Calgary International Airport II

[thewave46]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

I could be miss-reading this, but WS has already been serving SEA for almost a year now? Given its flying upwards of 2x daily straight through the winter, I'd say they are pretty happy with it.

I stand corrected.

[hollywoodcory]

WS appears to be resuming AMS in November. WS20/21 got loaded 3x weekly on Mon / Wed and Friday?

Not something I was expecting.

[YYCguys]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

WS appears to be resuming AMS in November. WS20/21 got loaded 3x weekly on Mon / Wed and Friday?

Not something I was expecting.

Indeed. Especially in winter!

[thenoflyzone]

It boils down to the fact that they weren't able to get slots for S22 but were able for W22.

Winter seasonal service to AMS is good, but far from ideal. WS most likely wants year round service, with summer service being key, of course.

[YYCguys]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

It boils down to the fact that they weren't able to get slots for S22 but were able for W22.

Winter seasonal service to AMS is good, but far from ideal. WS most likely wants year round service, with summer service being key, of course.

Does KLM provide year round service between YYC and AMS?

[hollywoodcory]

I would have expected CDG to be flown in the winter first, as it seemed they were interested in making that year-round? But what do I know.

Maybe they’ll get lucky again and nab permanent slots like they just got at LHR.

Originally Posted by YYCguys

Does KLM provide year round service between YYC and AMS?

KLM operates up to daily year-round.

[hehehe]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

I would have expected CDG to be flown in the winter first, as it seemed they were interested in making that year-round? But what do I know.

Maybe they’ll get lucky again and nab permanent slots like they just got at LHR.



KLM operates up to daily year-round.

If they were able to get daily slots into LHR anything is possible lol.

[YYCFlier]

Originally Posted by YYCguys

Does KLM provide year round service between YYC and AMS?

Not only does KLM offer year round, it was the only TATL service YYC kept during the height of the pandemic.

KLM downgrades AMS to a 333/332 in winter, so I am not sure why of all routes WS is choosing to operate AMS. Do we really need two carriers to AMS in winter? Why not CDG? STOP CHASING AWAY ALL OF OUR FOREIGN CARRIERS.

[MalcolmTucker]

Belly cargo?

[YYCFlier]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Belly cargo?

Or what the F do we do with the 7th frame so we use it but have a spare?

[hollywoodcory]

WS 787 schedule for the winter already required the use of all 7 frames prior to this announcement meaning some Mexico/Hawaii will have to be downgraded in order for this to work. On Fridays WS has 789 departures scheduled currently to LHR/AMS/CUN/PVR/HNL/OGG and YYZ. And that's just from YYC.

This is an odd choice. If they wanted year-round access to the European hub CDG seemed the most logical for them. They already serve it March-November, and codeshare with AF and could probably get slots far easier?

Given this is only 2 months out, I suspect this is just temp slots.

Also didn't they just announced they were moving towards a more leisure focus, and announcing AMS for the winter is kind of the opposite of that?

I don't see this scaring off KLM. They seem pretty committed to the market.

[hehehe]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

WS 787 schedule for the winter already required the use of all 7 frames prior to this announcement meaning some Mexico/Hawaii will have to be downgraded in order for this to work. On Fridays WS has 789 departures scheduled currently to LHR/AMS/CUN/PVR/HNL/OGG and YYZ. And that's just from YYC.

This is an odd choice. If they wanted year-round access to the European hub CDG seemed the most logical for them. They already serve it March-November, and codeshare with AF and could probably get slots far easier?

Given this is only 2 months out, I suspect this is just temp slots.

Also didn't they just announced they were moving towards a more leisure focus, and announcing AMS for the winter is kind of the opposite of that?

I don't see this scaring off KLM. They seem pretty committed to the market.

HNL and I think OGG might have had some minor cuts? WS was only 4x weekly LGW in the winter pre pandemic and they're now 10x weekly to LHR and AMS post. Nice to see the increase

The LHR bookings on WS this winter y'all.... I hate to say I told you so.

Doing more than fine.

[hehehe]

Originally Posted by ace.yyc

The LHR bookings on WS this winter y'all.... I hate to say I told you so.

Doing more than fine.

Now I'm curious to see what AMS looks like in the next few months. It seems a little odd to launch in the winter (even if that was the only choice) but certainly not unwelcome.

