YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by Hourglass

Correct. Here's a link to the bulletin itself (in Simplified Chinese): http://www.caac.gov.cn/C1/201511/t20151112_83006.html

Running it through Google Translate: "Tianjin Airlines Company Limited application since June 2016, the opening of Chongqing - Tianjin - Vancouver round-trip passenger flights, four flights a week, using the model A330."

Don't know why it's Tianjin Airlines, either, as I didn't think they had any widebody aircraft capable of flying to North America.

In the China Daily article this is answered they are acquiring an A330 from Hainan. Either a new one they will transfer to Tianjin or perhaps a current one.

[Hourglass]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

In the China Daily article this is answered they are acquiring an A330 from Hainan. Either a new one they will transfer to Tianjin or perhaps a current one.

Ah, didn't see the China Daily article. Thx Johnny

[Denscity]

Sounds like YEGs rumoured new flight is to Asia and goes through YVR. I wonder where its going?

[nname]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Sounds like YEGs rumoured new flight is to Asia and goes through YVR. I wonder where its going?

More hints from the thread:
- its 3x weekly flight
- start in next March
- the airiness already serve 2 cities in Canada
- its not EVA Air

If its some airlines from China, there would be a CAAC application by now?

ANA, Japan Airlines, and China Airlines only serves YVR

That's leave only Cathay Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and Korean Air.

Maybe PR will increase YVR back to 11x weekly? Maybe KE will increase to daily year-round? Maybe CX will increase back to 17x weekly and fly some of their new A350 (due in Feb) here? Seems to be good for YVR either way

[sacrifice333]

I'm thinking out loud here... but all we need is BKK (Bangkok), SIN (Singapore), and KUL (Kuala Lumpur) and we'd pretty much be the defacto North American Asian-city airline hub!

What other major Asian cities would you want on the list of non-stops?

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by nname

More hints from the thread:
- its 3x weekly flight
- start in next March
- the airiness already serve 2 cities in Canada
- its not EVA Air

If its some airlines from China, there would be a CAAC application by now?

ANA, Japan Airlines, and China Airlines only serves YVR

That's leave only Cathay Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and Korean Air.

Maybe PR will increase YVR back to 11x weekly? Maybe KE will increase to daily year-round? Maybe CX will increase back to 17x weekly and fly some of their new A350 (due in Feb) here? Seems to be good for YVR either way

Yeah this speculation has been going for awhile. It's been fun trying to figure it out. I was leaning to EVA as the scheduling and frequencies seemed to fit the model. But since that has been ruled out...

And apparently a CAAC approval is not needed so rule out the Chinese carriers. It would be needed as adding a new foreign city requires approval for Chinese carriers.

Just to add it will be a late evening departure from YEG which obviously means a late evening departure from YVR too.

So if it is KE that would mean they would either be switching some (or all) flights to a late night departure (less likely) or be adding more flights (more likely). Perhaps daily early afternoon departure YVR only then adding a 3 weekly evening flight that originates in YEG. Very few KE NA flights leave in the evenings... Almost all leave in the afternoon. So adding evening flights from YVR would appear unlikely. In addition, it's been publicly stated their growth plans to NA are on hold at the moment. So unlikely it's KE anyway.

CX and PR would also fit into the model as you suggest.

PR has really struggled to make YYZ viable and are reducing it to thrice weekly only when they do the next sched change in March... And as we all know the Filipino population in YYZ is just massive. Yes we don't know the yields but I'm sure would be very low and you would have to have huge VFR volumes to make it work. Also, since the new YEG service is to commence in March which is when PR is cancelling the three weekly standalone flights and reducing YYZ to three weekly... Only to add the YVR terminating flights back again would be very odd. They would have just kept them to sell and then just add on YEG when announced. Even if a schedule change were needed this scenario would be strange. Just don't see this is as a viable plan if this happens.
As of 2011 Filipino population by metro area Stats Canada:
YYZ 230,000
YVR 112,000
YWG 57,000
YYC 50,000
YEG 40,000

So maybe it is CX then?

[Canadian74]

Originally Posted by sacrifice333

I'm thinking out loud here... but all we need is BKK (Bangkok), SIN (Singapore), and KUL (Kuala Lumpur) and we'd pretty much be the defacto North American Asian-city airline hub!

What other major Asian cities would you want on the list of non-stops?

