Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW/CYOW) 1.0

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Makes you wonder whether if that's to make up for all the oversells thanks to the 95% E90 equipment that started today?

If you do a dummy booking, you'll see that for the next week there's practically no Tango fares available...and Rapidair has a tonne of last-minute bookings.

There was quite a few cancellations due to the weather, but the fact they can't put pax on other flights may mean we see this more often.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

There was quite a few cancellations due to the weather, but the fact they can't put pax on other flights may mean we see this more often.

Ah that could be it with all the rain.

Interesting to note that AC442 this morning is upgauged to a 320.

[VaskoYOW]

WestJet to purchase 787-9 dreamliners. Wonder, if YOW would get one??? Perhaps on YOW-LGW.

http://globalnews.ca/news/3419579/westje...as-part-of-international-expansion-plan/

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by VaskoYOW

WestJet to purchase 787-9 dreamliners. Wonder, if YOW would get one??? Perhaps on YOW-LGW.

http://globalnews.ca/news/3419579/westje...as-part-of-international-expansion-plan/

I don't know if they are planning on keeping their 763s, but if they are, I think it's more likely one of those would serve YOW-LGW. Regardless, it would be nice to get non-stop service to LGW. It might also draw Transat looking for some competition.

[NOWINYOW]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

I don't know if they are planning on keeping their 763s, but if they are, I think it's more likely one of those would serve YOW-LGW. Regardless, it would be nice to get non-stop service to LGW. It might also draw Transat looking for some competition.

I would put money on the 767's being used primarily for leisure routes from Western Canada to Hawaii and such. Perhaps a seasonal 1x or 2x weekly YOW-Europe but I wouldn't count on it. WestJet will likely use the 767's in much the same way AC uses their Rouge 767's, with seasonal vacation spots.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by NOWINYOW

I would put money on the 767's being used primarily for leisure routes from Western Canada to Hawaii and such. Perhaps a seasonal 1x or 2x weekly YOW-Europe but I wouldn't count on it. WestJet will likely use the 767's in much the same way AC uses their Rouge 767's, with seasonal vacation spots.

I'm hoping for WestJet to eventually launch summer-seasonal nonstops out of YOW to LGW, DUB and GLA. The key is the 737MAX will easily be within range of all of these places. Therefore, I'd bet on the MAX. WS already do LGW 1-stop out of YOW on the YYT route. Surely the long-term plan would be for a nonstop once the right aircraft is in their fleet.

On a separate note, YYZ reports a record Q1 of growth: http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/gta...growth-at-toronto-pearson-621231003.html

In the first three months of 2017, Toronto Pearson experienced the largest ever first quarter increase in the number of total and international passengers. A total of 10.6 million passengers travelled through Toronto Pearson International Airport in the first three months of 2017, an increase of approximately 740,000 passengers over the same period in 2016. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2017, passenger activity in the international sector increased by approximately 620,000 passengers reflecting 9.6 per cent growth and the domestic sector increased by approximately 120,000 passengers reflecting 3.5 per cent growth over the same period in 2016.

+7.4% growth at YYZ in Q1 of 2017 vs. -0.5% at YOW. Something wrong with this picture YOW Airport Authority? And it's only going to get 'better' with 95% of Rapidair on the E90s now. Oh and YWG, which is in YOW's peer group, grew by 5.5% in Q1: http://www.waa.ca/media/news/article/757...inc-2017-first-quarter-results-unaudited.

If anyone's interested, the YOW Annual Public Meeting is today at 1600 at the Hilton at the airport.

[RomanR27]

ACA458 and AC477 will be served by a 77W tonight. Looks like we may be seeing these upgauges quite a bit now.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

ACA458 and AC477 will be served by a 77W tonight. Looks like we may be seeing these upgauges quite a bit now.

Agreed.

These might be due to weather. The 1400, 1600, 1800 and & 1900 Rapidairs today have all been cancelled. WS have also cxx a couple to YYZ.

[rocketphish]

This is a drill: Airport advises training exercise scheduled for Thursday night

The Ottawa Citizen
Published on: May 4, 2017 | Last Updated: May 4, 2017 4:48 PM EDT

The Ottawa International Airport Authority advises that the airport will be staging regularly scheduled training Thursday night.

“Don’t be alarmed if you see flames, smoke & emergency vehicles tonight – we’re conducting a training exercise on the airfield!” the airport tweeted Thursday afternoon.

Ottawa Airport @FlyYOW

Don’t be alarmed if you see flames, smoke & emergency vehicles tonight - we're conducting a training exercise on the airfield! #OttCity #YOW

2:00 PM - 4 May 2017

https://twitter.com/FlyYOW/status/860192456956153856

The exercise is likely to involve responders from Ottawa police, paramedics and fire services as well as other participants.

