Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW/CYOW) 1.0 - Page 248

Truenorth00 · #**4941** Posted **Mar 21, 2021, 1:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckr99

Will the appetite to connect through YYZ or YUL be non-existent and drive demand for more direct flights from Ottawa?

The appetite is only relevant to the point that people are willing to pay the premium for direct service. Connecting service is cheaper to operate for the carriers. So they will want substantial premiums for direct flights. It's not like people have wanted to transit YYZ or YUL all these years for fun.

Dominion301 · #**4942** Posted **Mar 21, 2021, 4:13 PM**

Today’s departure count: 8

rocketphish · #**4943** Posted **Mar 22, 2021, 4:52 PM**

Porter to lay off 20% of Ottawa staff, contract out baggage service

By: OBJ staff
Published: Mar 19, 2021 1:25pm EDT

Porter Airlines says it is permanently laying off about 20 per cent of its Ottawa-based employees in the wake of a year-long shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Toronto-based carrier told OBJ it will not be rehiring more than 20 baggage handlers from its Ottawa operations who’ve been on temporary layoff since the company suspended flights last March.

Porter, which announced earlier this month it’s tentatively planning to return to the skies on May 19, says a third-party contractor will handle its baggage services in Ottawa when the carrier resumes operations.

“Like other airlines, the extent of the industry’s challenges have forced us to consider how we can best manage a multi-year recovery period,” a company spokesman said in an email to OBJ on Thursday.

“This change provides ongoing staffing efficiency and operational flexibility while we rebuild a full schedule of flights.”

Porter says it hopes the new contractor will hire some of the laid-off workers, adding it “ensured that existing team members have the first opportunity to apply for these roles.”

About 90 per cent of the airline’s more than 1,500 employees have been on temporary layoff since Porter stopped flying last March 21. The company employed about 100 people in Ottawa before the shutdown.

The layoffs come at a precarious time for the Canadian airline industry, which has been pummelled by the pandemic.

The country’s largest carriers, Air Canada and WestJet, have been in talks with the federal government over a bailout package that could be worth up to $9 billion, according to union officials. Meanwhile, WestJet recently cancelled orders for 15 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, while Air Canada cut new orders earlier in the pandemic.

Airport terminals are also feeling the pinch as passenger volumes have plummeted over the past year.

The CEO of the Ottawa International Airport Authority, Mark Laroche, recently told OBJ the facility lost more than $50 million last year and is projecting a shortfall of at least $70 million in 2021 as the number of daily flights in and out of YOW has dwindled to about a dozen, down from around 110 pre-COVID.

https://www.obj.ca/article/local/tourism...ttawa-staff-contract-out-baggage-service

Dominion301 · #**4944** Posted **Mar 22, 2021, 5:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

The appetite is only relevant to the point that people are willing to pay the premium for direct service. Connecting service is cheaper to operate for the carriers. So they will want substantial premiums for direct flights. It's not like people have wanted to transit YYZ or YUL all these years for fun.

Yup and it looks like it's only going to get worse.

AC are starting a YUL-YQR-YXE-YUL flight this summer (we'll see). Does that mean our Sask triangle flight is toast?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/air-travel-regina-triangle-1.5957161

AC are also apparently going to launch YUL-YLW.

Dominion301 · #**4945** Posted **Mar 22, 2021, 5:37 PM**

Today’s departure count: 8

Dominion301 · #**4946** Posted **Mar 22, 2021, 5:49 PM**

YOW's February pax stats:

Sector / Feb-20 / Feb-21 / % Change
Dom: 290,829 / 19,182 / -93.4%
TB: 63,333 / 0 / -100.0%
Int'l: 67,150 / 0 / -100.0%
TTL: 421,312 / 19,182 / -95.4%

Sector / YTD 2020 / YTD 2021 / % Change
Dom: 569,079 / 53,256 / -90.6%
TB: 125,210 / 0 / -100.0%
Int'l: 133,405 / 0 / -100.0%
TTL: 827,694 / 53,256 / -93.6%

12 Months Rolling / % Change vs Year End 2019
Dom: 516,214 / -87.1%
TB: 37,883 / -94.5%
Int'l: 34,977 / -91.8%
TTL: 589,074 / -88.5% <-- this was still almost 1 million last month

The meaningful indicator
Month-Over-Month Change
Sector / Jan-21 / Feb-21 / % Change
Dom: 34,074 / 19,182 / -43.7%
TB: 0 / 0 / #DIV/0!
Int'l: 0 / 0 / #DIV/0!
TTL: 34,074 / 19,182 / -43.7%

