Originally Posted by zahav
Glad to see SQ still sticking around, even though it's obviuously kind of trial and error with the schedule and routing, but that is to be expected. I really hope it sticks around once the dust has fully settled around COVID and related restrictions.
From what I see, WS to YKA will be WS Link using Saab aircraft, the DH8 are on Encore. Funny to think WS now has 4 airlines under the parent company, even more than AC, who it went out of it's way to be different than lol..
UA also updated their summer sched, let's hope we're near the end of schedule changes.. Back to a very healthy schedule. They will running a fully mainline operation, which is quite the vote of confidence. SFO 5x daily, LAX 1x daily, DEN 3x daily, IAH 2x daily, ORD 2x daily, EWR 1x daily. Schedule appears to be the same every day (sometimes in the past with cruise ship traffic, Sundays would get more flights than other days, but that doesn't appear to be the case anymore). IAD didn't come back but that is to be expected, it was the most iffy of all their routes. Still, having mainline service to 6/7 of their domestic hubs is more than decent. If IAD comes back, that will be a clean-sweep of their hubs with non-stop mainline service. I believe YVR is the 3rd or 4th busiest internatiinal mainline destination for UA (after LHR and CUN) this summer, measured by flights per day. I think it waffles with Mexico City for 3rd/4th. Obviously LHR has widebody metal so it is way out ahead in terms of seats and daily frequency, and CUN is a major leisure destination especially from their hub at IAH. But YVR and MEX are neck and neck, definitely in top 5.
Also appears DL has upgauged the 1x daily SLC service to mainline. Still DL has a long way to go to recovery, since they used to have multiple dailies to SLC and MSP (both now daily only) and service to ATL at least once per week (not anymore). However compared to the pre-2015 period, DL is still up bwcause we have so much service to SEA, which didn't exist before DL turned it into a hub. So it's understandable to a degree that they have cut back on other destinations non-stop, since it's clear they are making SEA the onward connection hub.
Not sure if this was mentioned before, but AA upgauaged their daily LAX service to mainline as well. So LAX is 100% mainline flights (Air Canada, American, United, and Westjet). And with the 2x daily DFW service and 1x daily ORD service, AA is 4x daily all mainline ex-YVR. It's interesting how quickly AA dropped PHX, considering that route was a fixture for years first as America West, then US Airways, then American. AC wasn't even on the route until a couple years ago, and it always seemed like a bit of an afterthought to them, so it's interesting that they are now the only year-round carrier on the route. I always thought it was a key route for AA from Canada to PHX. They also dropped YYC, again, another route with a long history. I am guessing PHX was more an O&D desintation rather than connections, so AA was ready to hand it to AC and WS (in winter), and keep flights to LAX, ORD, and DFW. Probably the right strategy.
Sorry for the long post, but wanted to summarize the updates I saw. Althought by no means where it was in 2019, there are positive signs and route resumptions/new routes that suggest airlines are confident in the market here (esp transborder without the cruise ship traffic they normally have, I was unsure if they would retun with a hefty schedule, but it appears at least UA has)
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