Saskatoon and Regina Air Service

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by casper

I think it is reasonable to expect the Q400 on the Calgary-Saskatoon route. It is just under an hour from the main base for the Q400.

In the press there has been some talk about the Q400 permitting westjet to restart service to Winnipeg.

http://www.leaderpost.com/Airlines+f...465/story.html

It is not a bad thing. If a 737-700 is replaced by two Dash-8 400 flights that provides more options and about the same number of seats.

A few weeks ago I was on an Air Canada Dash-8 300 from Calgary to Saskatoon.

Last time I remember Air Canada operating the Dash-8 to Calgary was just after Sept 11 when they retired the fokker jets and reduced flights. Come to think of it is weird that all of those Fokker jets are still parked at the Saskatoon airport. They have been there for years.

EXACTLY!!! Yes, I remember the Fokker F-28s when they were first parked at YXE during the winter of '01-02: it was quite a sight! Now, those aircraft are looking most parted-out and delapitaded. YXE is likely still receiving a storage fee from Air Canada. Before long, YXE may begin to resemble an aircraft junk yard. (Unless they are hauled away.) I'd bet that many of those airframes are damn near [if not] timed-out as well. The longer aircraft sit on the ground, time becomes increasingly toxic.

WJ and Air Canada would be wise to fly Q400s from QR/XE to EG/YC/WG. They will be far more fuel efficient on these routes [based on distance] than even the 737s. The standard Q400 model will seat 78 pax. In fact, Bombardier is working on stretching the '400 [the Q400X] in order to accomodate 90 pax!

WJ 737s still would be more practical on routes to: VR/YZ/LAS/PHX. (Not to mention Sun Destinations.)

[casper]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

EXACTLY!!! Yes, I remember the Fokker F-28s when they were first parked at YXE during the winter of '01-02: it was quite a sight! Now, those aircraft are looking most parted-out and delapitaded. YXE is likely still recieving a storage fee from Air Canada. Before long, YXE may begin to resemble an aircraft junk yard. (Unless they are hauled away.) I'd bet that many of those airframes are damn near [if not] timed-out as well. The longer aircraft sit on the ground, time becomes increasingly toxic.

WJ and Air Canada would be wise to fly Q400s from QR/XE to EG/YC/WG. They will be far more fuel efficient on these routes [based on distance] than even the 737s. The standard Q400 model will seat 78 pax. In fact, Bombardier is working on stretching the '400 [the Q400X] in order to accomodate 90 pax!

WJ 737s still would be more practical on routes to: VR/YZ/LAS/PHX. (Not to mention Sun Destinations.)

As a passenger, I am a fan of the Q400 when compared to the older Dash or the CRJ-200. Just a little bit more room.

I suspect Vancouver, Toronto and the sun destination are a stretch for the Q400. If not in fuel in passenger comfort.

Surprised they don't just sell the Fokkers for scrap metal at this point. Who is going to buy an old aircraft that has not flown for over 10 years especially if it has been striped of useful parts.

[Regina Boi]

Here's some photos of the jets sitting at the Saskatoon airport. Looks like the engines at least have been stripped.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordonc...7602347196583/

[mjpaul]

Originally Posted by Regina Boi

Here's some photos of the jets sitting at the Saskatoon airport. Looks like the engines at least have been stripped.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordonc...7602347196583/

Should sell them Fokkers to some east European backwater ..they would be excited to have that junk.

[mjpaul]

99% of the time we use YQR but due to circumstances I had to pick my wife up in Saskatoon..

Some things I liked...In the retail and restaurant area, yxe seems to have a big city airport feel to it...Most tables full of people..lots of hustle and bustle for 11:00am flight on a Sunday...left me with a good impression

on the negative...There was only 1 and 1/2 small carousels at yxe.. I assume there is another carousel tucked away for international arrivals? The baggage claim part of YXE seemed very small town.I couldnt help but think of the congestion if two 737-700 's land within a few minutes of each other. I assume that will all change in the next couple years

Baggage claim at Regina Airport is much better with two big carousels in view., three if they have the partition down in the international arrivals area .

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by Regina Boi

Here's some photos of the jets sitting at the Saskatoon airport. Looks like the engines at least have been stripped.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordonc...7602347196583/

Engines; avionics; various control surfaces; control yokes; lights; seats; fire extinguishers; --- you name it. I'll bet that lots of that stuff is gone. Just skeletons remain. Still, some of them could be good for museums.

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by mjpaul

99% of the time we use YQR but due to circumstances I had to pick my wife up in Saskatoon..