Dominion301 · #**4947** Posted **Mar 22, 2021, 6:14 PM**

FWIW, AC have a preliminary (probably partial) schedule loaded for summer. Here's what's currently showing for YOW going east to west:
LHR 1X 788
YHZ 5X CR9
YQB 1X CRJ
YUL 8X DH3/DH4 MIX
YYZ 16X 223 EXCLUSIVELY (probably placeholders this far out like the E90 used to be)
YWG 2X CR9
YEG 2X 223
YYC 3X 223
YVR 4X 320 MAINLINE (I guess the 4 'new' mainline 320s built in the 2000s will stick around, along with the Rouge 320s, the 321s and maybe the Rouge 319s).
TOTAL DEPARTURES: 42 - if we see 1/2 this amount that'll be something.

Notice how there's not a single transborder route. UA are still showing 1x each to ORD and IAD for this summer.

AC also have some ridiculously cheap one-way fares on Flair compete routes such as $114 to YVR...but even a YOW-LHR r/t can be booked for just over $600.

Dominion301 · #**4948** Posted **Mar 23, 2021, 2:11 PM**

Today's departure count: 7

Tesladom · #**4949** Posted **Mar 23, 2021, 2:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominion301

but even a YOW-LHR r/t can be booked for just over $600.

Truenorth00 · #**4950** Posted **Mar 23, 2021, 3:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Yup and it looks like it's only going to get worse.

And this is why I look forward to HFR and REM integration at Dorval. I want some genuine pressure and competition brought to bear on the Ottawa market. Making YUL more accessible will do that. So that the only real differentiator will be direct service.

rocketphish · #**4951** Posted **Mar 24, 2021, 5:08 PM**

WestJet to restore service to airports in Atlantic Canada, Quebec City
Flights to Charlottetown, Fredericton, Moncton, Sydney, Quebec City and St. John's were suspended last fall

CBC News
Posted: Mar 24, 2021 6:54 AM MT | Last Updated: 18 minutes ago

WestJet is restoring service to six airports in Eastern Canada that was suspended last fall due to the pandemic, the Calgary-based airline announced Wednesday.

Flights in and out of Charlottetown, Fredericton, Moncton, Sydney and Quebec City will resume beginning June 24 through to June 30.

Service between St. John's and Toronto, which was indefinitely suspended in October, will also resume on June 24.

The resumption of the flights will restore WestJet's complete network of pre-COVID-19 domestic airports, the airline said.

"Our focus remains on the safe restart of air travel. We ask that federal and provincial governments work with us to provide clarity and certainty to Canadians, including travel policies that support economic recovery and restore jobs," said WestJet president and CEO Ed Sims in a release.

"Alongside an accelerated and successful vaccine rollout, we are hopeful that there will be an easing of onerous travel restrictions currently in place. We look forward to working together to safely reconnect Canadians to the region in the coming months."

The resumption of service to Atlantic Canada and Quebec City will be gradual and adjusted as the airline gauges how many flights are warranted, WestJet's chief commercial officer, John Weatherill, said at a virtual press conference on Wednesday.

Initially, the airline will operate daily flights between Toronto and St. John's, Fredericton, Moncton and Quebec City. It will also run 11 flights per week between Toronto and Charlottetown and six per week between St. John's and Halifax.

"The deciding factor will be demand," he said. "Our expectation is that demand will be very high this summer."

The resumed flights will see the airline bring back some laid-off flight attendants and other staff, but it's not likely that any pilot positions will be reactivated in the short term, Weatherill said.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/westjet-service-eastern-cities-covid-restore-1.5961645

Dominion301 · #**4952** Posted **Mar 24, 2021, 7:01 PM**

Today's departure count: 7

MountainView · #**4953** Posted **Mar 24, 2021, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominion301

FWIW, AC have a preliminary (probably partial) schedule loaded for summer. Here's what's currently showing for YOW going east to west:
LHR 1X 788
YHZ 5X CR9
YQB 1X CRJ
YUL 8X DH3/DH4 MIX
YYZ 16X 223 EXCLUSIVELY (probably placeholders this far out like the E90 used to be)
YWG 2X CR9
YEG 2X 223
YYC 3X 223
YVR 4X 320 MAINLINE (I guess the 4 'new' mainline 320s built in the 2000s will stick around, along with the Rouge 320s, the 321s and maybe the Rouge 319s).
TOTAL DEPARTURES: 42 - if we see 1/2 this amount that'll be something.

Notice how there's not a single transborder route. UA are still showing 1x each to ORD and IAD for this summer.

AC also have some ridiculously cheap one-way fares on Flair compete routes such as $114 to YVR...but even a YOW-LHR r/t can be booked for just over $600.

