[Policy Wonk]

Where is Martinair, KLM, BA, etc. They could have also flown a few flights per week to YEG. I too am paying more to fly LHR-YEG this summer. The YEG-LHR flights are expensive.

The plight for YEG is the same as most Canadian airports - the cost of operating here is catastrophically high. And if you are a European airline with an A330 kicking around you can realize a better yield putting on a blindfold and throwing a dart at a map of India than flying to Canada.

The cost issue makes operating flights to secondary Canadian markets a poor business proposition relative to deploying the same aircraft and crew almost anywhere else. Part of this is an airport issue and part of it is a federal issue.

The only way to overcome this impossible barrier to entry is extremely high yields and flightly tourists and immigrants visiting family are not high yielding passengers.

NAVCAN, The National Airports Policy and their hellspawn airport authorities, need to be dismantled with extreme prejudice. Until that occurs and the costs that spiraled out of control as a result are brought under control the prognosis is poor.

[LO 044]

^I don't disagree with you. I just want to make a point that AC usually gets the brunt of the blame for lack of flights at YEG due to their hub model via YVR, YYC, YUL and YYZ. I just don't think that WS is that different and the gap between them gets smaller and smaller. AC hubs us through YYC to get to Frankfurt and WS hubs us through YYC to get to Amsterdam. How many flights does Air Transat offer YYC to Europe in the summer relative to YEG? Same story.

[Coldrsx]

What a mess at YEG yesterday due to the fog...

[dansk]

^I don't disagree with you. I just want to make a point that AC usually gets the brunt of the blame for lack of flights at YEG due to their hub model via YVR, YYC, YUL and YYZ. I just don't think that WS is that different and the gap between them gets smaller and smaller. AC hubs us through YYC to get to Frankfurt and WS hubs us through YYC to get to Amsterdam. How many flights does Air Transat offer YYC to Europe in the summer relative to YEG? Same story.

You're hit it right on. I'm just so bloody frustrated that we can't attract something more here in Edmonton.

[240glt]

So we may be heading back to Mexico in a few weeks, a friend owes me a couple weeks in his condo in old town PV.... I won't be hitching a ride on a charter flight again preferrably I'd like to get myself to a southern US desitnation then hop an AeroMexico flight to PV.

I am flexible as to when I can arrive, so does anyone have any idea what the cheapest and/ or easiest way to get there would be ?

[ExcaliburKid]

So we may be heading back to Mexico in a few weeks, a friend owes me a couple weeks in his condo in old town PV.... I won't be hitching a ride on a charter flight again preferrably I'd like to get myself to a southern US desitnation then hop an AeroMexico flight to PV.

I am flexible as to when I can arrive, so does anyone have any idea what the cheapest and/ or easiest way to get there would be ?

We have had good connections through Phoenix in the past. My folks swear by Houston though, pretty well all their connections when they vacation in Central America, they go through Houston and love it.

[240glt]

I've heard Houston is a good connection point too. Checking westjet, I can get back from Houston via LAX for under $400, but the website does not show any departing flights from YEG. Odd.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

^ Just don't connect in Calgary! :whip:

[240glt]

I'd fly to hell & back before touching down in YYC

Of couse if I did that I'd have been to Calgary already :cool:

[Bigtime]

I'd fly to hell & back before touching down in YYC

Of couse if I did that I'd have been to Calgary already :cool:

Sorry I couldn't hear you over the announcements about KLM going daily and Air Canada's Narita service going year round. ;)

PS: Yes I'm aware the LH is gone. :(

[LO 044]

Sorry I couldn't hear you over the announcements about KLM going daily
Courtesy of Lufthansa and WestJet. Nothing more, nothing less.

[240glt]

Appologies if this has been posted, but I don't remember seeing it

Edmonton International Airport

Passenger Statistics for January 2012

Highlights

¨ Overall 532,549 passengers (532,549 Year to Date)

¨ Domestic 377,652 passengers (377,652 Year to Date)

¨ Transborder 103,784 passengers (103,784 Year to Date)

¨ International 51,113 passengers (51,113 Year to Date)

- Rolling 12 Month 6,319,739

Growth%

¨ Overall 8.7% (8.7% Year to Date)

¨ Domestic 8.8% (8.8% Year to Date)

¨ Transborder 11.0% (11.0% Year to Date)

¨ International 3.9% (3.9% Year to Date)

[Coldrsx]

Huge again... Wow. Get the PR campaign going

[dansk]

They did PR on this already. These are Jan Stats, which have been covered. Hopefully Feb is big, which I assume it will be with the extra IAH flight and extra day.

