Calgary International Airport II - Page 207

Cage · #**4121** Posted **Dec 24, 2015, 4:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by evolv

Rumours of BA's trouble with this route have been ongoing since their perceived downgrade from 5 weekly 777 service to daily 767 (not much of a downgrade in my estimation). With the uptick to 789 service I think we can finally put those rumours to bed .

The current move has BA trying to push pax up their product food chain, so economy pax to world traveller plus, WT+ to business class, etc. This plan goes against the current North American market of shrinking premium cabin in favour of larger economy cabins.

Further, this move to 789 reintroduces first class to the market. The Canadian market does not have an adequate size and preference for First class travel. The corporate and government segments ban their travelers from first class. This includes the C-suite and government ministers.

LH tried going upscale a few times before pulling the plug on YYC.

Bigtime · #**4122** Posted **Dec 24, 2015, 4:23 PM**

I remember being on LH's YYC-FRA flight near the beginning on the A333 with First Class, I was in the first row of business and I think only one first class seat was occupied on that flight. Looked mighty nice though.

Cage · #**4123** Posted **Dec 24, 2015, 4:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Is there any way BA is actually seeing demand for F to YYC? Seems crazy to be putting the 789 on for just a slightly larger J and less economy seats.

Highly doubtful BA is seeing F demand, particularly in this economic climate. More likely is that BA is trying for Business and World Traveler Plus (premium economy) markets. The others in the market (AC, KLM, WS) are all economy focused with some of the highest number of economy seats for their respective aircraft.

This is BA giving up the bread and butter economy market because all the others have lower costs and instead focusing on product differentiation through unique offerings. I have yet to see anybody (including outside the airline industry) survive in Canada with a differentiation strategy (small high end boutiques in Toronto's Yorkville district excepted).

Bokimon · #**4124** Posted **Dec 24, 2015, 5:54 PM**

I too don't feel sure about YYC being ready for F products, especially how things are in the dumps right now for the next months to come.

Then again the 787s are fairly efficient so whatever baggage that may come with putting this product which likely may not be fully utilized be made up for cost efficiencies.

Maybe the seat count for the WT+ plus the J cabins are a little more to help take advantage of our type of market, otherwise they ought to bring the 777 back.
Overall good to hear AC and BA will have 789s in service alongside the default 788 and that of Hainan if that goes thru.

thenoflyzone · #**4125** Posted **Dec 25, 2015, 6:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

British Airways is bumping up some of their summer '16 service to the 789:

https://twitter.com/airlineroute/status/679721625718226944

May 7-June 3
July 27-August 15

Nice little surprise.

That's 1 day after WS begins YYC-LGW. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

DSC · #**4126** Posted **Dec 26, 2015, 3:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

That's 1 day after WS begins YYC-LGW. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

I don't think they stand a chance considering that Westjets flight to LGW is $871 and BA's is around $3300

DSC · #**4127** Posted **Dec 27, 2015, 5:47 AM**

Is KLM starting Dreamliner service to YYC, if so when?

Bigtime · #**4128** Posted **Dec 27, 2015, 6:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSC

Is KLM starting Dreamliner service to YYC, if so when?

Yes, 789 service starts November 2016.

lespoir · #**4129** Posted **Dec 28, 2015, 12:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I remember being on LH's YYC-FRA flight near the beginning on the A333 with First Class, I was in the first row of business and I think only one first class seat was occupied on that flight. Looked mighty nice though.

LH's short service to Calgary was a classic textbook study: their 3-class products could not compete categorically, because (1) the business class seats were angled 169 degrees flat, in comparison with AC's 180 degrees lie flat, yet they were priced the same way, (2) their first class seats were certainly 180 degrees roomy seats, but priced higher. So in the end, AC's product was considered to be between LH's business and the first class. I had twice that AC offered me to fly Lufthansa business class in order to have a better schedule for Frankfurt connection, and I refused.

Lufthansa had, or at least in those days, the business class product differentiating the first class and the economy, while AC only needed to have two cabin products. Many airlines still have this 169 degrees angled flat seat product, including the current KLM YYC-AMS, and many A330 routes. In Flyertalk, we used to call this product as the "water boarding" seat. Hate it very much.

Hopefully by the second half of 2016, all international flights, YYC-LHR, -NRT, -FRA, -AMS, possibly -PEK, have 787 planes, all with true 180 degrees lie-flat seats.

Bigtime · #**4130** Posted **Dec 28, 2015, 2:58 PM**

True about the LH biz seats, but I found their service more than made up for it. Plus the earlier arrival into FRA was perfect for my business trips over there. So completely anecdotally their service was great for me.

Canadian74 · #**4131** Posted **Dec 28, 2015, 11:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

, but I found their service more than made up for it.

^ This

Miss Lufthansa

DSC · #**4132** Posted **Dec 29, 2015, 6:13 AM**

Has Westjets service to Hawaii started yet?

Cage · #**4133** Posted **Dec 29, 2015, 9:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSC

Has Westjets service to Hawaii started yet?

On Westjet widebody metal, nope. WS is using leased airplane and crew until late January when they receive necessary ETOPS approval for their own aircraft to fly to Hawaii.

Bigtime · #**4134** Posted **Dec 29, 2015, 4:26 PM**

Correct, WS has wet-leased an Omni International 767-200 and 767-300 to operate the flights until their own 767's are ETOPS certified. No firm date but January 14 was floating out there at one point.

Another interesting rumour out there is that WS may not even be paying for the wet lease. The rumour strongly hinted to Boeing Capital Corporation (with whom WS bought their 767's from) is picking up the tab.

DSC · #**4135** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 3:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Correct, WS has wet-leased an Omni International 767-200 and 767-300 to operate the flights until their own 767's are ETOPS certified. No firm date but January 14 was floating out there at one point.

Another interesting rumour out there is that WS may not even be paying for the wet lease. The rumour strongly hinted to Boeing Capital Corporation (with whom WS bought their 767's from) is picking up the tab.

Ok does anyone know when the next flight is?

#**4136** Posted **Dec 30, 2015, 4:16 AM**

To clarify... the two WS 763's are currently flying back and forth between Toronto and Calgary. One is airborne at the moment.

An Omni 762 is flying YYC-HNL and YYC-OGG, while an Omni 763 is doing only OGG but from YEG as well as YYC.

The exact date that the WS 763's take over both OGG and HNL isn't firm.