I don't even think we will see half of that this summer unfortunately. I think depending on vaccine roll-outs, provincial restrictions (mandatory tests/self-isolation), and the over appetitive for travel we will see something like:

1x to YVR (on the 737)
1x to YHZ (on Jazz CR9)
Maybe 1x to YYC (on the 737 or 220)

An increase to YYZ to 6-7 daily and an increase to YUL to 4 daily.

I think AC is happy routing everyone from YOW via YYZ and YUL right now. It probably makes the most sense for them. I do hope booking trends go upwards and we see the return of more of these direct routes this summer (July and August), but I'm not sure that will happen. Might as well send YOW folks to YUL then send a 1/3 full flight from YOW to YYC and a 1/3 full flight from YUL-YYC (just as an example).

Richard Eade · #**4954** Posted **Mar 25, 2021, 1:39 AM**

I agree. Flights in the US might be back up to pre-pandemic levels, but I don’t see that happening here.

I pointed out the low cost to fly to Vancouver to my sister-in-law. Her family used to go back and forth between Ottawa and Vancouver a fair amount. Her response was a definite “Thanks. Great prices, but there is no way we will be flying for a while.”

They are in their late 40s with three kids. They have no intention of flying until after a waiting period after everyone has the second shot of vaccine (if needed). They just do not feel that the risk until then is worth it.

I suspect that they are not alone in their thinking. With 80% of Canadians still wanting to keep the US-Canada border shut for now, it is an indication that Canadians are wary.

BenYOW · #**4955** Posted **Mar 26, 2021, 3:23 PM**

WestJet has announced 11 new domestic routes for the summer, including Ottawa to Victoria:

Ottawa – Victoria: 1x weekly (Sat): Commences June 26, 2021

This is a nice piece of good news for Ottawa, and it signals that WestJet is focusing on domestic tourism this summer.

News Release

Quote:

WestJet today announced 11 new domestic routes across Western Canada. The routes will offer new nonstop service for 15 communities across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. The enhancements follow an announcement made earlier in the week to return previously suspended service to Atlantic Canada and Quebec City.

"As we look to the coming months with cautious optimism, we know our restart agenda will be pivotal to Canada's economic recovery," said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. "Stimulating air travel benefits all Canadians and supports those hardest hit; with one in every 10 Canadian jobs tied to travel and tourism, the ripple effect benefits our whole country."

The new routes include service between Toronto (YYZ) and Comox (YQQ); between Ottawa (YOW) and Victoria (YYJ) and eight new routes connecting the prairie provinces to British Columbia tourism destinations, such as Regina (YQR) to Kelowna (YLW). Full schedule details and start dates are outlined below.

"We are at an inflection point; one that is buoyed by the rollout of vaccines, months of learning how to take appropriate precautions, and a view to Canada's beautiful summer months that allows us to spend more time outdoors," continued Sims. "If Canadians were to shift two-thirds of their planned international-leisure travel spend towards domestic tourism, it would help sustain 150,000 jobs and accelerate recovery by one year, all while seeing what Canada has to offer."

Dominion301 · #**4956** Posted **Mar 26, 2021, 5:41 PM**

YOW-YYJ is long overdue. Seeing Flair try the likes of Kitchener-Victoria was likely a signal F8 would do the same here.

YOW-YYJ summer seasonally could easily be 3-4x weekly a couple of years from now and daily within 5 years.

MountainView · #**4957** Posted **Mar 26, 2021, 7:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominion301

YOW-YYJ is long overdue. Seeing Flair try the likes of Kitchener-Victoria was likely a signal F8 would do the same here.

YOW-YYJ summer seasonally could easily be 3-4x weekly a couple of years from now and daily within 5 years.

Definitely!

Let's remember pre-pandemic it was Air Canada's #1 most connecting route

Zmonkey · #**4958** Posted **Mar 26, 2021, 9:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountainView

Definitely!

Let's remember pre-pandemic it was Air Canada's #1 most connecting route

Just looking at that I'd imagine Calgary Delhi may be on the Horizon post covid.

Dominion301 · #**4959** Posted **Mar 27, 2021, 3:31 AM**

Saturday's departure count: 6

Dominion301 · #**4960** Posted **Mar 29, 2021, 3:27 PM**

Today's departure count: 8 - there was a Chrono Aviation B1900 that departed this morning for Kuujjuarapik (YGW). It also looks like a Nolinor 732 is subbing in for 5T to YFB today as there's a ferry flight back to YMX tonight. Yesterday it said a 5T 732 operated the YOW-YFB flight, but who knows how accurate that is.

Sunday's departure count was 8 - there was a 5T ATR yesterday that departed.