Canadian Airport Thread

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by le calmar

I didn't know Castlegar was served by AC. I am surprised to see Kingston go as it appeared to be reasonably busy. Not really surprised about the rest of the list though.

Yes YCG Castlegar boasts "jet service since 1968"! Trans Canada Airlines, CP Air, Pacific Western, Air Canada, Air BC, etc.
Our current service was 3X daily to Vancouver and daily to Calgary. Service to both cities for decades. Both flights are the same distance.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by MountainView

It's weird that this was listed as I'm not entirely sure it was bookable on AC's website, but the route was a triangle route YOW-YQR-YXE-YOW that ran summer seasonally, usually May through October.

You could only book it one way as part of the triangle route.

I imagine most of the YOW routes will be back eventually.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Whew Castlegar survives!

I wonder how much of this is the airlines stepping up pressure to get Ottawa to re-open or else offer state aid?

[Marty_Mcfly]

https://twitter.com/PeterCBC/status/1277987066966691847/photo/1

Routes cut by Air Canada in Atlantic Canada.

[wave46]

Originally Posted by Marty_Mcfly

Routes cut by Air Canada in Atlantic Canada.

It's a bloodbath in Atlantic Canada.

Second worst hit is rural Quebec.

Ontario and the West are relatively unscathed.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Yes YCG Castlegar boasts "jet service since 1968"! Trans Canada Airlines, CP Air, Pacific Western, Air Canada, Air BC, etc.
Our current service was 3X daily to Vancouver and daily to Calgary. Service to both cities for decades. Both flights are the same distance.

Well, daily ATTEMPTS at service

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by Nick

Well, daily ATTEMPTS at service

Ha yes the old "Cancelgar". We have mountains at both ends of our runway so it takes a 180 corkscrew to enter/leave the valley. Plus river fog in the winter ensures that your flight is not ensured during the colder months. Hard to believe we had 737 service for so long back in the day.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by wave46

It's a bloodbath in Atlantic Canada.

Second worst hit is rural Quebec.

Ontario and the West are relatively unscathed.

Probably because on the prairies at least, there is nowhere near as much regional service from the big carriers. For instance, the only Air Canada stations in MB/SK are Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg. By contrast, the Atlantic provinces except PEI have several each including some in fairly small cities. Same as in QC and ON.

There's no AC service to even somewhat sizable and/or remote prairie centres like Prince Albert, Thompson or Brandon.

[wave46]

Originally Posted by esquire

Probably because on the prairies at least, there is nowhere near as much regional service from the big carriers. For instance, the only Air Canada stations in MB/SK are Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg. By contrast, the Atlantic provinces except PEI have several each including some in fairly small cities. Same as in QC and ON.

There's no AC service to even somewhat sizable and/or remote prairie centres like Prince Albert, Thompson or Brandon.

BC got by pretty unscathed too.

I do agree that Manitoba and Saskatchewan seem quite underserved by the major airlines, not that somebody like Perimeter Aviation really minds.

I'm somewhat curious if some of this service ever comes back, or is this an attempt on Air Canada's part to completely eliminate some regional flying in the East.

The closure of several stations seems to indicate the latter.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by YYCguys

I note that one of the route cancellations is YQR-YXE. I didn’t know they even did the route and must be one of the few who even did it!

They used to run mainline in a triangle route. YYZ-YXE-YQR-YYZ and YYZ-YQR-YXE-YYZ. Allowed for double daily service to Toronto on mainline aircraft and a non stop option to/from each city in Saskatchewan.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by lubicon

They used to run mainline in a triangle route. YYZ-YXE-YQR-YYZ and YYZ-YQR-YXE-YYZ. Allowed for double daily service to Toronto on mainline aircraft and a non stop option to/from each city in Saskatchewan.

That was a long time ago.

It’s clear that this marks the end of the 1900s and EVAS at AC.

