Calgary International Airport II

[casper]

Originally Posted by Tobuz

I like it, but, ummmm...

Is it just me, or does it look an awful lot like Delta??

Completely different. Delta is not properly dressed, no mask. It's underside is also exposed. Air Canada is far more refined.

[CalgaryCheese]

I personally like the new livery. I kind of wish the Air Canada letters were still in red though. I also liked the frosted tail, and I'll miss it. The new tail does look very sophisticated though.

[Avgeek]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I'm not really a fan of the new livery. I can accept the black tail with the maple leaf rondelle but not the mask and black text. I dislike the black mask by the cockpit windows since I don't get the point of it except for looking like a loon. Also, the rondelle on the fuselage is below the windows instead of beside the text, which I personally don't like. What's the point of placing the logo between the windows and the cheatline?

I don't think the red rondelle and black 'AIR CANADA' text really work IMO. I'm thinking that red and black don't usually go well together, particularly for logos and text. It seems a bit odd since shouldn't the text and the logo colours match and not hugely contrast to each other?

I don't mind the belly but it would have been better if 'AIR CANADA' was included along with the rondelle similar to Delta. The inclusion of the Canadian flag is a nice touch though.

[LO 044]

Originally Posted by Tobuz

I like it, but, ummmm...

Is it just me, or does it look an awful lot like Delta??

Agreed but Delta was smart enough to keep their triangle thingie next to their name above the windows unlike AC's Rondelle below the windows. I think for me the black color is a hard type color that just comes across awkward. The blue on the Delta is fine. I think putting in "Air Canada" in red would help as many others on many forums have stated. In other words i agree with Avgeek as well.

[MalcolmTucker]

Well, from Air Canada's perspective it is all about marketing at hubs around the world. Having them be the sophisticated super connector airline. With the lower rondelle, and the belly one, is there an aspect where you won't be able to visually identify it?

[LO 044]

^Honestly for me i never associate a super connector airline with a specific logo. Lufthansa's tail crane doesn't make me want to fly LH specifically. Same goes for KLM's crown. Maybe i'm in the minority i guess. I don't think major livery changes enhance the brand in a large way unless surveys indicate that the previous livery was hideous. In fact i would take an airline not changing their livery in a big way as more stable as it doesn't need to reinvent itself. I think Southwest and Ryanair do pretty well in spite of their liveries, IMO of course.

[casper]

Originally Posted by LO 044

^Honestly for me i never associate a super connector airline with a specific logo. Lufthansa's tail crane doesn't make me want to fly LH specifically. Same goes for KLM's crown. Maybe i'm in the minority i guess. I don't think major livery changes enhance the brand in a large way unless surveys indicate that the previous livery was hideous. In fact i would take an airline not changing their livery in a big way as more stable as it doesn't need to reinvent itself. I think Southwest and Ryanair do pretty well in spite of their liveries, IMO of course.

I think it is like billboards. It is more about saying look we are still here, you remember us don't you. At an airport that is not your main hub you just want to stand out.

Some aircraft paint jobs say "Fun in the Sun" others say "I'am cheap", and yet others say "Solid, business like, formal, solid like a rock". The last one is what I think Air Canada is trying to get out there.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by LO 044

^Honestly for me i never associate a super connector airline with a specific logo. Lufthansa's tail crane doesn't make me want to fly LH specifically. Same goes for KLM's crown. Maybe i'm in the minority i guess. I don't think major livery changes enhance the brand in a large way unless surveys indicate that the previous livery was hideous. In fact i would take an airline not changing their livery in a big way as more stable as it doesn't need to reinvent itself. I think Southwest and Ryanair do pretty well in spite of their liveries, IMO of course.

It isn't about good or bad, it is about recognizable and memorable. The toothpaste is just forgettable.

[Canadian74]

First in air photo

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-Canad...HcGkWT5xPEeAvlqm6y32lK0Wbg4450LrugFkvizY

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-Canada/Boeing-787-8-Dreamliner/4219117

I'm liking it better than the renders

[Canadian74]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

As of right now one of the new A321's is set to operate AC119 on Saturday from YYZ,

Where do you check this?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Canadian74

Where do you check this?

You can track tails on Flightaware.com, just put in the registration and it will (to the best of its ability) spit out the last flight it did, current one, and upcoming flights. If you sign up you can put specific registrations into "my flightaware" to get a quick glance at where the planes you are interested in are.

