YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion

[Gordon]

Would these YVr Europe flights not be departing late afternoon early evening departures? the 10AM - 2PM period is still going to be very tight. I would think gates 90 92 will get alot more use.

can YvR absorb more capacity ont the FRA route?

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by Gordon

Would these YVr Europe flights not be departing late afternoon early evening departures? the 10AM - 2PM period is still going to be very tight. I would think gates 90 92 will get alot more use.

can YvR absorb more capacity ont the FRA route?

The new FRA flight will be on the ground at YVR from 1055 - 1225.

Yes YVR-FRA can absorb more capacity... this has been planned for awhile.

In fact, Condor's latest schedule update has bumped YVR up to daily next summer. I don't know if this is a case of just schedule shuffling (ie add then pull back) but right now DE is showing daily flights next summer.

[sacrifice333]

ACs new YVR->FRA route currently showing 2 Business Class award-seats per flight for most of the schedule, FYI.

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Yes, this means YYZ-LGW has been reduced to only 4 weekly next summer. And, yes, there still appear to be unused frequencies... Perhaps not done yet?

Slots? They should be almost fully utilised now next summer during that time. Very very little wriggle room left.



The YVR-FRA launch has been on the cards for years. Another tick off the 2018 Network Opportunities map!

YYC-FRA should be safe from a downgauge. As for YYC with its new Int'l terminal, I'll bet the CAA was hoping AC would announce something new from there. They aren't giving YYC any love.

Right now the second YVR-LHR remains in the cards and is actually scheduled to be upgauged to a 789 from a 788 next summer. Of course this can change but AC is getting close to finalising summer 2017. Or perhaps the 789 is pulled and sent somewhere else?!

Plus we have TS increasing YVR-MAN to 3x weekly next summer (YYC-MAN cancelled).

We will see what Westjet does when they finalise 2017 as well... Will they increase YVR-LGW to daily?

UK August Stats for YVR-UK were just huge. All four routes showing gains and total traffic smashed through 100,000 pax just to London!! (LHR and LGW combined).

http://www.caa.co.uk/uploadedFiles/CAA/C..._Intl_Air_Pax_Traffic_Route_Analysis.pdf

All in all YVR-Europe will see another big summer next year for sure!

YVR's press release for the two new services...

http://www.yvr.ca/en/media/news-releases...-service-to-frankfurt-and-london-gatwick

[zahav]

I know this is going to sound like I'm whining (and I think it's because we've been pretty spoiled in the good news department lately!), but I'm a little disappointed we aren't getting new destinations, these routes are already served by multiple carriers. Still great news and awesome that Air Canada has that confidence in YVR and is deploying capacity on new routes, but I wish those planes could be used on routes to new cities. You know, make our destinations-served list even better :p

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by zahav

I know this is going to sound like I'm whining (and I think it's because we've been pretty spoiled in the good news department lately!), but I'm a little disappointed we aren't getting new destinations, these routes are already served by multiple carriers. Still great news and awesome that Air Canada has that confidence in YVR and is deploying capacity on new routes, but I wish those planes could be used on routes to new cities. You know, make our destinations-served list even better :p

These are still routes that many of us are actually flying and more options and competition is always great! I just hope Christmas time would see more flights as everything seems to be for summer. Many people travel home around Christmas.

[vanlaw]

Originally Posted by Klazu

These are still routes that many of us are actually flying and more options and competition is always great! I just hope Christmas time would see more flights as everything seems to be for summer. Many people travel home around Christmas.

More options are great, but the problem with AC running this route is that I'm not sure there will be a whole lot of price competition as both AC and LH are star alliance partners.I checked for next September (usually when prices come down a bit after the peak of summer), and AC had basically come in and matched LH's fares, which are generally on the more expensive side for for YVR to Europe direct. I do hope I'm wrong though and that there is some price competition between the two.

[nname]

Originally Posted by Klazu

These are still routes that many of us are actually flying and more options and competition is always great! I just hope Christmas time would see more flights as everything seems to be for summer. Many people travel home around Christmas.

I'm sure AC will need to find some work for these additional planes instead of parking them somewhere for the entire winter...

