YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion

[YVR Bruce]

In past years, both YVR and LHR have put out press comments saying the Sunday closest to Aug 19th (each year) would statistically have the highest passenger counts.

So today would be the day! But I'm thinking some fully flexible-paid seats might be empty on BA/LH etc due to the smoke... And the cancelled regional flights. Holidays in the province not quite so good at the moment.

[Gordon]

Pier D:

Is there room for for 2 hold rooms between Gates D55 & D58. It looks like the new remote stands may be in use because the 15:00 CAP to HKG departed from gate D57.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by casper

For WestJet, my guess is Europe in summer. What they probably want to fly to a major hub in Asia (e.g., Narita), connect with a partner and fill the business section with business travelers. They don't have a great record of doing that so far.

What WestJet does do well at is VFR. India is a VFR route. I don't think it would be their first choice, but it may actually work better for them than what is their first choice.

Short haul VFR is one thing. Long haul VFR is something else entirely.

If WS were to launch YVR-DEL, they would need to secure Russian overflight rights. Those are hard to come by, and cost a lot of money (100$ per passenger is the latest I've heard).

So, a near 12,000 km VFR leg (accounting for the detour around the Himalayas), that passes over Russia, and that already has direct competition. Not the best way to use 2 of your 10 dreamliners on order.

One of the main reasons why TK wants access to YVR is to steal some slices of the YVR-India pie. EK and EY do the same out of YYZ, and now that they have more access to Canada, yields on non stop Canada-India flights will take a hit.

[Gordon]

Could YVR support daily flights to SIN and BKK

Does any one know how the D pier construction is progressing?,

[SpongeG]

WestJet cutting flights in a bid to reverse first loss in 13 years
By Ross Marowits The Canadian Press

The Alberta-based airline is cutting back on flights between Vancouver and Edmonton and Calgary, between Calgary and Denver, between Edmonton and Phoenix along with between Winnipeg and Palm Springs, Calif.

Service will be trimmed between Vancouver and Fort St. John, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and Palm Springs.

The airline is also cancelling all service to Mexico City, that will affect both Calgary and Vancouver. However, travel is still possible through its codeshare partner Aeromexico.

https://globalnews.ca/news/4404161/westjet-cutting-back-flights-reducing-capacity/

I've flown a few times on the YVR - Ft St John (YXJ) a few imes and its alway around 50 - 75% capacity, I don't think its ever been full like the same flight with AC.

[trofirhen]

Westjet seems to have been going pretty strong over the past five or so years, considering how relatively recent an arrival they are on the Canadian aviation market scene.
I hope that this is not an bad omen, just at a time when they are planning to go big-time international with a fleet of 787s on order.

Also, what about flights to places like San Jose del Cabo, among others? Will these destinations now remain unserved or might other airlines (Interjet Aeromexico) fill the gap?

And will SWOOP be a success (in the opinion of the more informed SSP members) or, like many low cost European carriers, will the seats be cheaper, but require passengers to compensate by paying for everything, but everything else, often at not-such-bargain prices? I think everyone here hopes that SWOOP will mean travelling at cheap prices .... but will it?

Thank you for your time and consideration. Feedback welcome - and requested.

[SpongeG]

you already pay for everything on Westjet. Oh, you get a free sip of a drink on some flights.

They make you pay for food on long-haul flights though, that's ridiculous. I personally avoid Westjet, I really don't care that the flight attendant can sing a song or be sassy with the safety demo.

[s211]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

you already pay for everything on Westjet. Oh, you get a free sip of a drink on some flights.

They make you pay for food on long-haul flights though, that's ridiculous. I personally avoid Westjet, I really don't care that the flight attendant can sing a song or be sassy with the safety demo.

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by zahav

Air Canada looks like it's removed 767 domestic flights from this summer's bookings. Up until a couple weeks ago, the 767 was scheduled on quite a few domestic legs (YVR-YYZ mainly), but has since been removed entirely and replaced by 321 aircraft. I know scheds aren't final yet, but seems like a notable thing, considering all the flights are the same, just the equipment is now 321 for each previous 767. But OAG and flight schedules still have the 767 listed (ex. AC182, 102, 184, and 166 are on OAG as 767, but on AC's booking site, each of these four flights is now 321.

I wondering if they are planning to move a bunch to Rouge?

What a shame. One of my favourite planes, twin-aisle comfort and the 2-3-2 arrangement was just about perfect for Y.

[LeftCoaster]

YVR taking the brunt of WestJet's capacity cuts. Looks like they are trying to route YVR passengers through YYC. Can't imagine that is going to be a great model with AC providing direct options at similar prices from YVR.

