Canadian Airport Thread

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

The whole purpose of Swoop is to be a low cost carrier and if the new CBA makes them not so low cost, their reason for existence goes away. Sure, the planes might still exist, they will just become WS planes again if WS needs them.

They would still have lower CASM if they were to be kept in a 189Y configuration.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by JakeLRS

It was mentioned in the YHM forum that they could do what Flair/Newleaf originally did. Still continue to have Swoop has a brand but have all flights operated by Westjet. Although I'd imagine this won't happen given that its well established that Swoop is indeed Westjet and I'd suspect Westjet would want to protect its brand.

Or they could do what Air Canada did with Tango. Change it from a separate operating entity to a cheaper fare class on their mainline flights.

[nname]

Looks like AC update the reservation system for the first 15 days of winter season. Changes are not in schedule yet.

Notably (for YVR's perspective at least), YVR-YQB is converted to year-round mainline. This would be the first mainline AC to YQB in a long time now?

Also, looks like AC continue to move resource from YYC to YVR. YYC-PHX/YHZ all seems to move to YVR for the beginning of winter season at least. I posted more YVR changes in the YVR thread, for the rest I'll just let others to discover

[nname]

Schedule now updated until Dec 15.

For new/restart mainline routes:

AC974/975 YUL-SJD 1x weekly 7M8 Dec 1
AC1358/59 YYZ-MTY 4x weekly 223 Oct 29
AC1360/61 YYZ-PTY 3x weekly 223 Nov 2

[YYCguys]

Originally Posted by casper

Leading up to COVID I was flying mostly WS with the odd flight on AC. Since COVID came to an end it is been more balanced, but I am flying more AC.

WS staff use to be helpful. Not any more. Their airport staff can't rebook a flight, it is just painful.

The contracted WS staff, and non contracted staff as well, simply don’t have that function on their end at the computer anymore. It was taken away for what reason I do not know. It all has to be done through the call centre.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by nname

Looks like AC update the reservation system for the first 15 days of winter season. Changes are not in schedule yet.

Notably (for YVR's perspective at least), YVR-YQB is converted to year-round mainline. This would be the first mainline AC to YQB in a long time now?

Also, looks like AC continue to move resource from YYC to YVR. YYC-PHX/YHZ all seems to move to YVR for the beginning of winter season at least. I posted more YVR changes in the YVR thread, for the rest I'll just let others to discover

Yeah it's been a long time since YQB's seen mainline.

AC have released their winter sun schedule though: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/a ... 16247.html

New routes: YYZ-MTY, YYZ-FDF, YUL-SJD & YUL-LRM

Frequency increases on various existing sun routes out of YHZ, YQB, YUL, YOW, YYZ & YEG.

[Denscity]

Did France just make a law where flights under 2 hours are banned in favour of trains?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Did France just make a law where flights under 2 hours are banned in favour of trains?

Not quite:

France has formally banned domestic flights on short routes that can be covered by train in less than two-and-a-half hours in a move aimed at reducing airline emissions.

Of course, with the appalling state of the passenger rail system here in Canada, we have nothing to worry about.

[Coldrsx]

The FAA just made a 'ground order' fro ALL Air Canada flights due to a computer/technical issue??!??!?!

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

The FAA just made a 'ground order' fro ALL Air Canada flights due to a computer/technical issue??!??!?!

Now retracted and cancelled.

[JakeLRS]

I think one of the under recognized airport projects in Canada is probably the YKF renovations that have been going on over the past few years.

I created some before/after photo's to see compare some of the changes. A majority of the reno's are now complete!

YKF_Renos_CheckIn by freerealms454, on Flickr

YKF_Renos_Departures by freerealms454, on Flickr

YKF_Renos_DomesticArrivals by freerealms454, on Flickr

YKF_Renos_Ariel by freerealms454, on Flickr

YKF_TerminalMap by freerealms454, on Flickr

The old terminal building is now the security area (the previous security area was tucked away in a little corner of the old terminal before)

The check-in area is now more spacious. I was there last summer and the check-in area was like a cattle with two flights departing at a similar time.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by nname

AC1358/59 YYZ-MTY 4x weekly 223 Oct 29

That A220 will spend 12h30 overnight hours in Monterrey. Not the best utilization for a frame, methinks.

All the other routes are quick 1 hour turns.

[whatnext]

Details of the Westjet pilot agreement:

WestJet pilots deal grants 24% pay raise over four years
The Canadian Press

WestJet pilots are bound for a 24 per cent pay bump over four years under an agreement-in-principle between the company and the union.