[Jasper and one o nin]

February should be at least 3.5% better than last year. What with leap year and all ;)

[tuffyy]

On Wednesday it looks like AC subbed a 777-300 on the YYZ-YEG route flight 157/158...

[tuffyy]

Boeing 747-800F from Airbridge Cargo inbound on the 6th on a cargo charter. Time is tba. I will post the time as soon as its announced by my friends fbo.

[Coldrsx]

^^ now that would have been awesome.

^ pics I say, pics

[dansk]

Air Canada actually mentions us with the 787:
http://www.ctv.ca/generic/generated/static/business/article2358591.html

[Coldrsx]

^excellent

'By late 2014 or early 2015, he envisages Air Canada beginning to gradually roll out the 787 in four more Canadian markets – Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Halifax.

“There are so many opportunities,” Mr. Smith said. He emphasized that the Dreamliner has the range to allow Air Canada to offer new non-stop service between major Canadian cities and popular foreign destinations, as well as pave the way for the carrier to increase the frequency of flights on some existing international routes.



Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/generic/generated/static/business/article2358591.html#ixzz1oGh4HuIw'

[Bigtime]

^^ now that would have been awesome.

^ pics I say, pics

You still have time, I think it is arriving on the 6th. The 748 is pretty neat to see, but you have to be a bit of an avgeek to spot the differences versus the 744.

[CanadianCentaur]

You still have time, I think it is arriving on the 6th. The 748 is pretty neat to see, but you have to be a bit of an avgeek to spot the differences versus the 744.

Actually, it's not that hard to spot the difference between the 747-400F and the -8F. The -400F has winglets on its wingtips, while the -8F does not - it has raked wingtips instead.

The other big diff between these two is that the -8F's engines look a little fatter and also have jagged edges in the rear nozzles (these are supposed to help improve the flow of hot air out the back and reduce noise levels).

These thumbnails (click on them if you want to see larger!) below show the differences between these two variants. I've used two pics of Korean Air Cargo to better illustrate the engine differences, as Air Bridge Cargo's engines are dark blue, making it harder to spot the the jagged rear nozzles in the -8F.

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/images/uploaded-images/2012-2/19/188132s.jpg (http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/188132/hl7605-korean-air-cargo-boeing-747-400f/)
www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/188132/hl7605-korean-air-cargo-boeing-747-400f/

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/images/uploaded-images/2012-2/27/190535s.jpg (http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/190535/hl7609-korean-air-cargo-boeing-747-8f/)
www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/190535/hl7609-korean-air-cargo-boeing-747-8f/

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/images/uploaded-images/2012-2/26/190093s.jpg
(http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/190093/vq-blq-air-bridge-cargo-boeing-747-8f/)www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/190093/vq-blq-air-bridge-cargo-boeing-747-8f/

[Coldrsx]

See Bigtime, simple... ;)

[Bigtime]

See Bigtime, simple... ;)

Haha yup, simple for avgeeks like me! I still argue that the average Joe would have a difficult time spotting the differences, the only obvious one is the winglet of the 744 versus the raked wingtip of the 748.

[LO 044]

Perhaps someone can help me out with this question.

Heading down to the Mayan Riviera (Cancun) with my wife and 1.5 year old daughter. The options are Air Canada (763) or Air Transat (310) based on resort pricing, availability, etc.

This is the first time we will have the "luxury" of but feel privelaged to to take the little one on a trip. Saying that, i have read many reviews of how cramped Air Transat's 310's are and the fact that my daughter will be sitting in our lap worries me a bit. I have read reviews like "if the person in front reclines, i have to as well" and the word cramped seems to be rampant in most of the reviews. I understand that AC uses the non XM'd 763 for their flight but i have been on that aircraft and one big bonus is the 2-3-2 seating configuration. I wouldn't have to deal with a 3rd person perhaps being bothered if the little one doesn't take kindly to flying. From the comments, i also imagine that the AC seats are not as cramped width, reclining and legroom wise.

