Calgary International Airport II

WS YYC-LHR is doing just fine through winter, for what it's worth. Some had thought, for some reason, that it would fail.

[People_talking]

Originally Posted by thewave46

I'm not sure that this is just a pandemic refocusing, or perhaps a longer-term acknowledgement of what niche the Westjet/Onex airline conglomerate occupies in the Canadian airline space.

Most developed countries of ~30-80m people - even if fairly large in area - can only support one major domestically-based full-range intercontinental airline. That kind of operation is only really possible because one is scooping up most of that type of travel and can provide a adequately large network of destinations. That's not something easily managed, and when one is trying to break into that space, one is fighting the big boys.

When there is a second one, it tends to occupy a leisure niche (see: Virgin Atlantic versus British Airways).

So, what does Westjet/Onex do? Try their hand at continued international expansion or protect their profitable North American operations from upstart competition? When one is dealing in terms of finite resources, protecting the money-making base seems to be the best option IMO. Intercontinental operations are more appealing from a 'Oooh fancy' point of view, sure. It just can be a money 🞵🞵🞵🞵/operational distraction. It's part of why Southwest Airlines has traditionally been the most profitable US airline.

If WestJet boosts their Domestic and Transborder network or even their sun destinations what routes would be plausible? PHL? IAD? MSY?

[hehehe]

Originally Posted by People_talking

If WestJet boosts their Domestic and Transborder network or even their sun destinations what routes would be plausible? PHL? IAD? MSY?

I suppose MSY could be a summer seasonal route (kind of like BNA or the now gone AUS but on a smaller scale), otherwise I don't think there's a lot left that they could realistically do.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

I think the old bilatérales mostly had Edmonton in them and this is likely just a hangover.

That's right.

And India already named YYC and YOW as the 2 additional points in Canada back in 2007/2008, according to the diplomatic notes in the link below.

https://www.otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/india

Originally Posted by People_talking

If WestJet boosts their Domestic and Transborder network or even their sun destinations what routes would be plausible? PHL? IAD? MSY?

Anything's possible but I'd personally bet on ORD, DFW and AUS, all of which would be service resumptions, before those new ventures.

[msmariner]

Originally Posted by ace.yyc

Anything's possible but I'd personally bet on ORD, DFW and AUS, all of which would be service resumptions, before those new ventures.

Was ORD direct from YYC or just thru YYZ? The two Texas routes would be nice though

[hollywoodcory]

Originally Posted by msmariner

Was ORD direct from YYC or just thru YYZ? The two Texas routes would be nice though

WS ran YYC-ORD until June 2019.

If memory serves me correct they also briefly served MSY too?

Yeah ORD and DFW were nonstop from Calgary, but they bailed after the agreement with AA ended and they lost feed on the other end. This hasn't stopped them from moving in and becoming #1 on YYC-IAH though, so I'm actually a bit surprised ORD isn't yet back.

[PPAR]

If interlining was not an issue, SFO DEN and ORD would all be very well served out of YYC. Along with IAH, these three airports offer the best 1-stop selection of destinations for us.

[msmariner]

October passenger numbers
https://www.yyc.com/en-us/media/factsfigures/passengerstatistics.aspx

[Zmonkey]

Originally Posted by msmariner

October passenger numbers
https://www.yyc.com/en-us/media/factsfigures/passengerstatistics.aspx

International still way down, Tokyo, Beijing and Mexico city are the big cities that have not come back (or am I misremembering when Mexico City was cancelled).
Tokyo won't come back, Beijing who knows if it will.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by Zmonkey

International still way down, Tokyo, Beijing and Mexico city are the big cities that have not come back (or am I misremembering when Mexico City was cancelled).
Tokyo won't come back, Beijing who knows if it will.

International (non-US) Oct 2022 numbers were higher than Oct 2019. Transborder is still ~20% down. That’s the real issue, not lack of long haul intl.

[msmariner]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

International (non-US) Oct 2022 numbers were higher than Oct 2019. Transborder is still ~20% down. That’s the real issue, not lack of long haul intl.

Not surprising that trans border is down. The US still has restrictions for unvaccinated foreign nationals. Plus the Canadian $$$ is 🞵🞵🞵🞵 compared to pre pandemic.

[MalcolmTucker]

Prices are much higher due to oil/distillate and lack of foresight by the airlines themselves.

If someone is waiting for the USA to change their policy, maybe they should just get used to golfing in Cabo instead of Palm Springs. It is going to be a long and perhaps permanent wait.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by msmariner

Not surprising that trans border is down. The US still has restrictions for unvaccinated foreign nationals. Plus the Canadian $$$ is 🞵🞵🞵🞵 compared to pre pandemic.

Don’t know about the USCBP in YYC, but here at YUL, I can assure you they don’t even bother checking for the vaccination proof. They haven’t for a while.

I crossed the land border as well recently, into NY, and will cross in a couple of days into Vermont, and I haven’t been asked for it at land borders either.

[msmariner]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

Don’t know about the USCBP in YYC, but here at YUL, I can assure you they don’t even bother checking for the vaccination proof. They haven’t for a while.

I crossed the land border as well recently, into NY, and will cross in a couple of days into Vermont, and I haven’t been asked for it at land borders either.

We were checked going to Seattle a couple weeks back. Had to fill out forms and show proof of vaccination. Was the airlines checking

[casper]

Originally Posted by msmariner

We were checked going to Seattle a couple weeks back. Had to fill out forms and show proof of vaccination. Was the airlines checking

Obviously the airline faces fines if you are found to not meet entry requirements and they fly you to the Us.

The fact US border control is not doing their job is a different matter.

[MalcolmTucker]

If you fly regularly, unless you’re on an airline you haven’t flown recently on, your records are still in the system. That you aren’t asked again doesn’t mean no one in your flight is.

As for land borders, it is likely based on the agent you have.

[peytol]

Recently on Westjet it was just a check mark attestation page while checking in on the app, no actual proof required.

[hehehe]

AC seems to be dropping PHX completely in January and LAS is off the schedule for next summer. PDX was completely dropped too. All other transborder seems to be going back to the pre pandemic schedule. So about 7x daily next summer.

YQB was reduced to 3x weekly and YOW was reduced to 2x daily. Otherwise (so far) all domestic is going back to the pre pandemic schedule as well. of course all of this could change.