[zahav]

I wonder if the government will step in and give AC money to keep service to those cities and routes that were cut? I read that AC and WS are two of the few major carriers that haven't gotten a bailout (apparently national airlines in most countries have gotten $$ infusions). I feel like they will get something, especially because so many of the cities are in Eastern Canada (sorry to those easily offended, but the government is way more likely to act if it's Quebec and the east getting affected, just the way it is). BC didn't get by just "pretty unscathed", it had absolutely no route cuts or station cuts at all. The regional routes out here are pretty solid, and this release shows that. But I can bet if the route cuts were all out west then the Feds wouldn't blink, but cutting the smaller eastern cities is more likely to get a response. Not fanning the east vs. west debate honestly, but it is true

[jmt18325]

I don't believe it's true. I believe you perceive it to be true.

[zahav]

I think an airline axing a bunch of services in NL and QC would be more likely to get an action plan than the same airline axing Cranbrook, Smithers, or Quesnel. I'm not saying the government will action necessarily, but I think the pressure would be higher and more likely to produce results than if smaller locations in the West got cut. If AC only cut the Sask and MB routes, it probably wouldn't even get noticed nationally.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

That was a long time ago.

It’s clear that this marks the end of the 1900s and EVAS at AC.

The YQR-YXE route has come and gone and come back many times. Some times it has been a triangle YYZ-YQR-YXE-YYZ other times it is YOW-YQR-YXE-YYZ. As well as the reverse. When Air Canada operated the flight it would sell seats on the YQR-YXE route.

The odd one, now gone was the United airlines flight from Chicago. When it operated it was ORD-YQR-YXE and then it would do the reverse YXE-YQR-ORD. They never sold seats on the YQR-YXE leg.


There is also a regular service with a couple of flights a day on that route using a 19 seat beach aircraft.

[J81]

I find it interesting that the majority of the AC cuts are in liberal territory. This is purely political on ACs part. Basically the same as a child throwing a temper tantrum when they dont get their own way.

[Djeffery]

I would say the federal wage subsidy program qualifies as getting bailout money from the government.

[wave46]

Originally Posted by J81

I find it interesting that the majority of the AC cuts are in liberal territory. This is purely political on ACs part. Basically the same as a child throwing a temper tantrum when they dont get their own way.

I'd disagree. The routes AC is cutting are very marginal ones that serve very small places. It just happens to be largely located in the eastern part of the country as that is where AC historically was stronger.

I don't know why BC got off so easy. Maybe round 2 hits them harder?

What would AC accomplish by throwing a temper tantrum? What end does it serve them?

[J81]

Originally Posted by wave46

I'd disagree. The routes AC is cutting are very marginal ones that serve very small places. It just happens to be largely located in the eastern part of the country as that is where AC historically was stronger.

I don't know why BC got off so easy. Maybe round 2 hits them harder?

What would AC accomplish by throwing a temper tantrum? What end does it serve them?

If you want to believe that then that is your prerogative. I guarantee this is a ploy to pressure the liberal government into coughing up bailout money.

YFC-YOW and YQM-YOW directly affect the liberal government by limiting how liberal MPs in New Brunswick can get to and from Ottawa. Same goes for many of those other routes on the list which make it an all day affair to get to Ottawa. For a large portion of these cities these routes are the only convenient way in and out aside from driving which for most in those remote locations is not an option.

[wave46]

Originally Posted by J81

If you want to believe that then that is your prerogative. I guarantee this is a ploy to pressure the liberal government into coughing up bailout money.

YFC-YOW and YQM-YOW directly affect the liberal government by limiting how liberal MPs in New Brunswick can get to and from Ottawa. Same goes for many of those other routes on the list which make it an all day affair to get to Ottawa. For a large portion of these cities these routes are the only convenient way in and out aside from driving which for most in those remote locations is not an option.

Perhaps.

However, I also suspect AC doesn't want to be in the business of serving tiny communities or ultra-thin routes anymore. This gives them cover to end those services permanently.

They've been trimming their small-time regional flying for the past couple of years, dropping some of their regional partners. The crumbs don't matter to them and they're probably happy to be rid of the distraction.