YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion

[mezzanine]

Interesting article from routes online. AC is still interested in SIN, but didn't know about their interest in HAN and MNL. MNL could be reached from YYZ, but not sure about SIN and HAN.

Other destinations on the agenda for the introduction of Air Canada services include the Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore, and Macleod is confident they can all be served from the airline’s Toronto and Vancouver hubs, although he admits more wide-bodied aircraft will be needed to serve them. He also argues that the airline’s hubs, which also include Montreal, have a far greater market than the 36.95 million Canadians in the country.

https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/bre...r-canada-is-facing-up-to-its-challenges/

[thenoflyzone]

Interesting. They mention New Zealand, as if they already fly there. Maybe a Freudian slip.

Then again, they mention the 737 Max operating to Bucharest. That one is a stupid slip.....

“Some of those markets such as New Zealand, our recent expansion of Australia into Melbourne and Brisbane, sub-Saharan Africa and South America are all great opportunities for us to increase our winter utilisation and improve our winter margins. We’re very focused on that.”

Northern winter seasonal could work. No extra frames needed.

[whatnext]

There's a big article on Westjet in today Globe (behind their paywall). Questions whether their expansion to a full-service airline was wise. Also mentions they will have their own lounges at YVR, YYC and YYZ in 18 months.

WestJet is in trouble. Is becoming more like Air Canada the fix?
Born as a scrappy discount upstart, WestJet has suffered through internal upheavals and badly lagged Air Canada in recent years. But now the airline is adding big new planes, a business class with lie-flat seats, an ultra-low-cost subsidiary and much more. Is any of it going to work?
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business...s-becoming-more-like-air-canada-the-fix/

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by whatnext

There's a big article on Westjet in today Globe (behind their paywall). Questions whether their expansion to a full-service airline was wise. Also mentions they will have their own lounges at YVR, YYC and YYZ in 18 months.

WestJet is in trouble. Is becoming more like Air Canada the fix?
Born as a scrappy discount upstart, WestJet has suffered through internal upheavals and badly lagged Air Canada in recent years. But now the airline is adding big new planes, a business class with lie-flat seats, an ultra-low-cost subsidiary and much more. Is any of it going to work?
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business...s-becoming-more-like-air-canada-the-fix/

I have a problem accessing this article. // I click on the link, the article appears for a brief moment, then an ad pops up /// I cancel the ad (pressing'x' and I'm on another page.
The Westjet article has disappared. Do you know how to re-access it? Thanks.

[SpongeG]

globe and mail is a subscription service, you need to pay to read the article.

[s211]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

I have a problem accessing this article. // I click on the link, the article appears for a brief moment, then an ad pops up /// I cancel the ad (pressing'x' and I'm on another page.
The Westjet article has disappared. Do you know how to re-access it? Thanks.

BEHIND THEIR PAYWALL. Please read the original post more carefully.

[zahav]

YVR doing a major food overhall with tons of new additions to be complete by next year. Some cool adds like Hawsworth, Red Truck Brewery, Steamworks, a Japadog cart, 49th Parallel, Dirty Apron, and many more. I wish they'd have more Richmond-style chinese options and a taco place tho. But the new shake-up definitely takes it in a more prestigious direction than the existing

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/yvr-airport-new-food-and-beverage-concepts-2019

[YYCguys]

Are the RSOs in Pier D ready to go? Is there any indication of which airlines will utilize them?

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by zahav

YVR doing a major food overhall with tons of new additions to be complete by next year. Some cool adds like Hawsworth, Red Truck Brewery, Steamworks, a Japadog cart, 49th Parallel, Dirty Apron, and many more. I wish they'd have more Richmond-style chinese options and a taco place tho. But the new shake-up definitely takes it in a more prestigious direction than the existing

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/yvr-airport-new-food-and-beverage-concepts-2019

Great news!! This is SO overdue, YVR's food offering are way behind most other highly regarded airports. I travel lots to Europe and the offerings in airports like Heathrow, Munich, Frankfurt, AMS, even second tier UK airports like Stansted and Gatwick are vast and innovative.

One only has to return from an overseas flight along the upper level of our international terminal and view the crap offerings in the food court of A&W, Subway and Tims.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Great news!! This is SO overdue, YVR's food offering are way behind most other highly regarded airports. I travel lots to Europe and the offerings in airports like Heathrow, Munich, Frankfurt, AMS, even second tier UK airports like Stansted and Gatwick are vast and innovative.

One only has to return from an overseas flight along the upper level of our international terminal and view the crap offerings in the food court of A&W, Subway and Tims.

Yah stoked big improvement!

[Rogie]

Originally Posted by YYCguys

Are the RSOs in Pier D ready to go? Is there any indication of which airlines will utilize them?

They're not ready yet as a full facility (construction is ongoing), though RSO operations are happening at the busiest times and start up again very soon. It's supposed to rotate between airlines using the D pier, including AC.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by zahav

YVR doing a major food overhall with tons of new additions to be complete by next year. Some cool adds like Hawsworth, Red Truck Brewery, Steamworks, a Japadog cart, 49th Parallel, Dirty Apron, and many more. I wish they'd have more Richmond-style chinese options and a taco place tho. But the new shake-up definitely takes it in a more prestigious direction than the existing

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/yvr-airport-new-food-and-beverage-concepts-2019

There has been an empty space next to Carl's Jr since Pier B opened up a few years ago, let's hope they get something for that spot. Really crappy options on that side.

