Saskatoon and Regina Air Service - Page 62

Robag · #**1221** Posted **May 30, 2016, 4:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kattiff

That's quite odd, my friend works for Delta in Winnipeg (YWG is super sad about Regina losing the service btw) but at YWG Air Canada, WestJet, United and Delta are the only major airlines and they rebook passengers on each other's flights all the time. AC puts a lot of their oversold flights on WestJet. It is possible.

And your case with Flightnetwork, always the trouble with the third parity groups. It's called a "bulks tkt" and Delta could and usually would help you but it's more of a pain for the airline to do all of Flightnetworks worK, call Delta ask them to help. If they see it's because of the service ending I'm sure they would do something to accommodate you.

Finally on my 3rd attempt last Thursday, I got the right Delta agent and she gave me the flights I wanted. I think she understood more than the others I dealt with about the inconvenience that Delta is putting us through. She was surprised to hear how long Delta/Northwest served our city, and that they pulled out. At that same time, she said they were quite busy that day rearranging the flight void that Delta left us. Interesting stuff.

one_brick_at_a_time · #**1222** Posted **Jun 8, 2016, 8:57 AM**

So which airline/airlines do we think will fill the gap of international flights left by United and now Delta? Could the Regina Airport Authority lure in an airline with a cheaper landing/take off fee or tax exception sort of deal to get someone in there? Would Air Canada/West Jet consider international flights or more frequent international flights (Westjet) or even maybe trying to lure Porter to make Regina a western Hub for them to fly south?

Stormer · #**1223** Posted **Jun 8, 2016, 2:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

So which airline/airlines do we think will fill the gap of international flights left by United and now Delta? Could the Regina Airport Authority lure in an airline with a cheaper landing/take off fee or tax exception sort of deal to get someone in there? Would Air Canada/West Jet consider international flights or more frequent international flights (Westjet) or even maybe trying to lure Porter to make Regina a western Hub for them to fly south?

Air Canada will never do it. They want us to fly Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto. They are not interested in our convenience.

WestJet will only do it if they already have facilities and codeshare partner hub at the intended destination.

CoryB · #**1224** Posted **Jun 8, 2016, 2:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

even maybe trying to lure Porter to make Regina a western Hub for them to fly south?

I would bet that if Porter wants a western hub it will end up in YWG (Winnipeg). They can, and have, flown their Q400 fleet into Winnipeg with reduced passenger counts. Getting a Q400 from YTZ to YQR would be a challenge even if it was possible.

If YQR seriously wanted to chase someone to start up a hub New Leaf or Canada Jetlines would be much stronger prospects.

SkydivePilot · #**1225** Posted **Jun 8, 2016, 3:20 PM**

Well, right now, YQR is being massively expanded to attract aviation business; you never know.

Has airport construction recommenced?

jmt18325 · #**1226** Posted **Jun 8, 2016, 4:37 PM**

YWG has already been massively expanded.

CoryB · #**1227** Posted **Jun 8, 2016, 5:18 PM**

Not only has YWG been expanded but it has an established history of aviation maintenance and a newly established industry park adjacent to the airport which would easily be used to expand maintenance facilities if needed.

Edit: They actually have a 777 in right now for a major engine overhaul.

one_brick_at_a_time · #**1228** Posted **Jun 9, 2016, 5:18 AM**

The more I read up on Alaska Airlines, the more I could see them being a great choice for YQR, and they seem to be doing very well, plus with the Virgin Airlines acquisition, they will be even larger. Doesn't say they have any Canadian code share partners (perhaps I am wrong).

What about American Airlines or Southwest Airlines?

Does anyone know (though I would guess skydivepilot would know) the last time YQR went through a major airline loss like what has happened with United and then now Delta? How long did it take to get things back on track?

one_brick_at_a_time · #**1229** Posted **Jun 9, 2016, 8:39 AM**

Also, does anyone know why Air Canada doesn't fly from Regina to Edmonton? Was it always like this? Seems a little odd that WestJet would get the monopoly on this one.

jmt18325 · #**1230** Posted **Jun 9, 2016, 1:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Also, does anyone know why Air Canada doesn't fly from Regina to Edmonton? Was it always like this? Seems a little odd that WestJet would get the monopoly on this one.

Edmonton is a very weak market for Air Canada.

Stormer · #**1231** Posted **Jun 9, 2016, 3:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoryB

Not only has YWG been expanded but it has an established history of aviation maintenance and a newly established industry park adjacent to the airport which would easily be used to expand maintenance facilities if needed.

Edit: They actually have a 777 in right now for a major engine overhaul.

Is that at Standard Aero? I have heard their operation have shrunk drastically in recent years.

Stormer · #**1232** Posted **Jun 9, 2016, 3:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

The more I read up on Alaska Airlines, the more I could see them being a great choice for YQR, and they seem to be doing very well, plus with the Virgin Airlines acquisition, they will be even larger. Doesn't say they have any Canadian code share partners (perhaps I am wrong).

What about American Airlines or Southwest Airlines?