[peytol]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

WS 787 schedule for the winter already required the use of all 7 frames prior to this announcement meaning some Mexico/Hawaii will have to be downgraded in order for this to work. On Fridays WS has 789 departures scheduled currently to LHR/AMS/CUN/PVR/HNL/OGG and YYZ. And that's just from YYC.

This is an odd choice. If they wanted year-round access to the European hub CDG seemed the most logical for them. They already serve it March-November, and codeshare with AF and could probably get slots far easier?

Given this is only 2 months out, I suspect this is just temp slots.

Also didn't they just announced they were moving towards a more leisure focus, and announcing AMS for the winter is kind of the opposite of that?

I don't see this scaring off KLM. They seem pretty committed to the market.

With AMS slots I recall hearing something along the lines of if you use your temp slots it gives you a higher chance of permanent slots. Not sure on that but this could be the reason.

[LO 044]

Maybe WS wants to veer into flying into AMS and making that their international hub. Every time I try to use CDG as a connection point in Europe, the options just aren't there relative to AMS. I feel that WS should convince KL to use their aircraft somewhere else and enter a JV with KL feeding flights into AMS from YYC, YVR and YEG. Forget about FCO and BCN, you won't get much premium sell on those routes but you might on AMS with connections further. I feel that WS should focus on LHR and AMS in Europe if their strategy is to not delve into international travel much.

[zahav]

AMS is a great airport, and really good for connections. I have never been to CDG but heard it doesn't compare to AMS. So it could make sense for WS to focus there. I just always have a thing about new routes, it's nice to either get a new destination, a new carrier, or ideally both. An existing destination by a current airline that also happens to have a carrier on it doesn't feel the same as scoring a new destination or carrier. But that's because I'm an airline geek, so things like that excite me. But this is still a positive move to have WS adding prominent international routes. And I agree with others, I can't see them affecting KLM on the route, they are one of the most steady and reliable of all the carriers. WS will generate more Canadian traffic, while KLM will keep its strength among foreigners, both from Netherlands and connecting through AMS. Let's hope at least, WS angling out KL would be tragic

[peytol]

Originally Posted by zahav

AMS is a great airport, and really good for connections. I have never been to CDG but heard it doesn't compare to AMS. So it could make sense for WS to focus there. I just always have a thing about new routes, it's nice to either get a new destination, a new carrier, or ideally both. An existing destination by a current airline that also happens to have a carrier on it doesn't feel the same as scoring a new destination or carrier. But that's because I'm an airline geek, so things like that excite me. But this is still a positive move to have WS adding prominent international routes. And I agree with others, I can't see them affecting KLM on the route, they are one of the most steady and reliable of all the carriers. WS will generate more Canadian traffic, while KLM will keep its strength among foreigners, both from Netherlands and connecting through AMS. Let's hope at least, WS angling out KL would be tragic

I agree, but YYC is not YYZ or YVR and based on recent announcements I would not say westjet keeping the 787 is a guarantee. Westjet is YYC's best bet for new international routes so having some boring but stable and profitable 787 routes is probably YYC's best chance at more interesting routes in the future.

[hehehe]

Originally Posted by peytol

I agree, but YYC is not YYZ or YVR and based on recent announcements I would not say westjet keeping the 787 is a guarantee. Westjet is YYC's best bet for new international routes so having some boring but stable and profitable 787 routes is probably YYC's best chance at more interesting routes in the future.

That's a fair point. Westjet's summer Europe flights (and so far their year round LHR flight) seem to be doing very well though, so I don't think there's a large risk of the 787 being phased out at all.

I'm still surprised about AMS. Either the slots are permanent or, if they're temporary, they somehow have to significantly help WS achieve permanent slots. Restarting the AMS station two months in advance during the winter when we're still in pandemic recovery isn't something I'd think they'd do unless it actually helps them get permanent, year round access to AMS.

[zahav]

Originally Posted by peytol

I agree, but YYC is not YYZ or YVR and based on recent announcements I would not say westjet keeping the 787 is a guarantee. Westjet is YYC's best bet for new international routes so having some boring but stable and profitable 787 routes is probably YYC's best chance at more interesting routes in the future.

Yes totally agree. WS is what is really going to drive YYC traffic. Getting new carriers or routes could still happen, but agree that it will be WS likely doing it, at least in the short term. And there is nothing wrong with that, having a dominant hometown airlines has its benefits, even if one of those is potentially chasing off other carriers.