Calgary International Airport II

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by evolv

I doubt the airport authority spends any money subsidizing routes. They'd spend money to try and lure an airline and route offering but that would just be a minimal business development expense. Subsidization may come from tourism boards but then again I doubt it

Dont doubt it. That's exactly what happens. Tourism boards, airport authorities, even local & municipal governments pitch in money on a new route. Free advertising, waiving airport fees, etc. They are all forms of subsidies.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by PPAR

Edmonton is an interesting, if sad, case study in an interventionist approach to air service. They shut down a highly coveted airport in the central city to concentrate services at YEG, ran public campaigns to discourage use of YYC for transfer (even if that meant a worsened travel experience) and offered incentives to airlines willing to serve YEG (Iceland air). However, the biggest mistake was initiating a very public spat with the country's largest air carrier when they perceived that they were being slighted in service commitments. What they have forgotten is to ask what is best for the individual traveller, not what best serves the collective ego.

What you are seeing is a market that is contracting due to a poor economy served by an airport authority that the industry does not trust.

Let me preface this with I am a consumer and not airline insider. Edmonton needed to choose, 1 strong comprehensive airport with a variety of flights or a muni serving corporates from Calgary, feeding YYC and a horrifically underwhelming 'international' property. They made the right choice, YEG grew well, flight came even ^in the ever-present shadow of YYC, terminal expansion, parking, services, a hotel, air and non airside is going well and until the last 6-12, we were about bang on with flights, destinations and service given our market, location proximity to YYC. Yes our airport authority has had ups and downs, but AC has made it clear that if we want to fly south, ^^we YYC hub it and that does not sit well with us, maybe even justifies being publicly upset.

This aside, closing the muni has meant multiple new towers as our overlay is now removed... Hundreds of millions, maybe billions of new development, a new tallest ^in western Canada etc.

Losing SFO and ORD hurt, a lot, but YEG pax is still very respectable and the last ten yr run was pretty impressive.

I typically and purposefully connect through YVR or SEA over YYC, but more to plane watch, visit friends or pop into that city if time permits, less so because I want to avoid Calgary. Heck, I am NRT'ing it YYC stylez in Nov.

YEG will always have an uphill with less J customers, an AC 'sorta hub' nearby and being so far north, but looking to WJ, Delta, KLM, Iceland and other willing partners, YEG will endure.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by PPAR

They shut down a highly coveted airport in the central city to concentrate services at YEG

It was the right move. YXD's runways couldn't handle intercontinental traffic, let alone transatlantic. They had to consolidate all that traffic and give themselves a fighting chance if they ever wanted to have any kind of hub or focus city status. So one of the two had to go. They made the right call.

Same thing in Montreal with Mirabel. They made the right call consolidating everything at YUL. If Mirabel was still international and YUL domestic, AC would have never built up YUL the way it has in the last 10 years.

Originally Posted by PPAR

ran public campaigns to discourage use of YYC for transfer (even if that meant a worsened travel experience) and offered incentives to airlines willing to serve YEG (Iceland air).

Again, a good move in my book.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

YEG will always have an uphill with less J customers, an AC 'sorta hub' nearby and being so far north, but looking to WJ, Delta, KLM, Iceland and other willing partners, YEG will endure.

I agree with what you said, but I think a root cause of YEG air service issue is lack of take up on the buy-up opportunities. While the low buy-up to Business Class is understandable , even common to the overall Canadian market, YEG might also have a problem with local traffic not purchasing other options. Examples include: Buy on board food, advance seat selection, preferred seats/economy plus/economy comfort, mid range bundled fares like Flex, constantly flying airline A even when airline B is cheaper.

Purely anecdotal, but my 2014 experience on YEG-DEN with UA mainline Airbus is indicative of YEG problem. UA star silver got the family of three into E+ seats together or free. In fact it appeared the whole E+ cabin got there for free. on YYC UA flights I need star gold status and one month advance booking to be able to get three E+ seat together. In UA domestic runs, this requires atleast 6 weeks advance booking, otherwise we are flying two seats together and on person separated in the row close by. UA for the past 10 years has said that buy-up to E+ is critical to each routes profitability. This sentiment has been copied by DL and AA.

AA started the enhanced economy trend through More Room Throughout Coach ("MRTC"), UA responded with Economy Plus ("E+"). AA got rid of MRTC after a few years because the program required a small premium compared from AA pax compared to the competition to make the program a success. UA was able to monetize their E+ program because they could offer pax a choice. The program really took off once UA started selling E+ from their website or as annual subscriptions.

So from a YyC airport perspective, the YYc locals have to continue to support the buy-up programs in order for air service to remain. It is not just a factor of buying the cheapest seat and maintaining overall load factor.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by Acey

Nope. He said summer... PSP and PHX are not flying this summer. And oh yeah, Denver is only 1 daily until 10/6 when it becomes 2. Never 3.

