[780thegoat]

Flying to ATL tonight for the first time to connect to EWR. Lets see how it goes !

 

[David A]

As Wendover Productions explained in some older videos, business class seats are the bread and butter for airlines’ revenue. Most of the energy companies in Canada have their head offices in Calgary, so flights out of YYC sell more business-class seats. That’s why airlines prefer to fly there, regardless of population, distance to destinations, and heck, regardless of proximity to Banff (because tourists don’t pay the premium for business-class seats). And since they already favour it, they just consolidated their Prairie operations and put a hub down in Calgary. We’ve got to attract more businesses, particularly offices, to Edmonton if we want better flight options (that’s how we got service to SFO). Plus, with sanctions on Russia, that makes it tougher to fly routes over the North Pole where Edmonton has the distance advantage. I do still think it’s ludicrous that we don’t have flights to London, New York or Chicago though.

Yes, more head offices and business class seats. We get that after having that shoved down our throats for decades and inconvenienced as the reason for this.

But you could still start the flight there and have a stop here, which would make more sense as the plane is already flying over here anyways. Yes, it is ludicrous.

 

[BrettB]

CP Air and Air Canada both had YEG as a stop or starting point for European flights, way back when. CP was YVR-YEG-Europe (AMS, I assume, though I'm not sure) and Air Canada had a LHR-YYC-YEG loop that they flew one way three days a week and four the other way. But those days are long gone. Adding stops adds costs, unfortunately.

 

[yeggator]

Yes, more head offices and business class seats. We get that after having that shoved down our throats for decades and inconvenienced as the reason for this.

But you could still start the flight there and have a stop here, which would make more sense as the plane is already flying over here anyways. Yes, it is ludicrous.

Adding an extra landing and takeoff doubles the amount of wear on an aircraft even if it flies the same distance. I don’t think airlines, with how cheap they are these days, would want to replace their twin-aisle planes in half of their current lifetimes.

 

[Ned]

I've always found it weird how few intercontinental flights fly out of Edmonton. I believe we only have a direct flight to Amsterdam Schiphol and Frankfurt. Edmonton is closer to both Europe and Asia than Calgary, so it should in theory be more efficient to run flights to those destinations out of YEG. I know Calgary is a bigger centre, but it isn't that much bigger. (edit: I know YYC airport is much bigger than YEG, I mean the metro areas are similar sized not the airports)

Imo Edmonton should at least have direct flights to:

- Paris Charles de Gaulle
- London Heathrow
- Tokyo (Haneda or Narita)

Also insane that Edmonton doesn't have direct flights to New York or Chicago.

Wonder if the A321XLR would bring future intercontinental flights for Edmonton as it has a range of 8,700km and a typical two class seating capacity between 180 to 220, opening up thinner route possibilities. For comparison's sake, Edmonton to Paris is approximately 7,180km and KLM's A330-200 has a seating capacity of 264. Air Canada has ordered 30 and Icelandair 13.

 

[David A]

I wonder if some of the existing domestic service spots available at the airport here to Air Canada or Westjet should be made conditional on them improving international service here.

There are at least two other airlines flying domestically that might want or be able to use some of these spots.

 

[Glenco]

Wonder if the A321XLR would bring future intercontinental flights for Edmonton as it has a range of 8,700km and a typical two class seating capacity between 180 to 220, opening up thinner route possibilities. For comparison's sake, Edmonton to Paris is approximately 7,180km and KLM's A330-200 has a seating capacity of 264. Air Canada has ordered 30 and Icelandair 13.

Not a chance. Their business model is strictly hub focused

 

[Ned]

Not a chance. Their business model is strictly hub focused

I was talking in general. Bringing up Air Canada though, it is possible. There is intercontinental service out of Air Canada's focus cities of Calgary, Ottawa and Halifax and the A321XLR is going to bring up new business opportunities. If the local business community can make a case for San Francisco, why not eventually a European destination with the right sized plane?

 

[MacLac]

777 or 787?

 

[yeggator]

777 or 787?
View attachment 608046

787. Very distinctive cockpit windows.

 

[Offworld]

777 or 787?
View attachment 608046

Rats! I missed flying on that by only a week or so. Had to endure the old business class on the A332. Was on their 777 a short while ago and their newer business offering is an improvement for sure. (first world problems?)

 

[husky]

Now that new departures level roadway has been renovated I wonder when the arrivals level will get done. Would be nice to have a better welcoming experience both outside and in the baggage hall.

Id love for them to do something like Adelaide Airport has, like kind of a landscaped plaza. Maybe some heated shelters for those waiting for shuttles etc.

 

[EdmTrekker]

Now that new departures level roadway has been renovated I wonder when the arrivals level will get done. Would be nice to have a better welcoming experience both outside and in the baggage hall.

Id love for them to do something like Adelaide Airport has, like kind of a landscaped plaza. Maybe some heated shelters for those waiting for shuttles etc.

It’s dismal to exit international carousels to a puny area poorly laced out. Nothing welcoming about it.

 

[MacLac]

Walking by Gate 62? The KLM gate and sad to still see the old Heineken lounge boarded up. But who wouldn't want an ice cold Heiny before boarding a plane to their it's Motherland? All it served was beer, no kitchen but still it was shut down.

Another side note, I noticed they are replacing the last fragments of the Terminal/Concourse carpeting. I used to appreciate that this is the only airport I've ever been in that had Terminal carpeting throughout - I believe I remember seeing Tampa had a lot of carpet. Anyway, it's all going to be tile now, with the exceptions of the sitting areas.

Side note: that debacle of a strangely placed casino - in the old Esk's spot looks permanently closed.

 

[BASE]

Now that new departures level roadway has been renovated I wonder when the arrivals level will get done. Would be nice to have a better welcoming experience both outside and in the baggage hall.

Id love for them to do something like Adelaide Airport has, like kind of a landscaped plaza. Maybe some heated shelters for those waiting for shuttles etc.

I find YEG arrivals roadway to almost be a bit hostile to anything that isn't a taxi or shuttle. It seems like with their messaging they are going even further trying to make people who want to be picked up by private vehicle without paying having to continue to use the lanes created on the other side of the parkade. Even for the "paid" pickup you have to cross a taxi lane and a shuttle lane to get to it which I don't believe is something I have seen commonly at many larger airports. I understand congestion and the like but it seems.