airport improvement project.

Yep. UofC has started using it all over the place too, and it does feel cheap. Plus if you have even the teeniest bit of moisture on your shoes it squeaks I find.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by mersar

Yep. UofC has started using it all over the place too, and it does feel cheap. Plus if you have even the teeniest bit of moisture on your shoes it squeaks I find.

It may feel cheap, but that Nora flooring product is actually extremely expensive. I'd bet I'd get natural stone installed and sealed in my place for what the rubber costs UC. Maybe someone is getting a Sepp Blatter kickback.

I'm two minded about it though. It is very durable, and in places, they are putting it down instead of what historically would have been vinyl (which ages badly and looks extremely cheap).

[Rusty van Reddick]

I know I have to be patient, but I just got back from a conference in Ottawa and after spending time in their serene, light-filled, generally GORGEOUS airport and coming back to our hoarding-filled cluttered embarrassment was, well, embarrassing.

The situation with the gates at the end of the terminal- sorry don't have numbers memorized but past Starbucks where there are something like 5 gates clustered together- where all flights are departing at around the same time and the multiple boarding announcements with AC's overthought zone 1-5 system mean that nobody can tell which announcements are theirs is just pure headache inducement. In Ottawa I could hear the announcements perfectly clearly and there wasn't this cluster that I experienced in Calgary for flights to Toronto on April 29 and Ottawa last Sunday.