As is their usual procedure, the airport did not divulge the focus of the exercise, or how long it will last.

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...ng-exercise-scheduled-for-thursday-night

[RomanR27]

Another (smaller) upgauge today. Three cancellations, so AC462/467 will be served by an extra 763.

[Dominion301]

YOW's 2016 Annual Report is now online: http://ar-ra.yow.ca/2016/

[YOWflier]

I read over on Flyertalk that the number of check-in desks used by AC will be reduced on request of the Airport Authority.

Speculation on what's behind this?

I'm tempted to think that it's simply because more people are using automated kiosks and so forth, but then why would the airport care/ask for the reduction?

In order to avoid probable disappointment I'm resisting the urge to think this is because of expected/planned expansion by other/new(?) airlines.

[NOWINYOW]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

I read over on Flyertalk that the number of check-in desks used by AC will be reduced on request of the Airport Authority.

Speculation on what's behind this?

I'm tempted to think that it's simply because more people are using automated kiosks and so forth, but then why would the airport care/ask for the reduction?

In order to avoid probable disappointment I'm resisting the urge to think this is because of expected/planned expansion by other/new(?) airlines.

I wonder if the airport wants to expand the transborder desks. By and large what is there now is sufficient but there are times when the far north end gets real busy with WestJet and charter ops. Maybe some of the current charters that don't use TB gatespace will be moving into that area as well for their Florida ops?

A new airline with new destinations would be a nice addition as well.

[citydwlr]

I was at Pearson recently and had to check my bags in using an automated baggage handling system not unlike this:



Perhaps they are making room for something like that?

[NOWINYOW]

OAG for United shows a decrease to 2x daily for each of IAD and EWR, and 3x daily to ORD. This appears to be a seasonal adjustment as many cities throughout NA are seeing small decreases with UA.

[sgera]

Annual report shows slow growth in all segments to 2031 ... surprised to see such poor numbers. Transbordwr back down to 20 flights a day (1997 levels) after reaching a peak of 40. International has been lacklustre.

I've noticed in my own travel patterns (I'm a frequent flyer) that with the into of the 787's via yyz the number of direct flights to destinations like Istanbul and tel aviv and India have incremental and reduced my dependency or desire to use yow -> lhr or fra . The u.s flight flights have reached a poor level of service ... losing AC LGA was a disaster ... we already had EWR with united.

This airport authority has done a very poor job of growing over the last few years ... sure we've had government downsizing but that's over and the tech industry Is on the upside. We need some new competition against air Canada ... hope westjet, porter or others grab some territory

[daud]

Originally Posted by sgera

Annual report shows slow growth in all segments to 2031 ... surprised to see such poor numbers. Transbordwr back down to 20 flights a day (1997 levels) after reaching a peak of 40. International has been lacklustre.

I've noticed in my own travel patterns (I'm a frequent flyer) that with the into of the 787's via yyz the number of direct flights to destinations like Istanbul and tel aviv and India have incremental and reduced my dependency or desire to use yow -> lhr or fra . The u.s flight flights have reached a poor level of service ... losing AC LGA was a disaster ... we already had EWR with united.

This airport authority has done a very poor job of growing over the last few years ... sure we've had government downsizing but that's over and the tech industry Is on the upside. We need some new competition against air Canada ... hope westjet, porter or others grab some territory

Airlines are running the game, not the airport authority and airlines want to charge the YOW traveller a 300-500$ premium on anything that doesn't route through YYZ. I've given up.

there's a good market here for air travel both transborder and international-not huge but a decent market. The airlines are funneling us like cattle through YYZ and I don't think there is much the Airport authority can do about it.

[Truenorth00]

I am hoping that VIA's HFR proposal goes through. Super easy access to Montreal. And 3 hr ride by train to Pearson, would only be marginally less competitive with air given check in times. Especially if they can expedite the security and bag check process in Toronto with their proposed transit mega hub.

YOW is just not competitive. And never will be. The business case is just better for carriers in Toronto and Montreal.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

YOW's 2016 Annual Report is now online: http://ar-ra.yow.ca/2016/

The strangest thing to me is how they project an extra 2,000+ commercial aircraft movements this year, but also predicted another drop off in TB pax. I don't see how they would come to that conclusion, considering the main reason for A/C movements dropping is because of all the TB cuts.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by NOWINYOW

OAG for United shows a decrease to 2x daily for each of IAD and EWR, and 3x daily to ORD. This appears to be a seasonal adjustment as many cities throughout NA are seeing small decreases with UA.

