Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW/CYOW)

[YOWflier]

Originally Posted by thewave46

Do you think people will actually choose a vacation based solely on the availability of a direct flight?

Perhaps not solely but it’s a big factor. Price is also a huge factor; Ottawans have shown this time and again by choosing to hit the highway or take a connecting flight even when nonstop options were available (LAS is a perfect example of this…tried multiple times).

I’m an example of someone who’s being influenced heavily by nonstop options as we speak. Would like to visit an all inclusive in Costa Rica (example) but would sooner take a nonstop to Jamaica (nonstop on WS to MBJ) or other destination served nonstop. Having little children is also a big input into the decision.

[Tesladom]

Originally Posted by thewave46

Do you think people will actually choose a vacation based solely on the availability of a direct flight?

For instance, would someone choose Winnipeg over Las Vegas just because

I think you are just trying to be silly here. Obviously if I can fly direct out of Montreal I will drive there and avoid the connection hassle, especially for vacation destinations.
If I want to fly to Rome, of course I will drive to Montreal and take a direct flight. It's not like I chose Winnipeg over Rome (silly argument)

[fanofYOW]

Originally Posted by FlyYOW

Perhaps not solely but it’s a big factor. Price is also a huge factor; Ottawans have shown this time and again by choosing to hit the highway or take a connecting flight even when nonstop options were available (LAS is a perfect example of this…tried multiple times).

I’m an example of someone who’s being influenced heavily by nonstop options as we speak. Would like to visit an all inclusive in Costa Rica (example) but would sooner take a nonstop to Jamaica (nonstop on WS to MBJ) or other destination served nonstop. Having little children is also a big input into the decision.

I agree with you completely. I too am very heavily influenced by direct options. I would choose something that is served by YOW before anything when deciding where to vacation. If I do have to connect, I will start my journey at YOW and connect once. A destination that needs more than one connection is out of the question for me and I will always start in YOW.

In terms of LAS being brought up, imo Porter will be that airline to start it. Actually, I suspect Porter to be the only airline to start select routes from YOW. It would be entertaining to watch the other airlines scramble after Porter steals some revenue at YOW. My loyalty will always go to carriers that consider us important instead of a mere feeder city.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by FlyYOW

Perhaps not solely but it’s a big factor. Price is also a huge factor; Ottawans have shown this time and again by choosing to hit the highway or take a connecting flight even when nonstop options were available (LAS is a perfect example of this…tried multiple times).

I’m an example of someone who’s being influenced heavily by nonstop options as we speak. Would like to visit an all inclusive in Costa Rica (example) but would sooner take a nonstop to Jamaica (nonstop on WS to MBJ) or other destination served nonstop. Having little children is also a big input into the decision.

For sure. My read of the original Poeter plan was to make Ottawa a bit of a hub and funnel their east coast and maybe even Toronto Island flights into direct flights thst compete on price. This seemed Iike a risk but possibly better than trying to compete at YYZ orphaning their YTZ flights at a time when Air Canada has abandoned the triangle routes so upping that frequency as business travel returns could be profitable.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by thewave46

Do you think people will actually choose a vacation based solely on the availability of a direct flight?

For instance, would someone choose Winnipeg over Las Vegas just because Ottawa has several direct flights to Winnipeg? Uhm...I'm not too sure on that.

Now, IMO the trick is to get people to pay a slight premium for a direct flight (no hassle at Pearson!) and have someone step up to serve that demand. It looks to be Porter at this juncture for such a concept.

That's a bit of an unfair example, of course. I definitely have chosen my trips down south based on direct flights or not (Jamaica/Cuba/DR/Cancun from Ottawa primarily). This was particularly the case when my kids were younger. Multiply the hassle and annoyance by 10 for each kid under 4 you are travelling with!

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by fanofYOW

You’re right, and Florida too even thought it’s seasonal. Hopefully we get destinations that are a bit further and to the West

As far as Florida goes, Flair again have loaded FLL to be year-round, so hopefully this summer it actually happens. They've also extended SFB to early June. They're also showing as CUN remaining weekly throughout the summer.

Today's departure count: 57 (edit 56 with 1 cancellation)

[Dominion301]

Wednesday's departure count: 58

Wednesday's cancellation count (so far): 1

[fanofYOW]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

For sure. My read of the original Poeter plan was to make Ottawa a bit of a hub and funnel their east coast and maybe even Toronto Island flights into direct flights thst compete on price. This seemed Iike a risk but possibly better than trying to compete at YYZ orphaning their YTZ flights at a time when Air Canada has abandoned the triangle routes so upping that frequency as business travel returns could be profitable.

