Calgary International Airport II

[YYCguys]

Originally Posted by YYCspotter

https://www.acl-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/LHR-S20-INITIAL-COORDINATION-REPORT-FINAL.pdf

WestJet requested 14 weekly LHR slots for summer 2020. Unfortunately, their request was not approved.

That request seems odd. Were they considering abandoning LGW?

[outoftheice]

Originally Posted by YYCguys

That request seems odd. Were they considering abandoning LGW?

WS did just sign a big code-share deal with Virgin Atlantic who has a large presence out of LHR. I wouldn't be surprised if they have a desire to switch their flights to LHR to take advantage of reciprocal code share opportunities throughout the UK on Virgin as Virgin gets set to launch their domestic service after their acquisition of FlyBE

[wave46]

Originally Posted by outoftheice

WS did just sign a big code-share deal with Virgin Atlantic who has a large presence out of LHR. I wouldn't be surprised if they have a desire to switch their flights to LHR to take advantage of reciprocal code share opportunities throughout the UK on Virgin as Virgin gets set to launch their domestic service after their acquisition of FlyBE

If Westjet aims to lure the business crowd, going to Heathrow is a must. It is the premier long-haul airport out of London.

Gatwick's OK, but second fiddle.

However, getting slots is either dearly expensive (have to buy them from another airline) or luck of the draw, which is an extremely competitive process, given that many, many airlines desire those same slots.

[YYCspotter]

Originally Posted by wave46

If Westjet aims to lure the business crowd, going to Heathrow is a must. It is the premier long-haul airport out of London.

Gatwick's OK, but second fiddle.

However, getting slots is either dearly expensive (have to buy them from another airline) or luck of the draw, which is an extremely competitive process, given that many, many airlines desire those same slots.

Yeah exactly. Worth noting that 14 weekly slots is equivalent to only a single daily flight.

[thenoflyzone]

Doesn’t surprise me one bit. I even said in October that LHR might be this new route for S20.

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

My bet is on WS to BCN or FCO. Both those destinations aren’t served from YVR either, so they can have decent feed in order to fill the flights. YYC-LHR would be interesting as well.

Man, WS is betting it all on YYC if this happens. Hope for their sake this will work out.

It’s only a matter of time until WS gets its hands on LHR slots. When that happens, YYC-LHR is a given.

The refusal for S20 slots might be a blessing in disguise though. BA might bow out of the market altogether with a third carrier on YYC-LHR.

[Johnny Aussie]

Did you see the demand for new slots on that list?

I would say WS is in for some very stiff competition since only a handful were actually awarded. Wow! That is some very strong demand.
Would be a very lucrative asset to hold slots there. Air Canada has the 7th highest number according to that list.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Did you see the demand for new slots on that list?

I would say WS is in for some very stiff competition since only a handful were actually awarded. Wow! That is some very strong demand.
Would be a very lucrative asset to hold slots there. Air Canada has the 7th highest number according to that list.

New entrants have priority, so that plays in WestJet's favor.

But one thing is for sure, this was one of the best years for slot availability.

the EU and the UK banned Turkmenistan airlines from flying to Europe last February, hence why they lost their 2x weekly slots. The EU ban has since been lifted, but its "too bad so sad" for their LHR slots.

Tunisair also lost their LHR slots, due to delayed flights all the time. LHR is fairly harsh with airlines that dont use their slots, and even those that don't respect the times allocated. Tunisair is the latest victim, and lost 6 of their 8 slots.

Opportunities like these dont present themselves every year.

[YYCFlier]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

The refusal for S20 slots might be a blessing in disguise though. BA might bow out of the market altogether with a third carrier on YYC-LHR.

I'd say as soon as this happens, BA pulls out of YYC. It's already cut back twice (summer seasonal, this year reduced even further) likely due to pressure from WS on LGW. LHR would probably kill it. That would be a shame for YYC. I don't think we'll miss summer seasonal TS to Europe, but losing BA would suck given all of the connectivity it offers in LHR.

[thenoflyzone]

It's worth noting that most of the slots that were vacated by Tunisair and Turkmenistan Airlines were on weekends, so of limited value to WS anyways.

[People_talking]

Wrong thread.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by YYCFlier

I'd say as soon as this happens, BA pulls out of YYC. It's already cut back twice (summer seasonal, this year reduced even further) likely due to pressure from WS on LGW. LHR would probably kill it. That would be a shame for YYC. I don't think we'll miss summer seasonal TS to Europe, but losing BA would suck given all of the connectivity it offers in LHR.

