YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion

[zahav84]

There are many Seattle flights (~6 daily on AC, ~10-12 daily on Horizon/Alaska depending on the season) However, these flights use Dash 8 aircraft, with a small capacity. Toronto, however, gets ~20 daily flights on AC, ~6 on Westjet, and 1 on Harmony. Most of ACs aircraft are wide body, and have a huge capacity. Since I work at the airport, I know there is no doubt Toronto is the most popular rout, hands down

[MistyMountainHop]

Canada, Britain sign open skies agreement
Last Updated Fri, 21 Apr 2006 18:14:22 EDT
CBC News

The governments of Canada and Britain have signed an open skies air transport agreement that is designed to ease air travel between the two countries and Europe.

When this agreement comes into effect on Sept. 1, Canadian airlines will be able to offer virtually unlimited passenger and cargo flights to and from Britain and on to Europe, the Middle East and other countries.

British airlines will have similar rights when flying to Canada and on to the United States, Latin America or Asia.

"This new agreement opens up a realm of new opportunities that will benefit air travellers," said Duncan Dee, a senior vice president at ACE Aviation Holdings, Air Canada's parent. "Most notably, it will allow us to continue expanding Air Canada's simplified fare products for customers between Canada and the United Kingdom, our largest international market."

Lawrence Cannon, Canada's minister of transport, infrastructure and communities, said: "I am pleased with the new agreement and look forward to the potential benefits for Canada's passengers, shippers, airlines and airports. I am confident this further liberalization will allow airlines to better meet the needs of travellers, shippers, and the air industry."

At least 12 air carriers operate between the Canada and Britain, serving more than nine Canadian cities and eight British cities. They carry more than two million passengers a year.

Air Canada is one of the most important carriers on the route, flying into Heathrow about 100 times a week.

The bilateral deal was reached after discussions involving officials from the Canadian and British governments as well as Canadian and British airlines.

Canada signed a similar deal with the United States in 1995. It opened up air travel between the two countries, giving Air Canada unparalleled access to the U.S. market.

[crazyjoeda]

Originally Posted by zahav84

Since I work at the airport, I know there is no doubt Toronto is the most popular rout, hands down

Toronto is for sure the #1 route. L.A is second.

[zahav84]

Some unreleased to the public route news, but since I work for the airline I thought I'd let the forum know:

In June, Harmony is starting daily JFK flights, twice weekly service to Oakland, and increasing Toronto service to twice daily, and three times daily on some days. As for the Calgary flights, the airline is looking at leasing regional jets and 737s for the thrice dailies to go there. and look for more route enhancements coming soon!

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by zahav84

Some unreleased to the public route news, but since I work for the airline I thought I'd let the forum know:

In June, Harmony is starting daily JFK flights, twice weekly service to Oakland, and increasing Toronto service to twice daily, and three times daily on some days. As for the Calgary flights, the airline is looking at leasing regional jets and 737s for the thrice dailies to go there. and look for more route enhancements coming soon!

GREAT news all around!

thanks!

I love Harmony BTW.

[<Dave>]

Originally Posted by zahav84

There are many Seattle flights (~6 daily on AC, ~10-12 daily on Horizon/Alaska depending on the season)

I wonder about people's reasons for flying to Seattle

In the time it would take you to get to the Vancouver airport, check-in, wait for your flight, board your flight, fly down to Seattle, and get off the flight, you could probably just drive down there in the same amount of time. Plus, you'd have a car with you once you're there.

[Glacierfed]

Most people who fly from Vancouver to Seattle do so to connect in Seattle, not with Seattle as their final destination. Seattle is Alaska Airlines' hub, and unless you're flying in the summer time, I think you need to go through Seattle to get to Anchorage. I'v flown Vancouver-Seattle-San Diego on Alaska before too.
Sea Tac also has some connections to Europe that you don't get in Vancouver, SAS flys Seattle to Copenhagen daily.

[phesto]

Great news about Harmony. I have to wonder about the JFK service since CX and AC are already on it, but I'd fly Harmony depending on the aircraft.

zahav - I'm curious about how the YVR-OGG is doing? There is stiff competition on this route with AC and WJ, but I know a lot of people prefer to fly harmony because of the dep/arr times.

[excel]

^OGG does quite well actully. it usually pics up 3/4 loads. on average id say its 130 a day on the 757. on holidays and peak times this flight has no problem selling out. im sure these numbers are strong during summer and winter. during the spring and fall they probably dip.
zahav, where in harmony do u work?

[excel]

Originally Posted by phesto

Great news about Harmony. I have to wonder about the JFK service since CX and AC are already on it, but I'd fly Harmony depending on the aircraft.
.

as far as future aircraft for harmony. they have plans to purchase 787's, and a350's. and plans to lease a320's 737's and 767's. once they begin leasing 767's they plan to drop their entire 757-200 fleet. (currently fleet is 4 757-200's). they expect to have a total of 12 aircraft by 2015. their main focus is to fly their 787's and a350's to asia, and then later on to europe. citys like beijing, shanghai, shenyang, and guangzhou will be their first focus. they will bring the passengers from those cities to vancouver and then transfer the majority of the passengers to their domestic and trans boarder destinations on their 737's and a320's. the 767 will be used mainly for hawaii destinations (currently maui and honolulu.)
harmony's ultimate goal is to become part of one world alliance.