Can anyone with experience flying Air Transat's 310 aircraft give me any additional info? As well, if anyone knows how TS's YEG-CUN flights are doing that would be appreciated as well. I suppose we could get lucky and get a 3rd spare seat which would help with the supposed cramped seats.

[Coldrsx]

Flown both and prefer 763 by far. AT's 310s are cramped, as you would suspect and unless you pay to upgrade, I would not want to even attempt with a child.

[Bigtime]

Go with Air Canada and pre-select seats to save yourself the hassle. Every now and then you get lucky and they operate a XM'd 763 on the route too. I've had that happen on the YYC-Hawaii flights a couple of times.

If you are feeling really adventurous, pre-select the two aisle seats in the middle row, leaving the middle seat open. Chances of someone actually selecting that seat are low, so if they flight isn't 100% full you will end up with a free seat for your kid! This is awesome, when my daughter was about 10 months old she almost slept the whole way from YYC-Maui in that middle seat.

[dansk]

Air Canada 100%

[tuffyy]

Pretty much each and every TS flight to CUN is almost always full. Most flights from YEG are at about 80% to full. My advice if your TS flying pre select your seats or club class!

[lubicon]

Go with Air Canada and pre-select seats to save yourself the hassle. Every now and then you get lucky and they operate a XM'd 763 on the route too. I've had that happen on the YYC-Hawaii flights a couple of times.

If you are feeling really adventurous, pre-select the two aisle seats in the middle row, leaving the middle seat open. Chances of someone actually selecting that seat are low, so if they flight isn't 100% full you will end up with a free seat for your kid! This is awesome, when my daughter was about 10 months old she almost slept the whole way from YYC-Maui in that middle seat.

There is zero risk to trying this. As Bigtime says, the chances of someone actually selecting the middle seat is pretty much zero. And if someone does by chance, all you do is switch seats with them and you are right where you would be if you didn't try. There's absolutely no downside to this strategy.

[LO 044]

Thanks for all the advice so far.

It's a big toss up for us because with AC you get the Bahia Principe Coba or Tulum for about $200 less than TS who takes you to Barcelo Maya Colonial. We have stayed at the Barcelo and Iberostar and really enjoyed the Barcelo and the reviews for Bahia Principe are quite sub par so i'm thinking you get what you pay for at that resort. If Barcelo wins then it is tough because do you trade some misery on the flight for 7 days of fun at a resort that you enjoy? Or do you take the proven AC flight and take a chance on the Bahia Principe?

Saying that i am already unimpressed with TS. Called them to find out that i cannot book the 2 seats at the back of the plane since those don't have an extra oxygen maks for infants. I was told that i can only sit in the C and D seats since those have extra oxygen masks. Called a 2nd time and was told only the C seats have the oxygen masks. Seems you get a different story with these guys every time you call. Does anyone know which seats have extra oxygen masks on AC's 763? The things you don't think about until you bring a little one into the world.

Not trying to make this into an all-inclusive discussion board but i have never flown Air Transat and i figured this is a good place to ask people who pay attention to some of these things. I have heard Sunwing is worse in terms of seat space and WestJet has little availability or very expensive.

[Hardhatdan]

Air Transat's sardine can/tin can is terrible and always rammed full.

At 6'3", I hate their planes.

Barcelo Colonial is aight, good for kids as there is lots there and they have a giant spray park and the "The Jaguar" night club is a good place for getting messy.

Other than that, it's just another resort with average food, average room and average service.

[EdmTrekker]

What do SunWing and Westjet fly on their routes to CUN? I imagine WJ is 737-8? Not sure about Sunwing. Btw isn't the AC flight through Calgary - versus a non-stop? That said I assume you get aeroplan miles on AC...I may be wrong. How long is the layover?

I am flying on an AT AB310-300 to MBJ this week. The rows at the rear in 2 seat layout were sold out from the get go....couples obviously.

