YEG - Edmonton Int Airport

[Coldrsx]

LOT, KLM, LUFT....i want all 3 at YEG come 2008

[tuffyy]

^Dont we all....I am hoping 2008 is a better year announcement wise, with the numbers continuing to soar the way they are people have got to be taking notice.

Today I also booked my YEG-Cancun trip for November.I will be taking sunwings new flight as it was almost $400 cheaper than Transat,skyservice and AC.The only part I am not a fan of is we stop in YYC to pickup passengers then continue on but no change of plane.Then comes the joy of hoping the tour companies bus in CUN then the hour and a half ride south to riviera maya...Oh well at least they give you beer on the bus!!!

[Coldrsx]

i think we will be absolutely amazed at the NOV-MARCH numbers considering we will have almost double the sunspots this year and LHR year round...

Transborder and domestic numbers have to start even out soon with no increased capacity.

[Coldrsx]

^have to indeed...but seemingly arent.

[tuffyy]

This years sunspot list is very impressive...We have alot more choices this year.Skyservice seems to be the leader in total new spots served and with Sunwing joining in it should be good.Transat has not moved much,AC looks about the same except Montego bay starts alot earlier than lastyear...Should be a good winter for numbers...

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

^have to indeed...but seemingly arent.

I believe the numbers haven't fallen flat yet due to large increases in capacity last year by both major airlines that serve YEG. Since we haven't seen much at all this year, if something doesn't happen soon numbers in transborder and domestic will stablize.

[EdmTrekker]

Originally Posted by tuffyy

^Dont we all....I am hoping 2008 is a better year announcement wise, with the numbers continuing to soar the way they are people have got to be taking notice.

Today I also booked my YEG-Cancun trip for November.I will be taking sunwings new flight as it was almost $400 cheaper than Transat,skyservice and AC.The only part I am not a fan of is we stop in YYC to pickup passengers then continue on but no change of plane.Then comes the joy of hoping the tour companies bus in CUN then the hour and a half ride south to riviera maya...Oh well at least they give you beer on the bus!!!

ah - that is Not - NON-STOP. Sounds like Westjet Charter...so you might as well have booked through Westjet to YYC and then any flight to CUN. If its NOT a NON-STOP flight my dear Tuffy - its is NOT a flight at all! "Direct" is not worth a tickers damn! You will debark from CUN at YYC to customs and the embarky at YYC on to YEG - helping YYC and not YEG.

[tuffyy]

Actually I was told this aircraft has its baggage area's seperated,one section for YEG bags and another for YYC bags so that we dont all deplane in YYC.We are only on the ground in YYC for 30 minutes both ways and then the aircraft heads to YEG were we will clear customs...Already checked into this.So either its true or sunwing is lying.

That is actually a good option. I really hope Sunwing does well here.

[EdmTrekker]

Originally Posted by tuffyy

Actually I was told this aircraft has its baggage area's seperated,one section for YEG bags and another for YYC bags so that we dont all deplane in YYC.We are only on the ground in YYC for 30 minutes both ways and then the aircraft heads to YEG were we will clear customs...Already checked into this.So either its true or sunwing is lying.

As I understand it, Canada Customs does not allow that on international flights. Martinair for example on their YEG/YYC routings - all passengers without exception must clear customs on the first city of arrival into Canada. Check with Canada Customs since your at YEG and share what you hear...and if they do - then why is the Martinair flight from AMS to YYC - to YEG force all YEG destined passengers to deplane in YYC and clear customs in YYC.

[DAVEinEDMONTON]

Originally Posted by EdmTrekker

As I understand it, Canada Customs does not allow that on international flights. Martinair for example on their YEG/YYC routings - all passengers without exception must clear customs on the first city of arrival into Canada. Check with Canada Customs since your at YEG and share what you hear...and if they do - then why is the Martinair flight from AMS to YYC - to YEG force all YEG destined passengers to deplane in YYC and clear customs in YYC.

I was returning from Cuba on a Cuba-yyc-yvr flight last year and we did not have to clear customs in Calgary first...it might depend on the airline?? maybe Martinair does not have access to an international gate on arrival in Edmonton??...would be interesting to know why...

[lubicon]

I'm pretty sure you do not have to deplane and clear customs in YYC if you are continuing on to YEG provided that no passengers are picked up in YYC. This would almost certainly be the case for the sun charters. Martinair may be different depending on the schedule. If for example they fly AMS-YYC-YEG-AMS then I can see you having to deplane in YYC and clear customs, then getting back on and continuing to YEG. This is because they would be picking up passengers in YYC before continuing on to YEG and untimately AMS. You cannot mix 'sterile' (non cleared) passengers who are getting off in YEG with the new passenges youhave just picked up in YYC.

