Saskatoon and Regina Air Service

[EDM753Fan]

Its looking a lot like AC will be deploying CR9's on the YYC-YQR route as of May and moving it up to 3 x Daily. If this really does happen it would be fantastic! I think it could bring down the flight time by 20-25% which racks up especially on the Westbound segment.

Story has it AC are moving some of their Q400 fleet back East for those shorter hops.

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/flight-schedules.html#/

[EDM753Fan]

In other news it looks like we're getting our YUL-YQR-YXE-YUL flight back this summer, starting May 1 on CR9 Equipment!

[caveat.doctor]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

I’m just excited for the day that all the flights from Regina to Toronto are A220-300’s. I’ve had more than my fill of the current CRJ900. Hate it.

Just did the Toronto-Regina-Toronto run on the A220, it really is a step up from the CRJs and feels "main line", like back when we had the A320s.

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Lol. I love that your comment makes it sound like I don’t like the CRJ900 because I plan to sit in the bathroom the entire flight.

Anyways. The A220-300 is a better, more “spacious bathroom” aircraft with a fantastic layout and will be an absolute upgrade on both the Regina and Saskatoon flights to YYZ once more deliveries are made to Air Canada.

The A220 does indeed have proper washrooms. The ones in the back (2 of them) are side-by-side and have a removable divider that can be opened for those needing the extra room.

Originally Posted by EDM753Fan

Nothing against the Jazz crews exactly but the food options etc all seem better with Mainline AC crews.

Agree - not sure if it is unique to the A220s but the menu seems expanded compared to the CRJs. On the way in on Economy, cheese plate and mac and cheese (discount if you say it's for a kid):





On the way back in Business, chicken korma:



The lounge is open again too - nice sign of normalcy and that things have bounced back since the place was essentially abandoned in summer 2020:



Happy flying!

[McBean]

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

Just did the Toronto-Regina-Toronto run on the A220, it really is a step up from the CRJs and feels "main line", like back when we had the A320s.





The A220 does indeed have proper washrooms. The ones in the back (2 of them) are side-by-side and have a removable divider that can be opened for those needing the extra room.



Agree - not sure if it is unique to the A220s but the menu seems expanded compared to the CRJs. On the way in on Economy, cheese plate and mac and cheese (discount if you say it's for a kid):





On the way back in Business, chicken korma:



The lounge is open again too - nice sign of normalcy and that things have bounced back since the place was essentially abandoned in summer 2020:



Happy flying!

Thanks for update. the A220 is a massive improvement.

[Draftsman]

The A220 is proving to be a real winner with both the airlines and the passengers. I haven't heard anything but praise for it, and Airbus keeps racking up orders for future deliveries. One thing that I was unaware of is the fact that the washrooms can be combined into one larger one - someone was really thinking here. This is great news for people with disabilities or are of a larger build. Even though it is no longer a Bombardier, I am proud that this aircraft was 'born in Canada'

[EDM753Fan]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

Even though it is no longer a Bombardier, I am proud that this aircraft was 'born in Canada'

I like to think of it as Canadian Designed and except US destined models, Canadian made! Truly a thing of beauty!

[Dino35]

Glad to see that the A220 and even the MAX 8 will be operating the YXE/YQR - YYZ routes. A much greater number of seats than we currently have, but the new AC schedule is terrible - with no morning flights to YYZ and no later evening return back to Saskatchewan. The earliest you can get to Toronto on AC is3/4pm and which means onwards connections are all going to be early/late evening. Was trying to schedule a flight back from ATH in August and without the later YYZ flight the connections and layovers were way too long. I was hoping to see these morning and evening flights added back on the last schedule update, but it didn’t happen. I see WJ is operating a morning flight a few times a week, which I think will become daily for the summer. They will definitely take some business from AC.

[PhotoJim]

It'll take some time for normal pre-pandemic flight frequency to return. No matter how emboldened some travelers are, a significant number of people are still avoiding air travel, and many businesses are still relying on online meetings instead of in-person ones.

[Dino35]

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

It'll take some time for normal pre-pandemic flight frequency to return. No matter how emboldened some travelers are, a significant number of people are still avoiding air travel, and many businesses are still relying on online meetings instead of in-person ones.