[LO 044]

All flights are non-stop to Cancun.
Air Canada: 1x weekly, 767-300ER.
WestJet: 3x weekly, 737-800.
Air Transat: 3x weekly, 310-300.
Sunwing: 3x weekly, 737-800.

The flights are roughly 5.5 hours to Cancun and 6 hours back to Edmonton. Yes i was looking at those seats myself but like i had mentioned, not bookable with an infant in tow.

[tuffyy]

LO44 watch your pm I can set you up with my favorite resort in the area and get you upgraded for free if your interested? It's the grand palladium they have several sections but I'm friends with the resort manager and several staff. Let me know if your interested?

Also looks like flight ABC 6755 will actually arrive at 0330 on the 7th from prestwick and depart to KIAH at 0930 in the morning.

[Bigtime]

Also looks like flight ABC 6755 will actually arrive at 0330 on the 7th from prestwick and depart to KIAH at 0930 in the morning.

Come on YEG spotters, get us some pics of this bird! :whip:

[Rocket252]

LO44 watch your pm I can set you up with my favorite resort in the area and get you upgraded for free if your interested? It's the grand palladium they have several sections but I'm friends with the resort manager and several staff. Let me know if your interested?

Also looks like flight ABC 6755 will actually arrive at 0330 on the 7th from prestwick and depart to KIAH at 0930 in the morning.

I stayed at the Grand P - it was very nice. Quite a big place.

Tuffyy - a few friends of mine just came back from Cancun and have heard of an increasing number of people having their drinks spiked at bars and even swim up bars at some resorts.

Have you heard of this being a big problem?

LO44 - just a heads up

[LO 044]

Thanks Rocket. And let us know how good / bad those 757's are to Maui. If you can get some cabin picks that would be great.

We are a bit delayed in our decision as the little one got sick. If we do fly Air Transat, i'll try to get some pics of the interior as there are only a few on airliners.net and since they want to keep these old birds around til 2016 i believe, it would be good info.

It is interesting that TS is one of the very few carriers that still fly the 310. Not only that, they are only one of two airlines left who configure this aircraft 3-3-3. The other airline being S7 (formerly Siberian). The normal configuration of the 310 aircraft is 2-4-2.

[tuffyy]

Having lived in and worked in and around the area, I'm can honestly say I'm puzzled by these reports. I'm not gonna say it doesn't happen but I have never personally had it happen. I've eaten at out of the way resturants in places like playa and Akumal and never had a problem. I just wonder how many of these alleged spikings are actually being authenticated or just people getting extremely carried away from consuming copious amounts of tequila and mezcal. I can inform you that having drank a large amount of mezcal in the past the end result can certainly make you feel for days after as though your drink was indeed spiked!!!

I would say when in doubt, be sure to observe your drinks being poured. This is easy at most swim up bars and lobby bars as your right there. But honestly I've lived in the area for almost 5 years and never had a issue. There are a large number of expats here from Canada and the US. I'm baffled...

[240glt]

I'm more concerned that the people sitting and drinking all day at the swim up bar never seem to have to go to the bathroom :sly:

[TimB09]

I'm more concerned that the people sitting and drinking all day at the swim up bar never seem to have to go to the bathroom :sly:

Hahahaha!!!
That made me laugh really loud at work here!

:haha:

[Airboy]

I'm more concerned that the people sitting and drinking all day at the swim up bar never seem to have to go to the bathroom :sly:

yes:

[Rocket252]

Having lived in and worked in and around the area, I'm can honestly say I'm puzzled by these reports. I'm not gonna say it doesn't happen but I have never personally had it happen. I've eaten at out of the way resturants in places like playa and Akumal and never had a problem. I just wonder how many of these alleged spikings are actually being authenticated or just people getting extremely carried away from consuming copious amounts of tequila and mezcal. I can inform you that having drank a large amount of mezcal in the past the end result can certainly make you feel for days after as though your drink was indeed spiked!!!

I would say when in doubt, be sure to observe your drinks being poured. This is easy at most swim up bars and lobby bars as your right there. But honestly I've lived in the area for almost 5 years and never had a issue. There are a large number of expats here from Canada and the US. I'm baffled...