Does anyone know (though I would guess skydivepilot would know) the last time YQR went through a major airline loss like what has happened with United and then now Delta? How long did it take to get things back on track?

I hope they keep the Virgin America brand and business model. That airline is an absolute treat to fly on.

CoryB · #**1233** Posted **Jun 9, 2016, 3:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormer

Is that at Standard Aero? I have heard their operation have shrunk drastically in recent years.

Not sure where the Air China 777 that ended up at YWG on an impromptu visit was getting overhauled. I did see mention of the old Air Canada maintenance facility. You have to keep in mind that in addition to Standard Aero YWG is also home to a Boeing plant. With them and the former Air Canada maintenance operation there were educational programs specifically geared to training people for the industry. YWG is no stranger to being a maintenance base and has both the ground space and the slots needed to easily expand operations if someone such as Porter wanted to come here.

esquire · #**1234** Posted **Jun 9, 2016, 3:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormer

Is that at Standard Aero? I have heard their operation have shrunk drastically in recent years.

Not sure about their other sites, but their Winnipeg plant is roughly the same as it's been for years... around the 1,200-1,400 mark for employees depending on what's going on at any given point, and lately growing slightly as opposed to shrinking.

RepomanYWG · #**1235** Posted **Jun 9, 2016, 6:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoryB

Not sure where the Air China 777 that ended up at YWG on an impromptu visit was getting overhauled. I did see mention of the old Air Canada maintenance facility. You have to keep in mind that in addition to Standard Aero YWG is also home to a Boeing plant. With them and the former Air Canada maintenance operation there were educational programs specifically geared to training people for the industry. YWG is no stranger to being a maintenance base and has both the ground space and the slots needed to easily expand operations if someone such as Porter wanted to come here.

Air China flew in their own crew to make the repairs and were given a hand by a few AC folks as well an engineer from GE. They took it out of the AC hanger today to do some engine run ups. I'll post some pictures in the YWG thread later tonight. It's surprising how large those hanger actually are.

SkydivePilot · #**1236** Posted **Jun 10, 2016, 2:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

The more I read up on Alaska Airlines, the more I could see them being a great choice for YQR, and they seem to be doing very well, plus with the Virgin Airlines acquisition, they will be even larger. Doesn't say they have any Canadian code share partners (perhaps I am wrong).

What about American Airlines or Southwest Airlines?

Does anyone know (though I would guess skydivepilot would know) the last time YQR went through a major airline loss like what has happened with United and then now Delta? How long did it take to get things back on track?

The last major loss was was when Frontier Airlines stopped flying the Saskatoon-Regina-Minot-Denver milk run. Frontier flew B737-200s here between the summer of '81 to '86. In '87, Norcanair started a Saskatoon-Regina-Minneapolis run with a Convair 580 and a Fokker F-28. Then, in about 1989-90, Time Air flew to Minneapolis with an F-28 until 1995. Then in '95, Northwest Airlines started flying DC-9 and B727-type aircraft between YQR/YXE-MSP. (Each 2X daily.)

I hope this helps.

one_brick_at_a_time · #**1237** Posted **Jun 10, 2016, 4:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

The last major loss was was when Frontier Airlines stopped flying the Saskatoon-Regina-Minot-Denver milk run. Frontier flew B737-200s here between the summer of '81 to '86. In '87, Norcanair started a Saskatoon-Regina-Minneapolis run with a Convair 580 and a Fokker F-28. Then, in about 1989-90, Time Air flew to Minneapolis with an F-28 until 1995. Then in '95, Northwest Airlines started flying DC-9 and B727-type aircraft between YQR/YXE-MSP. (Each 2X daily.)

I hope this helps.

YIPEE! I knew you would know, SkyDive

Thank you! Ps, what is your guess with what will happen regarding direct USA flights from Regina? Who can you see taking it over?

wacko · #**1238** Posted **Jun 10, 2016, 6:39 PM**

Since Delta is one of WestJet's codeshare partners, couldn't WestJet be nudged to fly to Minneapolis if they have excess capacity?

SkydivePilot · #**1239** Posted **Jun 11, 2016, 2:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

YIPEE! I knew you would know, SkyDive

Thank you! Ps, what is your guess with what will happen regarding direct USA flights from Regina? Who can you see taking it over?

Hahaha!!!! Thanks!!! Well, I may have to confer with my crystal ball, lol!

Anyhow, little birdies are informing me that there is a shortage of pilots in the 'States. (Along with the fact that the U.S. economy is improving and that Delta will be more insular with regards to their service.)

The pay scale for pilots in the U.S. is shit.

Maybe WestJet will step up to the plate. Everyone knows that Regina's load factors were high.

casper · #**1240** Posted **Jun 11, 2016, 4:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wacko

Since Delta is one of WestJet's codeshare partners, couldn't WestJet be nudged to fly to Minneapolis if they have excess capacity?

I don't think they have correct type of aircraft for the route. WestJet smallest jet is over 100 passengers.

The Dash Q400 is a nice aircraft but is not great for long flight.