Simply put, as long as you are not picking up passengers at the intermediate stop then there is no need to get off, clear customs, then reboard. That is how it worked when I used to fly AA from YEG-DFW (with a stop in YYC) back in the good old days. I never had to deplane in YYC.

[EdmTrekker]

Can alyone shed any light into why the ZOOM website schedule is NOT showing flights from YEG to LGW for 2008??. Other cities are loaded. Has ZOOM zoomed out of here?? Anyone at EAA know??

http://www.flyzoom.com/

[LO 044]

That's interesting. Winnipeg is also not loaded into the system. If anyone were to leave, i thought it would have been Air Transat. But then again, perhaps TS gets some passengers to London via travel packages as opposed to Zoom who simply fly people from point A to point B.

[tuffyy]

The flights that are operated on behalf of Canadian affair will restart on May 28/08 with air transat using a A310 every Wednesday.

[EdmTrekker]

That is right - Air Transat has Non-Stop YEG-FRA loaded into its scehdule. Also it flys for Canadian Affair - Non-Stop YEG-LGW and those flights are loaded into Canadian Affair Schedule at 40% less than Air Canada for June-July 2008 (I checked because I am flying to Europe and booking). As for ZOOM...not sure what is going on - and their website does not indicate. It may be that they just can not compete on the route. If they are smart - they will pick another European route to fly to from YEG...any ideas?? YEG to CDG? (they fly from YYC to CDG), YEG to MUC? YEG to Glasgow?

[EdmTrekker]

found this:

High elevation means winter sports elation
27 September 2007

Last winter’s awesome snow conditions ensured that UK winter sports enthusiasts enjoyed one of the longest ever seasons in the Rockies. With resorts opening from November through to May families, couples and individuals had ample opportunity to visit Alberta’s world-class resorts.

The draw of champagne powder snow, along with non-existent lift queues, favourable exchange rate and friendly expert tuition is tempting more Brits to head for the Rockies and experience the thrill of skiing in one of the world’s most pristine and beautiful mountain environments.

Building on last years success UK airlines and tour operators are providing the capacity and access to make reaching the Rockies even easier. Air Canada has just announced that their new London Heathrow to Edmonton flight will operate daily throughout the winter for the first time. Edmonton acts as a perfect gateway to Jasper National Park and the resort of Marmot Basin.

British Airways has been successfully operating its London Heathrow to Calgary flight for nearly a year, experiencing considerable demand. Crystal Ski has doubled its flight capacity to Alberta this winter as in addition to their existing charter seats they have also committed to a major allocation on the British Airways flight.

Likewise Inghams has capitalised on this increased demand by expanding its established winter sports programme. Zoom Airlines has strengthened its Canadian programme and operates flights from Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow to Calgary, whilst Canadian Affair continues to offer great value, with two dedicated Calgary flights a week from Gatwick and Manchester.

With expectations of a great 2007/8 winter season Alberta’s resorts are gearing up for more great snow and an influx of visitors.

For Travel Alberta’s winter sports website see SkiCanadianRockies.com.

http://www.easier.com/view/Travel/Ski_Holidays/article-141729.html

[CanadianCentaur]

For whose who say that YEG needs more restaurants/bars post-security, I'd definitely agree. I was flying out of YEG to YVR back this Wednesday, and you should see just how long the lineup into Montana's can get by late afternoon/early evening.

And they better get started on the WestJet gates expasion fast! It was crowded when I was there. Since that was on a Wednesday, I can't imagine how much worse it'd be on weekends or the holiday peak travel season. I did notice quite a bit of apron being torn up north of the current terminal, but I don't know whehther that's due to the hotel project (doubt so, because it was kind of far back from parking but I could be wrong), Westjet terminal expansion or just replacing asphalt/concrete.

[Jasper and one o nin]

HIGHLIGHTS
- 486,504 passengers reported (432,650 in September 2006)
- Continued double-digit growth and 5.9 million passengers total on a rolling 12-month basis

GROWTH%
- Overall 12.4% (September) and 17.7% (YTD)
- Domestic 9.2% (September) and 14.5% (YTD)
- Transborder 15.8% (September) and 19.2% (YTD)
- International 244.7% (September) and 99.1% (YTD)