Saskatoon and Regina Air Service

[one_brick_at_a_time]

If you don’t want Michael Kram emails you can sign the change.org petition .

+6000 signatures so far.

https://www.change.org/p/federal-governm...7710f&utm_content=fht-27217323-en-ca%3A1

[McBean]

I can't see how the capital city of Saskatchewan could lose it's control tower and basically lose most of it's service moving forward.

[EDM753Fan]

I'm suddenly noticing that AC is flying YQR-YXE. Is this a new thing? I don't remember this in the past?

Or is this due to the control tower situation somehow?

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by EDM753Fan

I'm suddenly noticing that AC is flying YQR-YXE. Is this a new thing? I don't remember this in the past?

Or is this due to the control tower situation somehow?

It comes and goes. In the past it's been a Regina/Saskatoon-Ottawa flight that stops in the other Sask. city on the way. Lately it's been a Toronto flight.

You can book tickets on the Regina-Saskatoon or Saskatoon-Regina segments, but the flight really isn't intended to serve the route per se, though these days with so few flights, AC might sell connections on it to other cities.

[EDM753Fan]

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

It comes and goes. In the past it's been a Regina/Saskatoon-Ottawa flight that stops in the other Sask. city on the way. Lately it's been a Toronto flight.

You can book tickets on the Regina-Saskatoon or Saskatoon-Regina segments, but the flight really isn't intended to serve the route per se, though these days with so few flights, AC might sell connections on it to other cities.

Ah gottit. Thanks that helps. I do recall the YOW flight. If only we had that to YUL. This is looking increasingly unlikely as things aren't getting better as of yet...

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by EDM753Fan

Ah gottit. Thanks that helps. I do recall the YOW flight. If only we had that to YUL. This is looking increasingly unlikely as things aren't getting better as of yet...

When we had the Ottawa flight, Regina's and Saskatoon's left non-stop for YOW simultaneously, then stopped for 25 minutes and continued to Montreal and Halifax, respectively. I flew to Halifax that way once and it was the next-best thing to a non-stop, even with the connection, since it was in the gate right beside, and it was so short.

[casper]

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

When we had the Ottawa flight, Regina's and Saskatoon's left non-stop for YOW simultaneously, then stopped for 25 minutes and continued to Montreal and Halifax, respectively. I flew to Halifax that way once and it was the next-best thing to a non-stop, even with the connection, since it was in the gate right beside, and it was so short.

This is going back a few years. Fastest route Between Saskatoon and London Heathrow was Saskatoon-Ottawa-Halifax-Heathrow.

Makes no sense, but the way the schedule worked that was the case.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by casper

This is going back a few years. Fastest route Between Saskatoon and London Heathrow was Saskatoon-Ottawa-Halifax-Heathrow.

Makes no sense, but the way the schedule worked that was the case.

It's all about the schedule.

The first time I went to London, the easiest way was YQR-YYC-LHR; you could fly out of Regina at 8 pm and get on a flight to London at 10 pm. We did it on a Friday night after working all day. Normal work week, airport Friday night, in London for lunch Saturday.

Alas, the timing no longer works. Not that I have any interest of being on an aircraft anytime soon. I'm thinking my next major holiday will probably be a driving holiday to Atlantic Canada. (Sorry, airline industry. )

[Draftsman]

As per a news story this morning on 620ckrm.com, both Regina and Saskatoon have lost their 'International' airport status. According to M.P. Michael Kram, Transport Canada apparently has a list with only 13 Canadian international airports on it, and both Saskatchewan cities are not on it. The link is below for more info, but this would be terrible for those wanting direct flights to winter destinations without having to go to Calgary or Toronto first.

https://www.620ckrm.com/2021/03/15/regin...-attacks-on-saskatchewans-main-airports/

Here is a more in-depth report from cjme.com

https://www.cjme.com/2021/03/15/saskatchewan-airports-lose-international-status/

[The Bess]

ya SASK and PEI not on list, what a scam

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by The Bess

ya SASK and PEI not on list, what a scam

Remember that US flights are not "international" according to Canadian aviation law; they're "transborder".

I suspect that this is an administrative list and nothing more. We have to have customs and immigration for inbound transborder flights, and the same service works for inbound international flights. We just don't have scheduled international service, and I'm not sure if we ever have. (Again, labelling US flights as "transborder" not "international".) (Yes, we've had lots of service to sun destinations, but as far as I know, it's always been charters, and not regularly scheduled passenger service where you could just buy a ticket the way you can to Toronto.)

In other words, this may not mean much.

[prairieguy]

Saskatoon Airport Authority CEO was on news yesterday saying they would be applying for international designation and had no doubts they would meet criteria. Disruption due to covid caused the omission. I believe he said they had until June to apply and meet criteria. Fingers crossed! That would suck if we had no direct flights to sunny destinations once it is safe to go there again.

[Robag]

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

Remember that US flights are not "international" according to Canadian aviation law; they're "transborder".

I suspect that this is an administrative list and nothing more. We have to have customs and immigration for inbound transborder flights, and the same service works for inbound international flights. We just don't have scheduled international service, and I'm not sure if we ever have. (Again, labelling US flights as "transborder" not "international".) (Yes, we've had lots of service to sun destinations, but as far as I know, it's always been charters, and not regularly scheduled passenger service where you could just buy a ticket the way you can to Toronto.)

In other words, this may not mean much.

Westjet flights to Mexico are not actual chartered flights I believe. You can purchase a ticket on a flight to Cancun or PV as if you were purchasing a ticket to Calgary or Toronto. They were considered seasonal, not charter.

[one_brick_at_a_time]

YQR International adding Air Canada route to Montreal

https://www.620ckrm.com/2021/03/18/yqr-international-adding-air-canada-route-to-montreal/

[yveseluj]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

YQR International adding Air Canada route to Montreal

https://www.620ckrm.com/2021/03/18/yqr-international-adding-air-canada-route-to-montreal/

This is good news even as annoying as those triangle routes are through Saskatoon & vice versa. They seem to becoming more & more common, which, while I'm not a huge fan, it's better than no flights at all.

Only one way to solve this: time to build a massive airport in Davidson to serve both Regina & Saskatoon.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by yveseluj

This is good news even as annoying as those triangle routes are through Saskatoon & vice versa. They seem to becoming more & more common, which, while I'm not a huge fan, it's better than no flights at all.

I don't like them either, but right now while there's really soft air travel demand, anything is an improvement.

[EDM753Fan]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

YQR International adding Air Canada route to Montreal

https://www.620ckrm.com/2021/03/18/yqr-international-adding-air-canada-route-to-montreal/

Fantastic News!

[EDM753Fan]

Some routes being reinstated @ YQR from WestJet.

Also a brand new service to YLW twice per week starting June.

[yveseluj]

Regina's tower is staying put.

[EDM753Fan]

Originally Posted by yveseluj

Regina's tower is staying put.

YES! saw that. Great news!b

https://regina.ctvnews.ca/regina-airport...a,any%20air%20traffic%20control%20towers.