What I heard was that a husband and wife RCMP from Sask had an incident at a local all inclusive where the man got his drink spiked. They actually took a sample back to Canada to have it tested. Whether this is true or BS who knows.

Personally I have been to the Cancun area a number of times and had no problem. Its like everywhere - if you go looking for trouble you usually find it.

The locals are great and are happy to serve you. I think they have a fondness for Canadians as compared to Americans (oh boy). We took an old Skyservice 757 down there the first time (cramped) then an AT 310 (better but still cramped). The departures lounge is mass chaos :)

[tuffyy]

I'll be curious to hear the results of the samples....

[dansk]

This could be interesting: [URL="http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Canada+lock+pilots/6271785/story.html"]Air Canada Lock out

[dansk]

Interesting. WestJet really making strides in the North:

Lucrative Ekati airline contract reassigned
Multimillion-dollar passenger movement contract held by Canadian North since 1998 awarded to WestJet and Air Tindi/Tli Cho Air

Thandiwe Vela
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, March 7, 2012
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
BHP Billiton has awarded the multi-million dollar airline contract to and from Ekati Diamond Mine--held by Canadian North since 1998--to WestJet and a partnership between Air Tindi and two aboriginal corporations.

http://nnsl.com/northern-news-services/stories/papers/mar7_12ekaT2.html

[Airboy]

[QUOTE=dansk;5620732]Interesting. WestJet really making strides in the North:

Lucrative Ekati airline contract reassigned
Multimillion-dollar passenger movement contract held by Canadian North since 1998 awarded to WestJet and Air Tindi/Tli Cho Air


CN will need to free up some aircraft for the Fort Mac Flights. West Jet may need to increase their schedule from YEG to YZF.
Most of the time when flying through YZF the hold room is full of guys heading south waiting for CN flights. Might free some seats up for the 6:00 flight but there are other mines up there so CN will not hurt that much.

The only Airline that showed any signs of WJ and AC competition was FA when the dropped the connecting flight from YFB. Now I fly up FA and back on CN.

YEG might see a net gain

[EdmTrekker]

Not amused: sitting here at EIA using their free Wifi with friends and trying to book next holiday flights. Our browsers show us being in Calgary so websites and popups are for flights from Calgary....and on iPhone hard to change location on a poup. In this case Signature Vacations. Friend says all sites same on free wifi.

We think they are using SHAW and no one at ERAA IT thought to ensure the ip addresses for wifi are showing from Edmonton. The host for the free wifi is Westjet as you log into EIA Free wifi. Hmmm...

Positive note: great fresh croissant breakfast sandwich from Brioch Dore before our flight to MBJ is a BIG hit!!!

[MrOilers]

Not amused: sitting here at EIA using their free Wifi with friends and trying to book next holiday flights. Our browsers show us being in Calgary so websites and popups are for flights from Calgary....


Wow. That's not cool.

[EdmTrekker]

Update: I sent an email to Carol at EIA and she forwarded to IT within minutes. They should be on it pronto. We are BIG supporters of Fly Edmonton First so notice everything when we book etc.

Another tidbit from this am...I downloaded Flight Aware app this am (have lots of apps like this) and when I searched for YEG or Edmonton it came up ....drum roll please: Edmonton Capital Region Alberta. Sweet

[Bigtime]

Update: I sent an email to Carol at EIA and she forwarded to IT within minutes. They should be on it pronto. We are BIG supporters of Fly Edmonton First so notice everything when we book etc.

Another tidbit from this am...I downloaded Flight Aware app this am (have lots of apps like this) and when I searched for YEG or Edmonton it came up ....drum roll please: Edmonton Capital Region Alberta. Sweet

So you're not an international airport anymore in Flightaware's eyes? ;)

I'd rather it come up Edmonton International Airport if I were you.

[Rocket252]

Not amused: sitting here at EIA using their free Wifi with friends and trying to book next holiday flights. Our browsers show us being in Calgary so websites and popups are for flights from Calgary....and on iPhone hard to change location on a poup. In this case Signature Vacations. Friend says all sites same on free wifi.