DEL
and for Europe, IST

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by Canadian74

DEL
and for Europe, IST

DEL is more of a when than an if.

Not putting too much into the AC Investor Day 2018 network opportunity map..... But...

Edit: interesting little note... The 2018 Network opportunity map shown at the Investor Day presentation and the one used at the Boyd Conference in August is slightly different. The former one has BKK linked nonstop to YYZ, the latter one has BKK linked nonstop to YVR.

YVR-TPE I see as more likely than not.
YVR-NGO on rouge is more likely.
YVR-SIN the more I think about it... I'm going out on a limb but the more I think this may actually be something that does eventuate... With the correct equipment it just might work.
YVR-BKK happening much less likely... Despite BKK being the large Star Alliance hub for TG. I would be surprised though.

As for Europe I still see YVR-CDG and YVR-FRA as likely routes. CDG perhaps rouge and FRA perhaps a Dreamliner route.

[Hot Rod]

Johnny, Im a little confused with your previous post and your intended position.

doesn't YVR already have TPE flights? I wouldn't count that as a new opportunity when two airlines already serve the route. or are you saying that TPE would be a new route for AC. I'd love to see Kaohsiung get some YVR love, personally - a city very similar to YVR.

I agree that the return of Singapore, the addition of Bangkok, maybe a Rouge to NGO, and Ill throw this out there - Vietnam Airlines (Saigon perhaps); along with the China announcements and likely more, Vancouver would be the undisputed NA gateway to Asia.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Canadian74

DEL
and for Europe, IST

I think IST would be great, too.

[Hourglass]

Originally Posted by Hot Rod

Johnny, Im a little confused with your previous post and your intended position.

doesn't YVR already have TPE flights? I wouldn't count that as a new opportunity when two airlines already serve the route. or are you saying that TPE would be a new route for AC. I'd love to see Kaohsiung get some YVR love, personally - a city very similar to YVR.

I agree that the return of Singapore, the addition of Bangkok, maybe a Rouge to NGO, and Ill throw this out there - Vietnam Airlines (Saigon perhaps); along with the China announcements and likely more, Vancouver would be the undisputed NA gateway to Asia.

Jakarta **cough cough**. Huge population, growing economy, and a plenty of resources industries. Vietnam probably more likely, though neither likely to happen anytime soon.

In addition to NGO, I'd love to see flights start up again to Fukuoka (recall CP did this route ages ago?).

Now SQ is getting their A350s, maybe the economics could work for a nonstop SIN flight.

BKK might make sense for AC since Thai seems to be pulling back from North America. Perhaps a codeshare with TG? More sense for Rouge given likely high levels of leisure traffic, although I guess Rouge doesn't have the aircraft to do this.

[Gordon]

How about Bamgkok via Singapore.
The extension to pier A any one know if it will end up being like the AC regional \commuter terminal

[EdmontonTraveller]

Flew home via YVR on WS 1755 from SNA on Wednesday. Was surprised to find some pilot project going on where I did not claim connecting luggage at Canada Customs. Was directed over to Canada Connections for formalities then guided past the AC connections desk and dumped landside beside the totem. The AC desk was open, but it appeared that I couldn't use AC's shortcut so had to re-clear security at A/B.

Wish I had asked some questions, but I was travelling with some very impatient flyers. Anyone have details on how the baggage piece works? Image the baggage at SNA??? Or simply go hunting for any pieces CBSA wants to inspect based solely on interview? It appears that CBSA had manifest w/ checked luggage info, but not certain.

How long has this pilot been running?

Has anyone tested NEXUS line(s) vs. AC Canada Connections @ YVR to see which is more consistent/faster?

[Cage]

Originally Posted by EdmontonTraveller

Flew home via YVR on WS 1755 from SNA on Wednesday. Was surprised to find some pilot project going on where I did not claim connecting luggage at Canada Customs. Was directed over to Canada Connections for formalities then guided past the AC connections desk and dumped landside beside the totem. The AC desk was open, but it appeared that I couldn't use AC's shortcut so had to re-clear security at A/B.

Wish I had asked some questions, but I was travelling with some very impatient flyers. Anyone have details on how the baggage piece works? Image the baggage at SNA??? Or simply go hunting for any pieces CBSA wants to inspect based solely on interview? It appears that CBSA had manifest w/ checked luggage info, but not certain.

How long has this pilot been running?

