YEG - Edmonton Int Airport

[Rocket252]

Originally Posted by tuffyy

Ugh, I just talked to a AC higher up in Montreal (yes I called). YEG-LHR is not being cancelled. Downgauged for the winter to 3x week (at least to her knowledge). And if it is being dropped I can assure you IF will increase it's planned service and BA would likely either launch YEG or tag YEG into the YYC flight. Loads on the flight are in the 80% to full range, no one will ignore that.

And the travel agent or who ever made the comment about IF needs a slap back to reality. That lack of airline knowledge is what kills me.

Man oh man.

So if the loads presently are 80-100% why downgrade at all? How about going a winter with a full schedule and see what the levels are?

[tuffyy]

Originally Posted by Rocket252

So if the loads presently are 80-100% why downgrade at all? How about going a winter with a full schedule and see what the levels are?

I'm pretty sure if it's being dropped the reason will be that the 763 is needed for Rouge. AC is now in the full phase of launching its leisure arm with what appears to be a direct shot at Air Transat in some of its key leisure markets. EIA should have no issues landing a new carrier (BA) to LHR since BA was about to step into YEG when AC launched YEG to "counter" the plan. In reality this would be ideal as it would likely lead to a better flight time and many more connections.

[Mercucio]

Originally Posted by Rocket252

So if the loads presently are 80-100% why downgrade at all? How about going a winter with a full schedule and see what the levels are?

Available metal is the issue for sure. Should be a different world when AC gets the 788s.

[tuffyy]

Unconfirmed, but in fact sounds like something's up...

Announcement tomorrow. You guys can be pissed...

EIA better be running to BA! And maybe encourage IF to increase service (which I am sure they will) The excuse will be "lack of available metal".

Ideally this will lead to a foreign tail (BA) bagging the route. As the initial plan was for a LHR-YEG-YYC route with a 777 back in my time at YEG.

[YegFan]

^ I have been saying this all along....Let AC drop YEG-LHR and we will pursue BA.

BA will see a huge opportunity and will provide easy connections through T5 at LHR.

Not to mention a much better product than AC.

So life goes on.

[Bigtime]

Tuffyy, you were thinking that if AC does drop LHR that BA will fill the void but tack it on to the YYC flight? Perhaps we both get a 777 out of the deal?

[tuffyy]

^^^ Exactly! That was the proposal put out by BA until AC caught wind of it and launched a counter flight.

[LO 044]

tuffyy do you think that it's honestly a lack of metal? I have flown the LHR-YEG route 4 times and i can only say that 1 time business class was full and i believe that was because people flying to the US missed connections. The other 3 times, business class was empty for the most part while economy was 95% full. I have no idea how much cargo plays a part.

My hunch is that AC is seeing very low bookings for Spring and Summer 2014 due to FI. The fact of the matter is YYC would take a beating as well if FI would move in.

[s211]

And the Leduc Regional saga continues. Calgary must be laughing its can off right now.

[tuffyy]

Nope, I think it's truly a lack of metal as the 763's are all being transferred to Rouge. The 77W move in YYC is to accommodate Edmonton bums. I have a very strong feeling AC is going back to its grass roots and strengthening its hubs. There is no denying the YEG-LHR routes popularity, the winter decrease always coincides with more YYC connections as that routes loads also decline in the low season. The joy of being near a hub. EIA needs to concentrate more on foreign tails for service.

I'm sure the folks at IF are going to be happy as it will certainly add even more benefit to its new YEG route. And now a better BA option (better connections) should be presentable.

[hilman]

AC strengthening their hubs has worked out well for them over the years with their millions of dollar of losses every quarter.......maybe its time to try a different strategy AC, clearly your business plan right now is failing.

[Bigtime]

Stop being so negative YEG'ers, if this all works out you'll get a BA tail there.

[Coldrsx]

^that is a huge IF

[bkd]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Stop being so negative YEG'ers, if this all works out you'll get a BA tail there.

You should be happy. In contrast to being "somewhat ticked" about Iceland Air serving YEG and "chip(ping) away at what we are building here in YYC" -- your words, on CP after the announcement.

But I digress, easy to say stop being negative when you're not the ones being treated like a red headed step child by a major airline that completely ignores a major market.

[Airboy]

Air Canada Adds Montreal-Barcelona and Montreal-Nice non-stop flights for Summer 2014 Schedule


This is why we are getting scewed.

[YYCspotter]

If AC does cancel YEG-LHR, I would seriously expect BA to jump on the opportunity. As tuffyy said, BA tagging YEG into the YYC flight and upgrading the aircraft to a 772 would be ideal. we'll have to see what happens..

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by YYCspotter

If AC does cancel YEG-LHR, I would seriously expect BA to jump on the opportunity. As tuffyy said, BA tagging YEG into the YYC flight and upgrading the aircraft to a 772 would be ideal. we'll have to see what happens..

It all depends on how they route the triangle. If it is the same all the time that is not ideal for one of the cities depending on if you are coming or going. If they alternate the routing then each city sees a non stop to LHR either incoming or outgoing. My fear is that BA would want to compete with AC for the business traffic out of YYC so the routing would always favor YYC over YEG and if you are going to stop in YYC then you may as well connect through another city as well.

[tuffyy]

Originally Posted by lubicon

It all depends on how they route the triangle. If it is the same all the time that is not ideal for one of the cities depending on if you are coming or going. If they alternate the routing then each city sees a non stop to LHR either incoming or outgoing. My fear is that BA would want to compete with AC for the business traffic out of YYC so the routing would always favor YYC over YEG and if you are going to stop in YYC then you may as well connect through another city as well.

I could see LHR-YEG-YYC-LHR with a 772 (they have a couple in storage) if AC pulls the plug. If not EIA better be shopping or letting IF know that the 4 week rotation can be increased to daily.

[cyeg66]

So, if I got this straight, AC pulls another mainline 763 to boost flights ex-YUL to France? That would be brilliant! Our city of over 1 million and tons of disposable income and now zero flights to Europe should be happy that YUL (city of 3.7 million and mediocre disposable income levels) gains its 100th+ weekly flight to France alone (b/w AF, AC, TS, and Corsair)? A little disproportionate, much? Wow, keep up the good work Air Eastern Canada.... Keep ensuring that that particular market is heavily over saturated and guarantee you all lose money. "We're not happy until they're not happy". Fucking deplorable.

[Coldrsx]

Official AC

Stopped till march 28/14, then 5 weekly