Still waiting for news about the colorful tail

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by zahav

I know this is going to sound like I'm whining (and I think it's because we've been pretty spoiled in the good news department lately!), but I'm a little disappointed we aren't getting new destinations, these routes are already served by multiple carriers. Still great news and awesome that Air Canada has that confidence in YVR and is deploying capacity on new routes, but I wish those planes could be used on routes to new cities. You know, make our destinations-served list even better :p

For several years I ranted about getting Paris year-round (driving people crazy), and YVR finally got it with Air France in 2015. I was thrilled.
Recently, I understand Craig Richmond mentioned Barcelona, 'tho I'm sure that would be summer seasonal, (maybe on Norwegian, which is setting up a base there).
Istanbul was hotly discussed until the recent Turkish instability brought on by Recep Erdogan, who is abadoning Turkish secularism and trying to make the country Islamist.
Another route I bet would work out - maybe even year-round, might be Rome, given the big Italian population in Vancouver. It was listed as being in high demand, but others say not.
Right now we only have LHR, FRA, AMS, and CDG year-round. I'd sure love to see a couple more - and I bet YVR could swing it, given the surge in European pax #s.

[Johnny Aussie]

But YVR has added so many new routes in the last 12 months though??

The reality is capacity is going to be allocated where the numbers are.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

But YVR has added so many new routes in the last 12 months though??

The reality is capacity is going to be allocated where the numbers are.

In the last year or two European pax numbers have surged. So why not another European destination, maybe two?

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by nname

I'm sure AC will need to find some work for these additional planes instead of parking them somewhere for the entire winter...

Still waiting for news about the colorful tail

Be patient about the colourful tail!! 😁

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by Klazu

These are still routes that many of us are actually flying and more options and competition is always great! I just hope Christmas time would see more flights as everything seems to be for summer. Many people travel home around Christmas.

YVR - Europe still highly seasonal. That's the reality folks.

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by vanlaw

More options are great, but the problem with AC running this route is that I'm not sure there will be a whole lot of price competition as both AC and LH are star alliance partners.I checked for next September (usually when prices come down a bit after the peak of summer), and AC had basically come in and matched LH's fares, which are generally on the more expensive side for for YVR to Europe direct. I do hope I'm wrong though and that there is some price competition between the two.

I suspect that the LH/AC joint venture ensures that the both of them will do quite well. I wouldn't wait for any big price drops..

Anyone know how LH got dibs to YVR-FRA? I always wondered why there wasn't a complementary AC flight like at YYZ or YUL.

YVR certainly has seen a lot of AC love. I'm not sure if the frequency bump of YVR-DUB was mentioned in the thread as well. And what's with LGW? was WS going to resume LGW service in 2017? I totally didn't see AC/rouge going for Gatwick.

[SFUVancouver]

Interesting that Condor (Germany's AirTransat, essentially) is going daily this coming summer. I think that I mentioned a while back that my girlfriend and I flew to Frankfurt on the August long weekend with a week's lead time on our flight booking and managed to find $200 one way fares, taxes and fees included. I fully expect that was an extraordinarily lucky find, but I'm happy to see an international carrier at YVR steeply discount a flights during peak periods. Google Flights was how we found the flight.

[Johnny Aussie]

YVR still leading the big 4 in growth even though in Sept YYZ had just insane growth of 12.4%... Just edging YVR's 12.2% growth.

For YTD ending 30 Sept 2016:

YYZ up 7.7% to 33.9M
YVR up 9.2% to 17.0M
YUL up 6.8% to 12.8M
YYC up 1.4% to 11.9M

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

YVR - Europe still highly seasonal. That's the reality folks.

I know, but it would be nice if YVR would see a bump especially around Christmas when demand is high for few weeks. It would also be nice to have Icelandicair year-round, like they do to Seattle and Edmonton (of all places).

I have never considered that now also DUB is an option for flying to Finland, but I am not sure if that connects so well. I recall the airport not being the greatest when I was there back in 2008.

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

I think that I mentioned a while back that my girlfriend and I flew to Frankfurt on the August long weekend with a week's lead time on our flight booking and managed to find $200 one way fares, taxes and fees included.

There were some ridiculously cheap flights to Europe this summer. I recal seeing prices even less than that on YVRdeals.com. Not sure why that was the case for few months.

[teriyaki]

Originally Posted by Klazu

I know, but it would be nice if YVR would see a bump especially around Christmas when demand is high for few weeks. It would also be nice to have Icelandicair year-round, like they do to Seattle and Edmonton (of all places).