We think they are using SHAW and no one at ERAA IT thought to ensure the ip addresses for wifi are showing from Edmonton. The host for the free wifi is Westjet as you log into EIA Free wifi. Hmmm...

Positive note: great fresh croissant breakfast sandwich from Brioch Dore before our flight to MBJ is a BIG hit!!!

That would be hilarious if it was not so sad and just a tiny example of how much work we have to do here at YEG.

[Bigtime]

Just a note for those of you that like huge airplanes, the Antonov 225 will be in YYC this Sunday. ETA is 1230, and ETD is 1830.

I am stoked for this!

[Policy Wonk]

IP Geo-Location is woefully inaccurate and is either based on filtering a host name or blocks of IP addresses known to be assigned to an ISP serving a given area. Any deviation from the databases formula and you get the ridiculously wrong location.

Our ISP changed one of our IP addresses a while back and all of the sudden when anyone went to Google they were being redirected to Google Hong Kong.

[Airboy]

Heading out of YEG today, got a good look at the tower and hotel projects. Hotel looking at about 5 stories already. Tower Glazing has started on the ground side. I thought the cladding was going to be a little more 3d looking. This looks a little flat. I didn't realise how close the Stars hangar was to the taxy way. 2 other facilities were under construction next to it.

Up here in Rankin Inlet, the Airport was busy. For a town of a couple of thousand there were 3-737s, 4 ATRs, 2-Saabs and 1 Twin Otter.

Winnipeg will get the Lions share of the mining traffic, but I can see YEG getting some as well.

The Airport here is going to get upgraded if not completely rebuilt.

And the RFP for YFB is out, another that YEG could get a piece of with the development of O&G drilling up near Greenland. People now have to fly to Europe then to Greenland. With Greenland Air flying into Iqaluit again there is a market from Alberta now.

[Jasper and one o nin]

Wow wow wee wow...

Edmonton International Airport
Passenger Statistics for February 2012

Highlights
• Overall 528,841 passengers (1,061,390 Year to Date)
• Domestic 371,142 passengers (748,794 Year to Date)
• Transborder 108,062 passengers* (211,846 Year to Date)
• International 49,637 passengers (100,750 Year to Date)
• Rolling 12 Month 6,368,412

*New single month record for Transborder

Growth%
• Overall 10.1% (9.4% Year to Date)
• Domestic 9.6% (9.2% Year to Date)
• Transborder 12.3% (11.7% Year to Date)
• International 9.6% (6.6% Year to Date)

[hilman]

Impressive numbers, I hope this is a long lasting trend :). I find it interesting that ~42% of the passengers flying in/out of YEG are transborder/international.

[dansk]

It's a really interesting stat. Anyone paying attention? Hopefully ERAA isn't thinking that posting these stats is the only marketing that needs to be done.

[dancinb]

I find it interesting that ~42% of the passengers flying in/out of YEG are transborder/international.

Seems more like 30% to me...
(212000+101000)/1061000 ~= 30%

Methinks you divided by the number of domestic passengers, not the total number of passengers.

Sorry to be all technical n stuff. :)

[Jasper and one o nin]

^yup, but that is very good for YEG. That means fewer people are tranfering elsewhere. But the domestics are up considerably. Which may indicate YEG is being used more as a connection. (one transfering passenger inbound canada and outbound TB counts as 0.5 domestic and 0.5 TB)

[Coldrsx]

Exceptional numbers YEG, keep it up.

[hilman]

Seems more like 30% to me...
(212000+101000)/1061000 ~= 30%

Methinks you divided by the number of domestic passengers, not the total number of passengers.

Sorry to be all technical n stuff. :)

I sure did lol, my fault for doing calculations before my morning coffee :cheers:

[bkd]

Incredible growth for YEG. Amazing numbers.

It's looking more plausible that YEG can do 6.7M+ this year if not an outside shot at 6.8M PAX if the numbers continue along this trend.

[240glt]

Great stats!! EIA is on a roll

[CMD UW]

Right on YEG, keep em' coming. EIA, make sure you boast about these figures, ESP the Transborder one.