Some things I liked...In the retail and restaurant area, yxe seems to have a big city airport feel to it...Most tables full of people..lots of hustle and bustle for 11:00am flight on a Sunday...left me with a good impression

on the negative...There was only 1 and 1/2 small carousels at yxe.. I assume there is another carousel tucked away for international arrivals? The baggage claim part of YXE seemed very small town.I couldnt help but think of the congestion if two 737-700 's land within a few minutes of each other. I assume that will all change in the next couple years

Baggage claim at Regina Airport is much better with two big carousels in view., three if they have the partition down in the international arrivals area .

YXE has 3 carousels - just like Regina. (But I think the 3rd one is sealed behind the Int'l Arrivals area.) I don't know as to whether or not if YXE is installing another one.

[casper]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

YXE has 3 carousels - just like Regina. (But I think the 3rd one is sealed behind the Int'l Arrivals area.) I don't know as to whether or not if YXE is installing another one.

The floor plan that was on the web site some time ago showed #4 being installed.

Looks like the current one was designed so it could swing between international and domestic (there is a large garage style roller door) that separates it from the domestic area. I fly through YXE about 1-2 times a month and I have never remembered it ever being open.

[kalin_10]

Casper is correct. YXE does have 3 carousels with the 3rd servicing international arrivals. As a part of the expansion, a 4th carousel will be added with the 3rd being a dual use for domestic/international if need be. The YXE CONSTRUCTION CAM is now available again, though not the best angle.

[kattiff]

so I heard that Delta Air Lines at YWG won Station of the Year "B" Class for International in the entire world and it was one of only two stations in Canada and the other station was YQR in their respected "C" Class category for International. So congrats to Delta in Regina!!

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Kattiff, can you explain what that all means? Is there a media story linked to this?

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Kattiff, can you explain what that all means? Is there a media story linked to this?

Yes, I second that. Thanks!

[Robag]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Kattiff, can you explain what that all means? Is there a media story linked to this?

It's Delta's own in house award for exemplary customer service. So basically Winnipeg and Regina Delta employees gave 5 star service to their customers. Says alot for the employees that get stuck in two of the colder climates in Canada in how they view their work.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by Robag

It's Delta's own in house award for exemplary customer service. So basically Winnipeg and Regina Delta employees gave 5 star service to their customers. Says alot for the employees that get stuck in two of the colder climates in Canada in how they view their work.

Isn't it local people that are employed at their front desk/check-in counter? They don't move them around like flight attendants, do they? If that's the case, they aren't really "stuck" in the colder climates, they are from them or willingly live there.

[Regina Boi]

Originally Posted by Nathan

Isn't it local people that are employed at their front desk/check-in counter? They don't move them around like flight attendants, do they? If that's the case, they aren't really "stuck" in the colder climates, they are from them or willingly live there.

Delta doesn't manage their customer service staff in Regina. They contract that work out to Dryden Air Service. At least that is my understanding.

[kalin_10]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

You are right. I have a friend who lives in Regina and works at Delta. Awful hours though. I believe her day begins at 4am.

Delta and United are contracted out by ATS (Air Terminal Services) at YXE

[kattiff]

hey sorry for the late reply back here. i have a friend that works for Delta at YWG. and YWG management runs YQR. yea Regina's Delta workers are contracted out to Dryden but it is managed by the same people who manage Winnipeg. Like Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal are all mainline Delta working empolyees. but YVR's management runs YYC and YEG runs YXE, YWG runs YQR and I think YYZ does YOW and YUL does YQB and YHZ.
now going to these awards. It was in the Winnipeg Free Press on Monday the 28th and i think its on the waa.ca site about but my friend said that Regina is the other city in Canada that won this in house Delta award (its for the entire world too). like YWG won in B Class International while Regina won C Class International. B & C meaning the size of airport so like, Hub then A then B then C then D etc. etc.
so yea like someone said up there scoring 5 out of 5 on their personal score cards. so that is like passengers happy with the wheelchair service and the terminal and the workers smiling and no bag problems etc. and when my friend said they had the YWG party and their manager said with getting the perfect 5 out of 5 they did actually finish in 1st place in their station category (the B or C class) so its like two winning things that make one.
ive seen a pic of the Winnipeg award i think Regina would have one too. next time you see a delta agent just say did ya actually win station of the year and they would be like hell ya we did haha.
but anyway big congrats for these two cities for being the only ones in Canada to get it!!!

[kattiff]

and remember Regina has only two flights. two out and two in. so yea the hours there would suck. like a morning shift for the first flight out. then afternoon for the turn flight and then a night shift for the one arriving flight and with them being contracted out i dont think they get the benefits like the mainline empolyees over in Winnipeg but they prob get paid a lot more due to them being contracted. and then Winnipeg having 3 to 5 flights a week to Minnie with CRJ and Embraers 170 & 175 planes their hrs im sure are all over the place too. but yes anyway, who cares free advertising for the two cities so congrats again! woot woot

[kattiff]

http://www.waa.ca/media/news/read,ar...the-year-award

[jmt18325]

Now if only Delta would give us another destination....