Even at the height of the pandemic, there was an early morning departure and late evening arrival for Saskatchewan. These changes are recent in the last couple of months. Even my contacts at AC are a bit confused by the changes.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by Dino35

Even at the height of the pandemic, there was an early morning departure and late evening arrival for Saskatchewan. These changes are recent in the last couple of months. Even my contacts at AC are a bit confused by the changes.

Almost certainly they have other routes with higher demand and need the aircraft elsewhere, then. (Or crew shortages that they expect to persist.)

[EDM753Fan]

Originally Posted by Dino35

Even at the height of the pandemic, there was an early morning departure and late evening arrival for Saskatchewan. These changes are recent in the last couple of months. Even my contacts at AC are a bit confused by the changes.

I was traveling home YYZ-YQR last night (via YYC). There were many ppl on the flight that were connecting to YQR and YXE. Everyone on the Regina flight missed their connection by just a few minutes.

Most of them eventually got booked onto the late WestJet flight. Its really inconvenient to say the least when you have to get home at 3am due to this schedule.

[Calfan12]

Originally Posted by Dino35

Glad to see that the A220 and even the MAX 8 will be operating the YXE/YQR - YYZ routes. A much greater number of seats than we currently have, but the new AC schedule is terrible - with no morning flights to YYZ and no later evening return back to Saskatchewan. The earliest you can get to Toronto on AC is3/4pm and which means onwards connections are all going to be early/late evening. Was trying to schedule a flight back from ATH in August and without the later YYZ flight the connections and layovers were way too long. I was hoping to see these morning and evening flights added back on the last schedule update, but it didn’t happen. I see WJ is operating a morning flight a few times a week, which I think will become daily for the summer. They will definitely take some business from AC.

Well Air Canada usually uses a mix of the A330/787 or 777 planes on Toronto YYZ-Calgary YYC route 2-3 daily each day and to fill them that can seat 200+, requires some Saskatchewan connectiing passengers both directions✅!

So not surprising there's limited number AC flights between Toronto & Saskatchewan to/from Regina and Saskatoon.

[McBean]

Originally Posted by EDM753Fan

I was traveling home YYZ-YQR last night (via YYC). There were many ppl on the flight that were connecting to YQR and YXE. Everyone on the Regina flight missed their connection by just a few minutes.

Most of them eventually got booked onto the late WestJet flight. Its really inconvenient to say the least when you have to get home at 3am due to this schedule.

It's totally an inconvenience.

[EDM753Fan]

Originally Posted by McBean

It's totally an inconvenience.

If anyone else is frustrated with this - please send AC an email at the below link....

https://accc-prod.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-CA/air-canada-contact-us/

[Calfan12]

Originally Posted by EDM753Fan

If anyone else is frustrated with this - please send AC an email at the below link....

https://accc-prod.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-CA/air-canada-contact-us/

It’s passengers demand on flight routes that will help increase flight frequencies✅!

Sending a email to them will do nothing about it or solve the problem.

[EDM753Fan]

Originally Posted by Calfan12

It’s passengers demand on flight routes that will help increase flight frequencies✅!

Sending a email to them will do nothing about it or solve the problem.

Go back to YYC please, bot...

[Dino35]

Originally Posted by McBean

It's totally an inconvenience.

I just booked a Westjet flight for a late night return home in May. There were no other AC options - even through YYC (which in 10 years I’ve never had to fly to YYC from YYZ to get back to YXE).

[EDM753Fan]

Originally Posted by Dino35

Glad to see that the A220 and even the MAX 8 will be operating the YXE/YQR - YYZ routes. A much greater number of seats than we currently have, but the new AC schedule is terrible - with no morning flights to YYZ and no later evening return back to Saskatchewan. The earliest you can get to Toronto on AC is3/4pm and which means onwards connections are all going to be early/late evening. Was trying to schedule a flight back from ATH in August and without the later YYZ flight the connections and layovers were way too long. I was hoping to see these morning and evening flights added back on the last schedule update, but it didn’t happen. I see WJ is operating a morning flight a few times a week, which I think will become daily for the summer. They will definitely take some business from AC.

Can you share a link to where I can find the latest schedule? I usually look here https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/flight-schedules.html#/ and play with the dates but to see when the changes in schedule occur would be really useful...

[McBean]

There's still a lot of Dash 8's flying in and out of Regina. The jet service is for Toronto and Vancouver flights , except for a 737 west jet to Calgary once or twice daily I believe.

[McBean]

Are there any more direct flights between Regina and Saskatoon anymore? I remember Transwest or someone used to do the run a few times a week.