I have never considered that now also DUB is an option for flying to Finland, but I am not sure if that connects so well. I recall the airport not being the greatest when I was there back in 2008.



There were some ridiculously cheap flights to Europe this summer. I recal seeing prices even less than that on YVRdeals.com. Not sure why that was the case for few months.

If you're flexible with time, deals to Europe come up quite frequently in the summer and end of summer. Condor and Air transat are the ones to watch as they try to fill their planes up as it gets closer to the date.

The new entry by Air France certainly pushed some competition into the arena and we saw lots of deals to Paris this last year on multiple carriers as they all tried to fight for a piece of the pie.

Same with flights to Asia now actually. If your dates are not during super high season like holidays. It is very easy to find a good deal, ones that would've been called "insane deals" just a few years back are becoming the norm. Yes, you might have to transit in PVG or PEK for some odd long hours. I'll happily do it to save a few hundred dollars.

[casper]

Originally Posted by nname

Right now all gate would have at least 2 or maybe even 3 flights within the time frame as each flight stay at gate for less than 2 hours. I don't think Call to Gate system would save much time over that with the extra cost of going to/from the remote stand....

Unlike the one CTG airport in Canada (that will remain nameless), YVR has an assortment of high end shops with quite a diverse selection as well as fish tanks and pools to amuse passengers. That slows them down and provides something to do other that congregate around the gate.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by casper

Unlike the one CTG airport in Canada (that will remain nameless), YVR has an assortment of high end shops with quite a diverse selection as well as fish tanks and pools to amuse passengers. That slows them down and provides something to do other that congregate around the gate.

Perhaps that's why YVR keeps winning awards from numerous organisations!

At the end of the day, call-to-gate or not, YVR is attracting most, if not all, new international routes in Western Canada and it doesn't seem to be slowing down... still more to come!!

One thing is for sure though.... The terminal expansion announcement can't come soon enough!!!

[zahav]

I posted this in the YYC forum, since they haven't really seen anything for expansion from Westjet or Air Canada and they are discussing possible future routes. Last paragraph I did a comparison on AC's routes and equipment. YVR by next summer will have 36 international+transborder non-stop destinations on AC family, 24 of which will be operated on widebodies. YYC will have 14, and only 4 routes operating widebodies. YYC also doesn't have any other Star Alliance flights inernationally, whereas YVR has Tokyo Haneda (ANA), Bejing (CA), Taipei (BR), Auckland (AZ), Frankfurt (LH), and Munich (LH). Quite a big difference in service between the two, and these numbers don't even reflect frequency differences.

Originally Posted by zahav

The thing with Westjet now is that they consider Toronto as important (and arguably more so) than Calgary. And for those east cost cities (and so many other secondary US cities, as well as Caribbean etc.) it makes way more financial sense for them to funnel people through Pearson. They are exploiting that hub now more than ever. Calgary still doesn't have a super large O&D with those cities, and Vancouver and Edmonton are the only cities that might make sense to funnel through YYC (other prairie cities make more sense to funnel into Toronto since they are going in that direction to the east coast anyways). But even with YVR and YEG potential to connect in YYC, they still make more sense to channel everything through Toronto. I hope Westjet gives more love to us in Western Canada, but for certain expansion markets, it all seems to be focused on Toronto.

As for Air Canada, they long ignored western canada too but seem to finally be starting to build up their YVR presence at least. Who knows if they will start announcing new YYC routes (i know, this has been discussed ad nausem on these threads...). But there is hope, YVR was not getting much new from them until last couple years either. Now, all changed. Just today they announced daily 787 service to Frankfurt (on top of Lufthansa's daily 747), and 3x weekly Rouge to Gatwick (the 3 flights are pulled from Toronto, who are going from daily down to 4 weekly, so one plane will do YVR 3x and YYZ 4x).

At this point YYC seems more like a large focus city for AC, rather than a hub. Just for a numbers comparison for international service (incl. transborder). From YVR, AC offers service to 36 destinations, 26 of which are operated by widebody heavy aircraft. That's almost 3/4 of flights operated by large capacity planes. From YYC, they offer service to 14 destinations, only 4 of which are widebody heavy aircraft. Those 4 widebodies are 787-9 (x2), 787-8 (x1), and 763 (x1). YVR has tons of 773HD and more frequencies on those 36 routes as well.