[Hourglass]

Originally Posted by zahav

YVR doing a major food overhall with tons of new additions to be complete by next year. Some cool adds like Hawsworth, Red Truck Brewery, Steamworks, a Japadog cart, 49th Parallel, Dirty Apron, and many more. I wish they'd have more Richmond-style chinese options and a taco place tho. But the new shake-up definitely takes it in a more prestigious direction than the existing

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/yvr-airport-new-food-and-beverage-concepts-2019

Ooh looking forward to Japadog. Like the local mix. But...

Too bad they couldn’t get a Shake Shack in. That’s practically the only good thing about LGA. They’re opening one in SIN too.

[SpongeG]

they have a japadog at the airport, its outside on the way to the train

[Hourglass]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

they have a japadog at the airport, its outside on the way to the train

You’re right. Forgot about that. I never stop though since I’m always rushing for the train haha

[dharper]

I just returned from a trip overseas, and was surprised by the prices at the Hudsons shops in YVR. A few years ago I thought that they were anywhere between 20-50% higher than a 7-Eleven on the street. I would say a reasonable price for the the location. But now they are 100-120% above an average convenience store. I thought that is a typical example of captive gouging.
That is a far cry from when the new YVR opened 20 or so years ago, and they were boasting about how there concessions were street priced.

[SFUVancouver]

Good news on the food product revamp at YVR. Definitely time for a refresh, and, hopefully a sign of an appetite for a future review and refresh of the non-F&B retail offerings, too.

I agree that Hudson's is overpriced, but there's also very little that is Vancouver-specific about the non-F&B retail offerings. I think of PDX and DEN as great examples where Powell's and Denver's Powell's equivalent have large airport outlets that are genuine book stores with thousands of titles in stock, not just the current best sellers and self-improvement/business cult pablum.

At YVR, the Vancouver Aquarium shop is good example of a place-specific retailer, and it would be neat to see a Science World equivalent. A Kidsbooks outlet would be a great addition to the airport, too. But for the most part YVR just has a lot of generic airport fare like luggage and fashion stores, from which I swear I have never seen anyone leave with a purchase, and generic electrics stores and book-convenience store hybrids. All this is separate from the international duty-free shops, incidentally, which are highly profitable for airports around the world.

I also think that the quality of customer service could be improved at the airport. Moscow's Domodedovo has an interesting, and admittedly heavy-handed, approach: retailers must agree to a very specific code of conduct as part of their lease/concession contract and must put up a large cash deposit with the airport. The deposit varies by type of business, say a couple of million dollars for a bar or restaurant to a few hundred thousand for a smaller retailer, etc. The airport has secret shoppers and every time the code of conduct is violated, the airport assesses a fine and makes a withdrawal from the deposit.

Code of conduct violations include a range of things like operational issues, such as having too few staff on overnight or even not keeping the store open 24/7 as required to match the airport's continuous operation and disproportional number of transiting passengers on overnight layovers. There are also behavioral/training violations like rudeness to customers, deceptive or fraudulent sales practices, improper hygiene or appearance of staff, or failure of staff to have basic knowledge about the airport to assist in traveler way finding or directions.

The mandatory deposits, secret shoppers, and fines were not loved by the retailers, as you can imagine, when they were first introduced, but the required deposits decline in direct proportion to the number and severity of infractions and the length of time the leaseholder has been present in the airport, though there is a minimum that airport still requires. Apparently the program has now just become part of doing business at the airport and the rate of fines being issued has plummeted over the years as the merchants adapt and improve their level of service and professionalism. Domodedovo is now ranked highest in the CIS for passenger satisfaction with their airport retail experience.

[SpongeG]

Paradies to open four new stores at Vancouver Airport
By ANDREW PENTOL | Monday, 25 February 2019


Coastal News Vancouver
The new Coastal News store in the International Terminal Building at Vancouver Airport will appear to airport employees and international travellers alike.

Paradies Lagardère is to open four new stores at Vancouver International Airport having been awarded two concessions packages.

Three will be located in the International Terminal Building (ITB) and one in the Domestic Terminal Building (DTB).

Coastal News, which will open in 2019, will feature a new modern design that will appeal to airport employees and international travellers alike, according to the company.

PRE-SECURITY LOCATION

The ITB pre-security location will offer travel basics such as neck pillows, eye masks, travel adapters, smartphone cables, drinks and snacks and regional gifts and gourmet food items such as Maple Crème cookies and Icewine tea and chocolates.

In the ITB post-security, Relay will also feature a new design offering travel essentials and a full-service illy Café with seating. Both concepts will open in 2019.

Next year, a Deepwater Spirit shop offering local products will begin trading in the new expanded ITB area, while a new Pacific Coast News outlet will also open in the DTB pre-security area.


A Deepwater Spirit shop offering local product will open next year in the new expanded International Terminal Building Area.


...

https://www.trbusiness.com/regional-news...r-new-stores-at-vancouver-airport/160126

[zahav]

There's already Japadog at the airport? I thought it was just at McArthurGlen?

[SpongeG]

its outside on the arrivals level in that little park

• Video Link