[Rocket252]

Originally Posted by zahav84

Some unreleased to the public route news, but since I work for the airline I thought I'd let the forum know:

In June, Harmony is starting daily JFK flights, twice weekly service to Oakland, and increasing Toronto service to twice daily, and three times daily on some days. As for the Calgary flights, the airline is looking at leasing regional jets and 737s for the thrice dailies to go there. and look for more route enhancements coming soon!

Any chance Harmony would include Edmonton in their future plans?

[SSLL]

If Harmony are ever to get into oneworld, there sure going to have to go to the top eight airports at least.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Rocket252

Any chance Harmony would include Edmonton in their future plans?

at this point, no....i have spoken with them multiple times. I flew with HMY (harmony) to cancun back in 2003....very well run airline and amazing service. I truly hope they can expand nationally.

[Rocket252]

Yes their service has gotten rave reviews from family and friends who have flown with them. I wish them well in their expansion plans and hope to see them at YEG in the future.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by <Dave>

I wonder about people's reasons for flying to Seattle

In the time it would take you to get to the Vancouver airport, check-in, wait for your flight, board your flight, fly down to Seattle, and get off the flight, you could probably just drive down there in the same amount of time. Plus, you'd have a car with you once you're there.

Ever try to cross the border by car? It's almost worth it going through airport security.

[LeftCoaster]

Yea I fly between Toronto and Vancouver with them all the time... great service and nicely appointed planes... they remind me of a young westjet

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by <Dave>

I wonder about people's reasons for flying to Seattle

In the time it would take you to get to the Vancouver airport, check-in, wait for your flight, board your flight, fly down to Seattle, and get off the flight, you could probably just drive down there in the same amount of time. Plus, you'd have a car with you once you're there.

A biggie (for me) is that southwest links to seattle. Most US domestic, esp. southwest, esp. to smaller centres like Tampa and Nashville, are much cheaper than trying to get a direct flight from YVR to the USA. To fully take advantage of this, we drove to seatac.

[crazyjoeda]

does any one have any pictures of the new terminal expantion.

[officedweller]

See the current issue of Skytalk for a pic:

http://www.yvr.ca/pdf/authority/skytalk/skytalk_apr2006.pdf

The draft 20 year master plan has been issued. It shows the new terminal to the east of the existing (in 2 phases) as well as the options for the 4th runway (on the foreshore or to the south). You can see that YVR 3 Station should be right in front of the new terminal on dual elevated guideway.

http://www.yvr.ca/yourairport2027/



Here's the Canada Line allignment from the EAO documents submitted for the at-grade segment (subsequent shifting of Templeton station location not shown though).

Anyone else notice that the at-grade section will block all pedestrian access from Grant MacConachie Way northwards except at Sea Island Centre Station (via pedestrian overpass), at Templeton Road (via roadway overpass) and within Templeton Station (via in-station overpass)? The North Service Road will be diverted to run parallel to the Canada Line.

I suspect that the at-grade segment is extended as far east as Templeton (with a Templeton Road overpass over the tracks) to preserve overheight access to the Northlands developments and to the Air Canada Hangar. If the Canada Line is elevated over Templeton Road, the height restriction would probably be too low.



And here's Sea Island Centre Station:

[phesto]

Thanks! I guess as this point, the Northeast terminal expansion and the foreshore runway recommendations aren't really that surprising. I took a look at the master plan, here are some interesting points:

- forecast numbers for passengers at 2027:

Low growth scenario: 26.9 million
Medium: 33.4 milllion
High: 40.5 million

Potential dates for implemenation of expansion projects (seems like these assume medium growth scenario):

Link Building - 2007 (u/c)
Int'l Terminal Expansion/ Canada Line - 2009 (u/c)
North South Taxiway- 2014
Terminal Expansion Phase 1 - 2015
Airport Access Improvements (Vancouver)- 2018
Passenger Terminal Facilities - 2023
New Runway - 2025
Airport Access Improvements (Richmond) - 2026

Other recommendations in the plan:

- Extension of the North runway by 2000 ft.

- Increase fees for takeoffs/landings during peak periods.

- The north-south taxiway would have to be built prior to the terminal expansion. The crosswind runway would be closed.

-Cost for NE terminal expansion (recommended option) is ~1.3 billion.

- allowing for limited facilities at YVR1 ie. checkin and baggage dropoff (?) to minimize congestion at terminal buildings.

- reserve land for a possible float plane terminal.

- dedicated airport access lane northbound on Russ baker way.

- adding other routes will also be explored depending on demand(twinning arthur laing, making it and oak street one way northbound and southbound respectively). Also suggests linking templeton to West boulevard to the north, and alderbridge at NO.3 to the south, but also mentions these are already opposed and not recommended.

- 70 hectares of cargo processing land (cargo campuses) will be required by 2027.

-also mentions exploring the possibility of non-aviation uses (office and/or industrial) under the assumption that there will be high demand in the next 20 years.