Has anyone tested NEXUS line(s) vs. AC Canada Connections @ YVR to see which is more consistent/faster?

There are separate USA to Canada connections procedures for AC and WS. Your pilot project appears to be an attempt at bringing WS onto the AC connections experience.

AC connections experience has one going through primary inspection line (that all of Nexus, Automated Passport Kiosks, or traditional CBSA border guard), pick up luggage, follow signs for Canada Connections, drop bag at the bag belt (unless connection is within 45 minutes) and proceed to level 4 for AC connections desk (if your connection is less than 45 minutes) or through domestic connections security. Once through domestic connections security on takes an elevator down to level three by concourse C.

WS connections experience is traditionally that one has to go through primary inspection line, picked up luggage, and exited through the same line as Vancouver pax. The Westjet connections counter was then located in the international reception lounge along with cruise ship connections.

From your description, it looks like WS is trying out emulating the AC experience.

Yes you could have used AC short cut and gone through the AC connections security lane. Infact I have used that connections security line when coming off the RAV/Canada line. At the piont you are at AC connections desk, that area is considered landside and is not part of the secure terminal area.

My latest complaint with YVR security is that they constantly use the Nexus lane for training purposes. So it is among the slowest lanes in the airport. I was last through YVR at the beginning of the month and should have used the connections security lane.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by Hourglass

Jakarta **cough cough**. Huge population, growing economy, and a plenty of resources industries. Vietnam probably more likely, though neither likely to happen anytime soon.

In addition to NGO, I'd love to see flights start up again to Fukuoka (recall CP did this route ages ago?).

Now SQ is getting their A350s, maybe the economics could work for a nonstop SIN flight.

BKK might make sense for AC since Thai seems to be pulling back from North America. Perhaps a codeshare with TG? More sense for Rouge given likely high levels of leisure traffic, although I guess Rouge doesn't have the aircraft to do this.

Wow... CP did FUK? I'd like to see Busan, Korea. As well as Saigon, Singapore (obviously) and Manila.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Wow... CP did FUK? I'd like to see Busan, Korea. As well as Saigon, Singapore (obviously) and Manila.

CP did NRT and NGO.
AC did KIX.

I'm pretty sure YVR never had a scheduled link to FUK. The odd charter though yes.

[Johnny Aussie]

Yukon's hometown airline has just updated their summer 2016 schedules.

Perhaps noticing a bit of slow down with northern travel?

YVR-YXY being cut from 13 to 12 weekly.

YYC/YEG-YXY being cut from 6 to 3 weekly.

Always subject to change of course.....

Westjet holding on to its three weekly YVR-YXY as its stands now.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by Hot Rod

Johnny, Im a little confused with your previous post and your intended position.

doesn't YVR already have TPE flights? I wouldn't count that as a new opportunity when two airlines already serve the route. or are you saying that TPE would be a new route for AC. I'd love to see Kaohsiung get some YVR love, personally - a city very similar to YVR.

Sorry.. I should have clarified. Yes, I mean AC adds its own flights to TPE. I would add CAN as well, but AC has that city connected nonstop to YYZ in their 2018 network opportunity map. How dare they!!

[Hot Rod]

Neurons, we already have Manila.

Hourglass, I was also thinking Jakarta as the last major city missing from our list + Kuala Lampor. But I didn't list it becasue I think it is somewhat of a longshot unless it could be combined with Bangkok or Vietnam. I wouldn't want to delay those two higher potential routes just to also get Jakarta though, nothing wrong with connecting from SIN, BKK, or SGN.

For Pacific routes, I think we talked about Brisbane (which is coming, right?) but Melbourne is the missing whale and possibly Perth. Should YVR go after a Guam flight and maybe somewhere else in the middle of the Pacific? Guam is a huge United (Continental) hub, A/C should make a go of it and I think Rouge would work.

What about Russia? I am so surprised there never seems to be any interest in Russia flights even though Vancouver is the closest major city in NA to Russia. Isn't there also a Russian population in the city? I'm surprised no Aeroflot and no AC interest. ...

.....

Exciting times for YVR - we're coming up with exotic locations and not even worried about adding any more Europe.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Hot Rod

Neurons, we already have Manila.
.....
Exciting times for YVR - we're coming up with exotic locations and not even worried about adding any more Europe.

My only exception to that would be adding Istanbul