Also once airborne you should be able to search the specific registrations with a filter for them on flightradar24.com, this one will most likely be the most accurate as the ADS-B tracking will be picking up all the specifics of the aircraft including registration. I think the three aircraft already are updated to say (new livery) next to the airline name when you pull them up.

[speedog]

Westjet needs to pick it up a couple of notches now.

[jmt18325]

Westjet hasn't been any better than Air Canada for a long time. I don't really understand where people get that from. I've flown both them and Air Canada regularly, and there's very little if any difference.

[Canadian74]

AC119 arriving in few minutes....... hope to see some photos

[thewave46]

Originally Posted by jmt18325

Westjet hasn't been any better than Air Canada for a long time. I don't really understand where people get that from. I've flown both them and Air Canada regularly, and there's very little if any difference.

People get that from the 2000s, when Air Canada was having issues digesting Canadian Airlines and taking multiple trips through bankruptcy court. It was not a wonderful time for the company and employee morale reflected that.

By comparison, Westjet still had the plucky upstart with happy employees vibe going on. They still try to cultivate that image through their advertising and tend to have a better grasp on that IMO. As for the actual product, it's about par with AC's domestic product and nicer than Rouge. I don't know how their long-haul product is, but hopefully it's improved from 767s sitting broken on the tarmac.

Air Canada has improved over the past few years, helping shed some of that negative image. They have introduced Rouge, which didn't make them much in the way of good vibe, but it makes the accountants happy. AC's international product is quite nice IMO.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by thewave46

By comparison, Westjet still had the plucky upstart with happy employees vibe going on. They still try to cultivate that image through their advertising and tend to have a better grasp on that IMO. As for the actual product, it's about par with AC's domestic product and nicer than Rouge.

Serious question - what about Westjet is nicer than Rouge? There's nothing wrong with Westjet, but there's nothing wrong with Rouge either, especially for the purpose it serves. I was very happy to have a 1 stop flight to ATH last year. It's brought so many more options to Canadian fliers that wouldn't otherwise be there.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by Acey

Watched it land 29. It looks as bad in person as it does in the renders, so that notion is out the door.

I couldn't feel any more different about it. It's clean, it's sophisticated, and it conveys an image of confident competence.

[jmt18325]

One things for sure - it makes Westjet's livery look even more dated than it already did.

[thewave46]

Originally Posted by jmt18325

Serious question - what about Westjet is nicer than Rouge? There's nothing wrong with Westjet, but there's nothing wrong with Rouge either, especially for the purpose it serves. I was very happy to have a 1 stop flight to ATH last year. It's brought so many more options to Canadian fliers that wouldn't otherwise be there.

In my experience, it would be the pitch of the seats. AC Rouge uses 29" economy seats in their A319/321. Westjet uses 31-33" on their 737s. It doesn't look like much on paper, but you notice it on a 4 hour flight. That's just on the North American flights I've taken.

I noticed a lot of people who are tall splaying their legs into the aisle on Rouge, not so much on Westjet. Otherwise, they seem roughly comparable. I've had no problems with either, but I understand what I'm buying when I sign up - I want an inexpensive ticket without much in the way of frills.

I think a lot of the negativity towards Rouge is that people see the "Air Canada" part and are unaware what the "Rouge" part means. It's one thing to expect an airline to be cheap and offer tight accommodations, but to expect a mainstream product and then be uncomfortable is another. Westjet offers a more consistent experience across their North American flights.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by thewave46

In my experience, it would be the pitch of the seats. AC Rouge uses 29" economy seats in their A319/321. Westjet uses 31-33" on their 737s. It doesn't look like much on paper, but you notice it on a 4 hour flight. That's just on the North American flights I've taken.

The 31" pitch, before the new slim seats, was brutal. Now, Westjet is again comfortable (on the planes that have the new seats) I had no problems flying to Athens with 30" of pitch. At 6'1" I had legroom to spare. Given that, I'm sure I'll survive 29" pitch with similar seats (I just haven't had the opportunity to try it yet.

I think a lot of the negativity towards Rouge is that people see the "Air Canada" part and are unaware what the "Rouge" part means. It's one thing to expect an airline to be cheap and offer tight accommodations, but to expect a mainstream product and then be uncomfortable is another. Westjet offers a more consistent experience across their North American flights.

That's not the fault of Air Canada - it's clearly advertised. Air Canada's mainline fleet is very consistent. Rouge is very consistent. Express is very consistent. Knowing they're not the same thing is the responsibility of the consumer.