Going to be a very interesting few years for WS upcoming as their cost advantage over AC continues to erode and their widebodies arrive.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

YVR taking the brunt of WestJet's capacity cuts. Looks like they are trying to route YVR passengers through YYC. Can't imagine that is going to be a great model with AC providing direct options at similar prices from YVR.

Going to be a very interesting few years for WS upcoming as their cost advantage over AC continues to erode and their widebodies arrive.

Does this mean Vancouverites can slowly start complaining about the hub and spoke system on the Canadian thread too!?!

[Johnny Aussie]

Has anyone actually looked at what these “massive capacity cuts are”

YUL is becoming seasonal. MEX being cut but it didn’t exist last winter so no effect YOY. The other routes are being trimmed not cut.

From what I can see (quick look) for example SJD being cut from 6 to 5 and PSP 16 to 15 flights per week.
YXJ cut from 2 to 1 daily but they’re increasing YCD to 2 daily so there goes that flight transferred.
Unless they haven’t loaded all the cuts yet!

YUL will have only three routes this winter YYC, YYZ (almost all Encore) and YHZ (Encore). WestJet will have just two daily mainline flights from YUL this winter... 1 to YYC and 1 to YYZ....now that’s a slash and burn in my opinion.

AC focussing on YYZ YUL YVR while reducing YYC. WS focussing on YYC. That’s what they need to do to fight.

Canada overall still a very small market.

[Gordon]

Is West jet over reacting to its first loss in 13 years?
I'm not surprised about the capacity reduction for YvR PSP seeing as AC is now daily this winter.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by Gordon

Is West jet over reacting to its first loss in 13 years?
I'm not surprised about the capacity reduction for YvR PSP seeing as AC is now daily this winter.

They’re reacting to the loss but also future defensive planning against Flair and Air Canada’s strategy. Beef up at their largest hub will give them the greatest chance to curb further losses... or will it? It’s a risk and gamble but maybe their best option. As AC (slowly) retreats from YYC they see an opportunity. YVR still has a huge O&D advantage over YYC but YVR will and always will be disadvantaged geographically when it comes to domestic and the USA.

[CloudInspector]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

They’re reacting to the loss but also future defensive planning against Flair and Air Canada’s strategy. Beef up at their largest hub will give them the greatest chance to curb further losses... or will it? It’s a risk and gamble but maybe their best option. As AC (slowly) retreats from YYC they see an opportunity. YVR still has a huge O&D advantage over YYC but YVR will and always will be disadvantaged geographically when it comes to domestic and the USA.

I agree 100%. The cuts aren’t huge and according to friends there, they actually increased the size of the YVR pilot base in the last bid.

YYC will always have the geographic advantage as a Canadian transfer hub, similar to how YVR has both the O&D and geographic advantages for Asia/Pacific flying. Not a lot of people would be willing to backtrack 400 miles to Calgary to catch a flight to Asia with the multitude of options available in YVR.

[LeftCoaster]

Given the strength of growth at YVR right now, cutting service seems to me to carry a lot more weight than it would otherwise. Losing in a winning market signals structural issues, and retreating to a smaller airport rather than fighting seems to be throwing in the towel.

But I don't know the complexities of their operations or finances on a whole or at any of their hubs, so that's just my view as an outsider.

Also, weren't there more domestic cuts? YVR-YEG, YVR-YYC and YVR-YYZ?

[TheGreatestX]

This article has a pretty good breakdown of most of the changes:

http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/westjet-reducing-flight-services-across-canada-2018

[Johnny Aussie]

Yes that breakdown by the Daily Hive sums it up well.

As I said most of the routes being trimmed are minor. Most by one weekly frequency.

Have a look before becoming hysterical!

[dharper]

I have never flown Westjet before, mainly because their flights never fit my travel schedule.
If I am on a short holiday in LA or Las Vegas I want a direct flight. I can see stopping in Calgary if you are flying east from Vancouver, but if I am flying to LA or Las Vegas I am never going to make a stop in Calgary first. And it appears many of their flights from YVR to LA and Vegas already take this route.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by dharper

I have never flown Westjet before, mainly because their flights never fit my travel schedule.
If I am on a short holiday in LA or Las Vegas I want a direct flight. I can see stopping in Calgary if you are flying east from Vancouver, but if I am flying to LA or Las Vegas I am never going to make a stop in Calgary first. And it appears many of their flights from YVR to LA and Vegas already take this route.

I’ve flown WestJet once only. Vancouver to Saskatchatoon. Always fly Star Alliance but for some reason this was the only flight that would work.

WestJet has more flights to LAX from YVR than YYC. To LAS there are two daily. In those cases probably no need to connect. However, their revenue management team can be very clever showing connecting flights cheaper so therefore some passengers will choose connecting over nonstop. This applies to almost airlines and not just Westjet though.