Calgary International Airport II

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

Also AC has changed NRT next summer to the 788 finally replacing the old 763.

I know some people like the 2-3-2 seating of the 763, but I'm quite pleased to finally have this route on the Dreamliner.

[hollywoodcory]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

I know some people like the 2-3-2 seating of the 763, but I'm quite pleased to finally have this route on the Dreamliner.

AC has previously ran the 787 on this route before, in the summers of 2016 and 17.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

I know some people like the 2-3-2 seating of the 763, but I'm quite pleased to finally have this route on the Dreamliner.

AC just announced they are getting rid of all of their B767s. That's 30 frames, gone ! Forget about the AC/TS merger for now. Their fleets wont merge for quite a while still.

AC only have 8 B788s. I have my doubts if they are going to utilize one on YYC-NRT next summer.

Across the Pacific, YYC-NRT is the only route with a full summer suspension this year. That tells me it's one of the weakest routes for AC.

The entire AC YYC hub - if we can call it that - is in jeopardy if you ask me, now that AC just got rid of almost 80 planes.

YYC could very well end up like YOW. A focus city for Air Canada. FRA, LHR, key North American business + leasure markets. That's about it. It's not even a long shot. The odds are pretty good of that happening.

The only saving grace for YYC-NRT next summer are the Olympics.

[People_talking]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

The entire AC YYC hub - if we can call it that - is in jeopardy if you ask me, now that AC just got rid of almost 80 planes.

YYC could very well end up like YOW. A focus city for Air Canada. FRA, LHR, key North American business + leasure markets. That's about it. It's not even a long shot. The odds are pretty good of that happening.

AC will not de-hub YYC, most likely at any point. YYC-NRT has been a weak route for a long time and that's no secret. Asian routes from Calgary make sense in theory and seem to never work out. Considering the circumstances right now it makes sense for AC to retire the old frames because they are more inefficient. All of the aircraft that they retired are being replaced or already have been replaced, the 787s were to replace the 767s, the 737 MAX are to replace the A320 family (exclude, the A321) and the E90's are being replaced by the A220's as they come in.

If AC does not need the frames right now, and if they are losing them money then it makes sense to get rid of them now to save money, rather than later. It's not like their fleet is shirking by 80 aircraft, it may in the end only shink by 9 or 10.

On top of that if AC does de-hub YYC Westjet without question would fill the gap.

[PPAR]

Originally Posted by People_talking

On top of that if AC does de-hub YYC Westjet without question would fill the gap.

This point is key. No way you can let your primary competitor have control over one of the key markets.

[YegFan]

Passenger movement in Canada is along the East-West Corridor across the country (for the most part). Only exception is YEG, YXE and YYT.

It makes zero sense for AC not have a big presence in YYC to connect passengers. AC would have a huge gap in their network at least for the domestic sector. If they choose to let go some international flying, they can beef up YVR which would be ok. But domestic flights will be maintained.

[hollywoodcory]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

Across the Pacific, YYC-NRT is the only route with a full summer suspension this year. That tells me it's one of the weakest routes for AC.

This isn't technically true. YVR-TPE & BNE also got suspended for the entire summer with planned resumptions in October. There will probably be more too.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by People_talking

It's not like their fleet is shirking by 80 aircraft, it may in the end only shink by 9 or 10.

No true, at least not for the widebody fleet. Save for 1 or 2 A330s still to join the fleet, and not counting the mainline B767s that were going to retire this year anyway, next summer the AC widebody fleet will be down by 25 frames.

That is a massive reduction in widebody metal. There are a number of long haul routes that won’t see the light of day for quite a while. YYC-NRT could end up being on that list.

[hollywoodcory]

A few mid-week notes:

BA has pushed its resumption to July now. My confidence in them returning at all has dropped from about 55% to 20%. They also updated their S21 plans too, which shows daily from late March, instead of just 4x weekly.

WestJet CEO in an interview said they are currently reviewing possibly deferring or cancelling future deliveries of the 787. I believe that it's sixth frame will still come whether later this year or next, but the 4 planned for next year are walking on very thin ice.

Also says they don't expect a recovery in travel demand until the fourth quarter. He went on to say they want to resume service to LGW, CDG, DUB and FCO as soon as demand is there and it is safe to do so. I'd imagine LGW will resume at some point this year, with an outside chance of CDG. Both DUB and FCO will probably have to wait until next year.

Also they have begun removing inventory in June for International/USA flights leading me to believe they will be further suspended until July too.

[People_talking]

Hopefully WestJet is able to delay the remaining 4 rather than cancel, but that doesn't seem likely.

[casper]

Originally Posted by People_talking

Hopefully WestJet is able to delay the remaining 4 rather than cancel, but that doesn't seem likely.

There is probably some nasty penalties to cancel.

WS also has some options on another 10 aircraft. Those are probably bushed well out into the future if not cancelled.

[outoftheice]

I could see a penalty-free cancellation on the remaining Dreamliners easily being worked into whatever settlement Westjet eventually makes with Boeing for the Max groundings.