Pilots will receive a 15.5 per cent hourly pay raise this year retroactive to Jan. 1 upon ratification of the deal, according to a copy of the tentative agreement summary obtained by The Canadian Press.

It also lays out a cumulative 8.5 per cent hike to their hourly wage over the remainder of the contract, from 2024 through 2026.

Bargaining came down to the wire last week, with WestJet cancelling more than 230 flights in preparation for job action before a deal was reached hours ahead of the strike deadline on May 19.

The agreement sets a new standard for labour gains in Canadian aviation, says expert Rick Erickson.

"You can bet that Air Canada's pilot union will be looking at this very, very closely," said Erickson, managing director of consulting firm R.P. Erickson and Associates.

Flight crews at the country's biggest carrier may soon be in bargaining themselves. In a letter to members this month, the Air Canada Pilots Association said workers must decide by May 29 whether to stick with their 10-year collective agreement inked in 2014 or opt to start full negotiations ahead of time this year.

The WestJet deal could also make it tougher for budget airline competitors Flair Airlines and Lynx Air to retain pilots, even as they gain an edge on labour costs....

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/westjet-pilots-deal-grants-24-pay-raise-over-four-years-1.1925435

[hollywoodcory]

In the latest update, KLM filled 777 service to both YYC / YEG in the winter schedule.

[hollywoodcory]

WS has extended its schedule in the OAG into S24.

-YYC-PDX / YYZ-LAX are both back, implying they were just cut for the winter.
-YVR-ATL increased to daily the entire season.
-YYC-YQM season extended to entire summer (rather than from mid-June)
-Some winter seasonal routes were extended into May (like YYC-VRA/MBJ/FLL/HUX)

[Dominion301]

No sooner than AC reduced YOW-YEG to summer seasonal, F8 have reversed course and returned YOW-YEG to year-round with 3x weekly service this winter.

[nname]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

No sooner than AC reduced YOW-YEG to summer seasonal, F8 have reversed course and returned YOW-YEG to year-round with 3x weekly service this winter.

Flair will always jump in and pick up routes that AC had dropped. I bet they are looking hard at YYC now, though they already added PVR/PHX/LAS from YYC.

Speaking of which, looks like there will be big schedule reduction for Jan/Feb 2024 from all bases (besides YYZ) for about 4-5 weeks. I guess this is the lowest season in term of air travel, so the reduction would prevent them from bleeding money and end up having plane repossessed in March like this year? Even AC have some reduction in their winter schedule, but nothing as dramatic as Flair, which some bases have almost 50% cut in the schedule.

[JakeLRS]

Originally Posted by nname

Flair will always jump in and pick up routes that AC had dropped. I bet they are looking hard at YYC now, though they already added PVR/PHX/LAS from YYC.

Speaking of which, looks like there will be big schedule reduction for Jan/Feb 2024 from all bases (besides YYZ) for about 4-5 weeks. I guess this is the lowest season in term of air travel, so the reduction would prevent them from bleeding money and end up having plane repossessed in March like this year? Even AC have some reduction in their winter schedule, but nothing as dramatic as Flair, which some bases have almost 50% cut in the schedule.

Yup, I noticed that too! It looks like they learned their lesson. They increase frequencies in-time for the post-secondary reading week/family day weekend.

I'm sure you would know, but are there any gaps in Flair's overall winter schedule? It seems like some aircraft will be under utilized at it's current state. To be fair, they did announce their Tucson debacle last July so maybe something else will follow suit this summer.

[nname]

Originally Posted by JakeLRS

I'm sure you would know, but are there any gaps in Flair's overall winter schedule? It seems like some aircraft will be under utilized at it's current state. To be fair, they did announce their Tucson debacle last July so maybe something else will follow suit this summer.

Didn't track other bases, but for YVR.. there will be 5 planes operating this summer, 5 planes for winter until early Jan, then down to 4 for a month or so during the reduction, then up to 5 again.

Last year TUS was operating out of the YVR resource.

[casper]

Good to see Victoria (YYJ) gets another international airline. Kenmore Air will now operate twice daily from YYJ to FHR with option of continuing on to PAE or BFI. Service is twice daily.

https://www.timescolonist.com/business/k...m-victoria-international-airport-7051599

Kenmore Air has been operating float aircraft out of the Victoria Harbour with service to the Seattle area for years. This new service will be with wheeled aircraft.

It is disappointing that Alaska Airline post COVID has only introduced daily service into Victoria instead of twice daily service. Limits onward connections Delta has yet to return. At least Kenmore partially fills the gap.