YEG-DEN just got cut to once daily year-round in UA's latest sched adjustment. So looks like UA will remain twice daily only in the winter as well (DEN and IAH).
DL also reducing YEG-SEA in the winter from planned twice daily to once daily only. There will be two daily around peak Xmas period only.

These cuts will continue to help YYC's numbers as more pax will be funnelled through YYC.

[Johnny Aussie]

Just saw on YYC's Twitter....

Today is the launch of the seasonal ZRH flights.

First flight WK14 is on their A333 arriving in about 40 minutes.

FR24 has touch down ETA @ 1334.

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

YEG-DEN just got cut to once daily year-round in UA's latest sched adjustment. So looks like UA will remain twice daily only in the winter as well (DEN and IAH).
DL also reducing YEG-SEA in the winter from planned twice daily to once daily only. There will be two daily around peak Xmas period only.

These cuts will continue to help YYC's numbers as more pax will be funnelled through YYC.

DL SEA cut isn't really a cut as the initial sked given was just seasonal. Winter frequency was in error. UA cut was known. Still possible upguage to A319 for longer than just September.

[yyc_engineer]

The South access (off McKnight Blvd) to the McKnight viewing area is closing for road widening, June 5th until the end of summer. Viewing area can still be accessed from the North side (turn at the new Shell/McDonald's plaza)

[yyc_engineer]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Today is the launch of the seasonal ZRH flights.

First flight WK14 is on their A333 arriving in about 40 minutes.

Stunning Aircraft!


http://i.imgur.com/B04RjWY.jpg

(note: photo not mine, but was too good not to share!)

[The Chemist]

Originally Posted by yyc_engineer

Stunning Aircraft!


http://i.imgur.com/B04RjWY.jpg

(note: photo not mine, but was too good not to share!)

That's a pretty horrific livery, IMO. Not classy in the slightest.

[casper]

Originally Posted by The Chemist

That's a pretty horrific livery, IMO. Not classy in the slightest.

Yes, very odd. The yellow thing exploding on the tail is very odd. Painting explosions onto aircrafts is just weird. The rest of it is also odd.

Originally Posted by casper

Yes, very odd. The yellow thing exploding on the tail is very odd. Painting explosions onto aircrafts is just weird. The rest of it is also odd.

Though I doubt casper is serious with this post, the Wikipedia entry on what is obviously a flower on the tail...

Leontopodium alpinum, commonly called edelweiss, is a well-known mountain flower... As a scarce, short-lived flower found in remote mountain areas, the plant has been used as a symbol for alpinism, for rugged beauty and purity associated with the Alps and Carpathians, and as a national symbol especially of Austria, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Romania.

[Bigtime]

Opinions of liveries are just like opinions on art, everyone is going to have their own opinion on it. Myself, I like the Edelweiss livery, some nice bold colour in a world of so much Euro-White.

More importantly though is that they are back after quite a few years absence running some summer flights, good for our international numbers and tourism sector.

[Riise]

Originally Posted by yyc_engineer

THIS. Something I have been advocating for a while. It's time to get creative.

PDX-YYC-LHR
GEG-YYC-FRA
SEA-YYC-ZRH
PSP-YYC-LGW
LAS-YYC-CDG (once WS starts flying to Paris )

I've read on Twitter that Delta is starting a PDX-LHR flight in the near future. Would this be a bit of a blow to the strategy?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Riise

I've read on Twitter that Delta is starting a PDX-LHR flight in the near future. Would this be a bit of a blow to the strategy?

I'm guessing it will all come down to price, most seem to go with the cheapest option and if connecting in YYC wins out it may be all good.

[Derek]

The Delta PDX-LHR is only a 4x weekly flight from May-October and doesn't begin until next year. There's still plenty of connection opportunities for YYC from PDX.

[MrBigStuff]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Opinions of liveries are just like opinions on art, everyone is going to have their own opinion on it. Myself, I like the Edelweiss livery, some nice bold colour in a world of so much Euro-White.

More importantly though is that they are back after quite a few years absence running some summer flights, good for our international numbers and tourism sector.

The world needs more loud colors in it. Besides - the aircraft is easier to spot with the nice bright colors.

[Bigtime]

I wish Air Canada would give us a retrojet in this livery:

[MrBigStuff]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I wish Air Canada would give us a retrojet in this livery:

If I'm not mistaken - AC has an Airbus A318 - that has the old TCA paint job on it. I wouldn't know where to find a pic - but I have seen it parked here @ YYC. I think it might be used more for charter use than anything else.

Oh!! the days of DC8's and Viscounts - when there was no danger of hijackings or other bad stuff!!

[Blader]

^^^
It's a 319
Link to Google images:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=air+canad...hUGFVIKHdsADZ4Q_AUIBygB&biw=1280&bih=800
Click on image to enlarge.