[People_talking]

Originally Posted by outoftheice

I could see a penalty-free cancellation on the remaining Dreamliners easily being worked into whatever settlement Westjet eventually makes with Boeing for the Max groundings.

Im sure WestJet is using that in favour of their argument.

"We ordered 56 planes from you that we can't even fly" seems like it is a valid enough argument for Boeing to waive the cost.

[hollywoodcory]

AC Transborder/International updates:

LAX - Suspended until September 7
IAH - Suspended until September 7
LAS - Suspended until June 30
EWR - Suspended until June 30
PHX - Suspended until June 30
PDX - Suspended until June 30
SFO - Suspended until July 5
BOS - Cancelled/Postponed
CUN - Suspended until July 3

So far, FRA & LHR are unchanged and still planned to resume June 1 and June 24 respectively.

Additional note: YHZ was cancelled for 2020 and planned to resume in 2021.

[People_talking]

Given how people in the 'states don't care at all about the virus I wouldn't surprise me if these get pushed even further. Things won't be back to normal until America gets their shit together.

[hollywoodcory]

WestJet has loaded it's revised June schedule, and it looks like they might resume some Transborder routes from June 26. Most were pushed back until July 5.

As of today, the following is planned in June:

Air Canada:
FRA - 4x weekly (Daily from June 24)
LHR - 1x daily from June 24

WestJet:
LAX - 1x daily from June 26
ATL - 1x daily from June 26

Alaska Airlines:
SEA - 1x daily

Delta Airlines:
MSP - 1x daily

American Airlines:
DFW - 1x daily

Edelweiss/Swiss:
ZRH - 2x weekly from June 25

Condor:
FRA - 3x weekly from June 26

WestJet domestic changes:
YYG launch delayed to July 5
YQB resumes July 6
Check here for full schedule changes.

[hollywoodcory]

Edelweiss is now planning to resume from May 31, once weekly until the end of June. Just like KLM did back in April, the plane will remain overnight returning home the next day. All subject to change of course as we all know.

Here is the planned schedule for May 31-June 29:

WK 14 ZRH 17:35 - 19:35 YYC 7 343
WK 15 YYC 17:00 - 10:45+1 ZRH 1 343

The June 28/29 pairing is currently showing as a 333 instead of 343.

https://www.flyedelweiss.com/EN/alerts/Pages/corona-planned-flights.aspx

[Pegasus]

"Air Canada plans to cut its workforce by at least half as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the airline industry, according to an internal memo obtained by CBC News. . . . Sadly, today the hard truth is that by every indicator we have available to us, we believe that we will be materially smaller for at least three years," Craig Landry, Air Canada's executive vice-president of operations, said."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-layoffs-1.5572596

[PPAR]

Read today that current air travel numbers are equivalent to 1978. 40 years of growth gone.

[hollywoodcory]

Weekly update as of May 17 at 11:27am.

-Edelweiss appears to be removing flights one week at a time versus a whole month. Schedule I posted above remains true, just resumes one week later (for now).

-WestJet has fully re-opened reservation for LAX / ATL & now LAS from June 26 in all classes for bookings. LAX & ATL are currently planned 1x daily and LAS shows 2x weekly (Sunday / Thursday).

I've bold everything planned for June. It's not much.

Air Canada:
FRA- Resumes June 24
LHR- Resumes June 24
NRT- Cancelled
PDX- Resumes July 1
LAX- Resumes September 8
SFO- Resumes July 6
LAS- Resumes July 1
PHX- Resumes July 1
EWR- Resumes Ju1y 1
IAH- Resumes September 8
BOS- Cancelled/Postponed
CUN- Resumes July 4


WestJet:
LGW- Resumes July 5
CDG- Resumes July 5
DUB- Resumes July 5
FCO- Starts July 9
CUN- Resumes July 6
PVR- Resumes July 5
SJD- Resumes July 5
MZT- Resumes July 11
PDX- Resumes July 5
SFO- Resumes July 5
PSP- Resumes July 5
LAX- Resumes June 26
SAN- Resumes July 8
PHX- Resumes July 5
LAS- Resumes June 28
DEN- Resumes July 5
ATL- Resumes June 26
IAH- Resumes July 5
MCO- Resumes July 10
JFK- Resumes July 5
BOS- Starts July 5
BNA- Resumes July 5
AUS- Resumes July 5

British Airways:
LHR- Resumes July 1

KLM:
AMS- Resumes July 4

Edelweiss/Swiss:
ZRH- Resumes June 7

Condor:
FRA- Resumes June 26

United Airlines:
IAH- Resumes July 6
ORD- Resumes July 6
SFO- Resumes July 6
DEN- Resumes July 6

American Airlines
DFW- Currently Operating 1x daily
ORD- Resumes July 7

Delta Airlines:
MSP- Currently Operating 5x weekly (daily from June 2)
SLC- Resumes July 2
SEA- Resumes July 2

Alaska Airlines:
SEA- Resumes July 1

Frontier / Hainan Airlines & Eurowings are suspended indefinetely.