Exactly what I think Porter will do. I'm also hoping YOW will use the air service fund for Porter as apposed to AC or WS, plus a non star alliance European carrier such as AF.

[thewave46]

Originally Posted by AuxTown

That's a bit of an unfair example, of course. I definitely have chosen my trips down south based on direct flights or not (Jamaica/Cuba/DR/Cancun from Ottawa primarily). This was particularly the case when my kids were younger. Multiply the hassle and annoyance by 10 for each kid under 4 you are travelling with!

Originally Posted by Tesladom

I think you are just trying to be silly here. Obviously if I can fly direct out of Montreal I will drive there and avoid the connection hassle, especially for vacation destinations.
If I want to fly to Rome, of course I will drive to Montreal and take a direct flight. It's not like I chose Winnipeg over Rome (silly argument)

Admittedly, yeah, I was poking a little fun at the concept.

[Dominion301]

Today's departure count: 62

Today's cancellation count: 1

[YOWhopeful]

Interesting that BA has announced Heathrow-Cincinnati flights for their summer schedule.
I guess YOW is not on their radar.

[Dominion301]

Today's departure count: 68

Today's cancellation count: 1

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by YOWhopeful

Interesting that BA has announced Heathrow-Cincinnati flights for their summer schedule.
I guess YOW is not on their radar.

BA couldn't make YYC work with their 787s once they retired their 767s. They don't have the right sized aircraft to service YYC (or YOW) since their smallest 787-8 has 35 Club World seats which would be a lot to fill from YOW.

YOW's sweet spot was likely the ~211 seat 767. Yes, I know AC would have upgraded YOW to the 788 or A330 in peak seasons, but that plane would be too large for the current travel trends.

Edit: I should add, that I do think AC could make YOW work this summer (2023) with their 788 if they could get back to 2019 levels of travel for next season.

[Zmonkey]

Originally Posted by YOWhopeful

Interesting that BA has announced Heathrow-Cincinnati flights for their summer schedule.
I guess YOW is not on their radar.

Cincinnati is also a small Delta focus city so BA can do connections. Delta already flies to Paris from Cincinnati.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by Zmonkey

Cincinnati is also a small Delta focus city so BA can do connections. Delta already flies to Paris from Cincinnati.

They can interline a bit, but they aren't alliance partners unlike the CVG-CDG flight.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by MountainView

BA couldn't make YYC work with their 787s once they retired their 767s. They don't have the right sized aircraft to service YYC (or YOW) since their smallest 787-8 has 35 Club World seats which would be a lot to fill from YOW.

YOW's sweet spot was likely the ~211 seat 767. Yes, I know AC would have upgraded YOW to the 788 or A330 in peak seasons, but that plane would be too large for the current travel trends.

Edit: I should add, that I do think AC could make YOW work this summer (2023) with their 788 if they could get back to 2019 levels of travel for next season.

We know it won't be 2023 though. Let's hope the XLRs are on time so that it can be 2024.

[Tesladom]

Originally Posted by Zmonkey

Cincinnati is also a small Delta focus city so BA can do connections. Delta already flies to Paris from Cincinnati.

CMA for Cincinnati is 2.3Million.
Less than 2 hours drive you also have the following MSAs:
Indianapolis 2.1M
Columbus 2.1M
Louisville 1.4M
Dayton 800k
Lexington 500k

So quite a large catch bassin within a short drive

[Coho]

Originally Posted by YOWhopeful

Interesting that BA has announced Heathrow-Cincinnati flights for their summer schedule.
I guess YOW is not on their radar.

No doubt this is due to the region giving/guaranteeing BA $$$ to start the route.

https://local12.com/news/local/ohio-...antee-jobsohio

As Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport competed against other cities in the region for a new British Airways flight to London, Ohio and Kentucky provided key incentives to land it.

The states kicked in a three-year revenue guarantee for British Airways worth millions of dollars, but officials declined to provide an exact figure.

The way the performance-based incentive works is that if British Airways does not achieve a certain amount of revenue per flight, JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development company, will make up the difference. But if enough passengers buy tickets, the state will not have to pay any money. JobsOhio is funded by profits from liquor sales in Ohio, not general tax dollars. Kentucky provided unspecified aid in the package as well.

[Dominion301]

Today's departure count: 67

[AuxTown]

Well, once again I'm travelling tomorrow out of YUL and unable to connect through Ottawa in any reasonable way. I'm not paying $500 return (minimum) when I can take VIA in a similar amount of time (minimal security, no taxiing or de-icing) for $110 return. If we at least had 888 back that would have been a decent option for a connected flight. I'll be in Qatar if you folks need me!