Pretty much extending the cuts that have been around all year.

Originally Posted by RomanR27

The strangest thing to me is how they project an extra 2,000+ commercial aircraft movements this year, but also predicted another drop off in TB pax. I don't see how they would come to that conclusion, considering the main reason for A/C movements dropping is because of all the TB cuts.

At least they're finally acknowledging that transborder continues to decline.

As for aircraft movements, with AC upping frequencies to YYZ by 2/day (yet capacity continues to drop), someone there thinks that movements will magically increase...without factoring in PD's and the US carriers' cuts.

Originally Posted by daud

Airlines are running the game, not the airport authority and airlines want to charge the YOW traveller a 300-500$ premium on anything that doesn't route through YYZ. I've given up.

there's a good market here for air travel both transborder and international-not huge but a decent market. The airlines are funneling us like cattle through YYZ and I don't think there is much the Airport authority can do about it.

Compared to YOW's peer group, namely YWG, YHZ, YEG and even YQB, the YOW Airport Authority has done nothing to gain new routes/frequency/capacity. The others have fared quite well the past couple of years with new service announcements.

YOW never think outside the AC box...that is if they think about air service development at all.

Originally Posted by NOWINYOW

OAG for United shows a decrease to 2x daily for each of IAD and EWR, and 3x daily to ORD. This appears to be a seasonal adjustment as many cities throughout NA are seeing small decreases with UA.

Pretty much extending the cuts that have been around all year.

Originally Posted by RomanR27

The strangest thing to me is how they project an extra 2,000+ commercial aircraft movements this year, but also predicted another drop off in TB pax. I don't see how they would come to that conclusion, considering the main reason for A/C movements dropping is because of all the TB cuts.

At least they're finally acknowledging that transborder continues to decline.

As for aircraft movements, with AC upping frequencies to YYZ by 2/day (yet capacity continues to drop), someone there thinks that movements will magically increase...without factoring in PD's and the US carriers' cuts.

Originally Posted by daud

Airlines are running the game, not the airport authority and airlines want to charge the YOW traveller a 300-500$ premium on anything that doesn't route through YYZ. I've given up.

there's a good market here for air travel both transborder and international-not huge but a decent market. The airlines are funneling us like cattle through YYZ and I don't think there is much the Airport authority can do about it.

Compared to YOW's peer group, namely YWG, YHZ, YEG and even YQB, the YOW Airport Authority has done nothing to gain new routes/frequency/capacity. The others have fared quite well the past couple of years with new service announcements, even though all of them have also suffered from transborder losses.

YOW never think outside the AC box...that is if they think about air service development at all.

Originally Posted by daud

Airlines are running the game, not the airport authority and airlines want to charge the YOW traveller a 300-500$ premium on anything that doesn't route through YYZ. I've given up.

there's a good market here for air travel both transborder and international-not huge but a decent market. The airlines are funneling us like cattle through YYZ and I don't think there is much the Airport authority can do about it.

Agreed that airlines run the game and the lack of competition AC has at YOW is why they have no incentive to expand YOW....BUT the airport's job is to create the conditions that make it enticing for attracting a new air carrier are attracting an existing carrier to expand.

A big one is marketing, another is fees. Why can YHZ attract a weekly seasonal on Condor to MUC while YOW can't? Evidently YOW isn't on Condor's radar BUT I can guarantee you YOW would never even consider Condor on their radar, meaning we'll never get on Condor's radar.

YHZ just announced another new airline last week on a new transborder route and it's not on one of the big US3. It's on niche carrier Elite Airways. Not only did the YHZ Airport Authority think outside the box to attract a new air carrier, they're actually marketing the new service on YHZ' website (what a novel idea eh!): https://halifaxstanfield.ca/2017/05/elite-airways-enroute-halifax-stanfield/ along with DL's new YHZ-JFK route. The last new route added at YOW (i.e. DL's new daily LGA) had/has ZERO marketing by the Airport Authority. It's utter insanity that you totally avoid wanting to promote your airport's air service.

Another: Why did Bearskin leave? Two reasons: 1) Even though YOW likes to brag about 'among the lowest fees in Canada', their 19 seater fees are ridiculous. 2) You honestly think anyone at the YOW Airport Authority would have ever communicated with Bearskin about their service offerings and their situation at YOW? Not a chance.

Another: New Leaf serve YWG, YHZ and YEG, which are all within YOW's peer group, yet YOW's the only one not there. WHY?

This goes to show YOW desperate needs a new entrant to shake things up.