Oilers99
Active Member
Similar to UAs Denver set up.
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- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
TravellingChris
Active Member
Yes. In the good old days (before the pandemic and prior to United's pilot shortage that saw them pull much of their capacity out of Western Canada) there used to be many U.S. aircraft sleeping overnight at YEG, waiting to serve early-morning departures to their hubs.
TravellingChris
Active Member
What's really frustrating is that with WestJet's change in strategy last year under its new CEO, the airline cancelled its remaining orders for Dreamliners and instead stocked up on 737 Maxes. The 787 fleet was pulled out of Toronto and Vancouver and consolidated in Calgary.
I would have loved to have eventually seen at least one 787 based at YEG to serve an Edmonton-London route. (Even if WestJet's slots at Heathrow are really limited, which they are, I'd be happy with Edmonton-Gatwick). We need year-round service to London.
I get pulling out of Toronto and Vancouver, where WestJet's product was never going to stack up well against Air Canada, Air France, British Airways or Lufthansa. But cancelling the Dreamliner orders was a stupid move that leaves them unable to respond to future opportunities which aren't being exploited by anyone else, like Edmonton or Winnipeg to London.
Sure, we can lobby WestJet. But all we're likely to hear is that Calgary is their long-haul hub and that they lack the capacity to add European non-stops from anywhere else.
I would have loved to have eventually seen at least one 787 based at YEG to serve an Edmonton-London route. (Even if WestJet's slots at Heathrow are really limited, which they are, I'd be happy with Edmonton-Gatwick). We need year-round service to London.
I get pulling out of Toronto and Vancouver, where WestJet's product was never going to stack up well against Air Canada, Air France, British Airways or Lufthansa. But cancelling the Dreamliner orders was a stupid move that leaves them unable to respond to future opportunities which aren't being exploited by anyone else, like Edmonton or Winnipeg to London.
Sure, we can lobby WestJet. But all we're likely to hear is that Calgary is their long-haul hub and that they lack the capacity to add European non-stops from anywhere else.
Oilers99
Active Member
I think this also had to do with the deal they did with the GoA, where everything had to run through Calgary.
BASE
Active Member
That would be a real slap in the face to Edmonton if so.
Oilers99
Active Member
I meant focusing the transatlantic flights to Calgary from Toronto and Vancouver. We never had any Westjet transatlantic flights to halt.
EdmTrekker
Senior Member
We did have a WS flight to LGW. I had flown the route a couple of times while it existed. Then WS cancelled the route. Today WS offer 2 daily flights from YYC to LHR and 1 daily flight from YYC to LGW and AC have a daily YYC to LHR. WS could easily provide YEG one of its 3 flights.
TravellingChris
Active Member
Exactly. YYC already has non-stop Heathrow service on Air Canada, which WestJet goes up against. I still think AC comes out ahead on that score given the breadth of AC's international connections and partners as well as the excellent Star Alliance terminal at LHR, which offers superb global connectivity. My larger point about WestJet is that at airports and on routes where there are more compelling alternatives (like a major North American or European alliance carrier) WS will come up short. So it needs to avoid going head-to-head on such routes and instead seize opportunities that other airlines have passed up. Non-stop service to London from Edmonton and from Winnipeg (which could draw from a large regional catchment area) would be two such opportunities.
If I have to fly to London by connecting through another Canadian city, I'll probably pick Air Canada because of Aeroplan, its Star Alliance links and its Maple Leaf Lounges. WestJet can't compete with any of that. But if WestJet offers me a non-stop to London right from my home airport, that would tip the scales in WS' favour.
Glenco
Senior Member
Gates 76 and 78 are now open for domestic departures. They have put a temporary divider in the US departures lounge
David A
Senior Member
If I was flying to London and had to connect in another city, I would prefer an eastern Canadian one instead of Calgary, which would probably also mean using Air Canada instead. It would feel psychologically like being a good way there at the connection point, as opposed to a brief flight and a stop which would feel like a real grind.
It is even worse as flying to Calgary from here actually gets you no closer to London geographically, in fact the opposite. I know airlines do like to abuse their customers sometimes, but hopefully sooner or later someone will figure out that is really not the best business model.
EdmTrekker
Senior Member
There is precious little for food/drink amenities at that end.
BASE
Active Member
Curious if this is just due to construction at the other end of the terminal or a more semi permanent change.
Glenco
Senior Member
gates 50 and 52 are getting new air bridges and gates 14 and 16 are closed for new concrete being poured in front of them.
occidentalcapital
Senior Member
1 or two new US business destinations may be imminent...
MacLac
Senior Member
What’s wrong with gates 50 and 52? They appear to be in good condition?