Looking at that chart again I don’t think you’ll have to worry about WS getting any so no threat to BA. Although BA may leave regardless of this.

2 airlines lost 10 slots of which only 2 were RE-rewarded to one of them.
Only 16 slots were allocated including the 10 lost. Taking out the 2 RE-rewarded and that only leaves 4 new slots allocated in 2020. Three incumbent airlines received additional slots and only one new airline received 6.
Unless a third runway is built it appears to be a very unlikely scenario looking at how the slots are allocated and a minimum of 14 would be required to make it even worthwhile. Cannot see that happening.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Air Canada has the 7th highest number according to that list.

10th highest.

BA, LH, VS, EI, AA, UA, SK, BE, LX and then AC.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Unless a third runway is built it appears to be a very unlikely scenario looking at how the slots are allocated and a minimum of 14 would be required to make it even worthwhile. Cannot see that happening.

Waiting for free slots through the allocation pool, such as the ones Norwegian just got, then yes, the chances are slim.

Free slots at LHR are nice, but they are free for a reason. It usually means another airline didn't meet the slot requirements and thus was forced to give up the slots back to ACL. (such as this year with Tunisair and Turkmenistan). It usually also means the slot timings and or days of operation are garbage.

Norwegian’s recently allocated slots at LHR are precisely that, garbage.

An arrival at 11:00 and departure at 19:00 on Tuesday
An arrival at 13:50 and departure at 16:30 on Saturday
An arrival at 11:45 and departure at 14:45 on Sunday

However, waiting for free slots is one thing. Buying slots from another airline willing to sell them is another.

The only way WS is getting a daily slot pair at LHR in the short to medium term is if another airline is willing to part ways with their slot, and WS is the highest bidder on them.

DL didn’t have a single slot pair at LHR before 2008 due to Bermuda II. Look at them now. 138 slots. And more if you count their leased slots.

If WS wants access to LHR, they need to find and airline willing to sell and make sure they are the highest bidder.

In 2016, Oman Air payed AF/KL $75 million for a single LHR slot pair.

When there’s a will, there’s a way. The only question is, how much is WS willing to pay.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Looking at that chart again I don’t think you’ll have to worry about WS getting any so no threat to BA. Although BA may leave regardless of this.

2 airlines lost 10 slots of which only 2 were RE-rewarded to one of them.
Only 16 slots were allocated including the 10 lost. Taking out the 2 RE-rewarded and that only leaves 4 new slots allocated in 2020. Three incumbent airlines received additional slots and only one new airline received 6.
Unless a third runway is built it appears to be a very unlikely scenario looking at how the slots are allocated and a minimum of 14 would be required to make it even worthwhile. Cannot see that happening.

So WestJet went to the LHR corner store and got a ticket on 6-49 lottery because the payout super large with minimal investment of time and money.

Just like the Lotto, WS lost out. But it was fun to dream.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Looking at that chart again I don’t think you’ll have to worry about WS getting any so no threat to BA. Although BA may leave regardless of this.

2 airlines lost 10 slots of which only 2 were RE-rewarded to one of them.
Only 16 slots were allocated including the 10 lost. Taking out the 2 RE-rewarded and that only leaves 4 new slots allocated in 2020. Three incumbent airlines received additional slots and only one new airline received 6.
Unless a third runway is built it appears to be a very unlikely scenario looking at how the slots are allocated and a minimum of 14 would be required to make it even worthwhile. Cannot see that happening.

So WestJet went to the corner store and put got a ticket on 6-49 lottery because the payout super large with minimal investment of time and money.

Just like the Lotto, WS lost out. But it was fun to dream.

[Denscity]

Hey look a double post. Only LHR is missing.

[hollywoodcory]

Both WS & AC appear to have extended their MAX cuts into March.

AC:
-Reduced LAX from 2 to 1x daily
-Trimmed a few OGG flights

WS:
-OGG is 3 to 5x Weekly on 789 in Feb,
-HNL suspended now until March 6

There's a good chance now that HNL may not operate non-stop from Alberta at all this winter.

[YYCFlier]

Ouch, I hope LAX is temporary. AC just keeps cutting back.

[nname]

AC to add seasonal daily YYC-BOS service with A319 next summer.

AC580 BOS 0630 - 0932 YYC
AC581 YYC 1615 - 2246 BOS

[hollywoodcory]

I honestly expected WS to be the one to launch BOS, but great add. Operating June 22-September 7.
https://aircanada.mediaroom.com/2019-12-...ntreal-Calgary-and-Vancouver-next-Summer

If I'm not mistaken this will be YYC's 25th transborder destination.