[Jasper and one o nin]

Air Canada's Dreamliners to fly from seven Canadian cities
Brent Jang - The Globe and Mail

Air Canada is targeting seven major Canadian cities as departure points for the long-range Boeing 787 Dreamliner.



Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/generic/generated/static/business/article2358591.html#ixzz1pEd7KoHA

[tuffyy]

What's with all the 777 flights lately to YEG? There have been atleast three in the last week. 1 777-300 and 2 777-200LR flights including another today.

[Rocket252]

What were the flight numbers?

Could they be repositioning the aircraft for subsequent flights?

[dansk]

I noticed that two there was a 777 from YYZ on Sunday as well. Weird since we never see these birds in our city. Flight loads that high? Noticed AC just placed an order for 2 more 777 with boeing according to www.airliners.net

[MalcolmTucker]

Consolidating flights to larger metal is my bet. I know last couple times I have flown Air Canada seems to have two flights leaving within 10 minutes of eachother on Airbus, after the initial sale was indicated an E-Jet.

Doesn't take much to make it worthwhile to use something larger if there are hours.

If the 777s normal routes are lower frequency in the winter, makes sense to keep them in the air as much as possible since they likely have lower costs per seat mile. Plus they get to familiarize domestic business travellers with the international product.

[Airboy]

MT you are right about consolidation flights. I was on a flight up to YK with a guy from TO, he said there was a couple of cancelations and then they were put on the 777. Something about work to rule as well.

[Coldrsx]

I want 777

[tuffyy]

Again today AC175 from YYZ is a 777-300 due in around noon!!!

[hilman]

Again today AC175 from YYZ is a 777-300 due in around noon!!!

Thanks for the updates Tuffyy, I will be watching the skies and hope to see this big bird :cheers:

[Bigtime]

Cool! I'd say get pics but quite frankly the YEG spotting community is weak.

A quick Flickr search of CYEG yields 195 photos.

CYYC yields 6613 photos.

Step your game up YEG spotters!

[Hooter]

Air Canada 175 due at 12:24 local time
Departing YEG for YYZ at 13:30 local time

[LO 044]

Cool! I'd say get pics but quite frankly the YEG spotting community is weak.

A quick Flickr search of CYEG yields 195 photos.

CYYC yields 6613 photos.

Step your game up YEG spotters!
Very simple reasons for this.
1. Poor spotting locations.
2. Two long runways making it hard to know where to go for that aircraft landing and takeoff unless you have a scanner and can understand tower lingo.
3. Not many different aircraft or airlines unless you love WS 737's or AC 320's.

Most interesting aircraft will land at Calgary's N/S main runway and the viewing area is well placed. I saw the addition to our interior observation deck at YEG and it is better but difficult to get decent pictures with the glass far off and the multitude of framing everywhere.

BTW, thanks for all the advice i got from everyone regarding my flight to CUN. We booked through Sunquest and i didn't know they use WestJet aircraft in addition to Air Transat / Thomas Cook so we're heading down this Sunday.

[tuffyy]

^^^ what resort did you you book with???

[s211]

Very simple reasons for this.
1. Poor spotting locations.
2. Two long runways making it hard to know where to go for that aircraft landing and takeoff unless you have a scanner and can understand tower lingo.
3. Not many different aircraft or airlines unless you love WS 737's or AC 320's.



320s? Luxury! (with thanks to Monty Python).

AC seems to be all E190s now...

[cyeg66]

^ you beat me to it s211!

[MalcolmTucker]

The E-190s are nice, prefer to fly them versus pretty much anything. Without them, YEG would likely be even more of a spoke airport.

[Johnny Aussie]

320s? Luxury! (with thanks to Monty Python).

AC seems to be all E190s now...

Actually, summer scheds are showing a bit of a transfer of capacity from YUL/YOW to YYZ (although minimal overall change). YOW and YUL will be exclusively E90s, whereby YYZ has a bit more Airbus flying. YVR pretty much identical to last summer.

Frequencies per week:
YUL 14-E90
YOW 14-E90
YYZ 5-321, 29-A320, 30-A319, 5-E90
YVR 7-A320, 7-A319, 49-E90

Overall AC group will be flying only 3 less frequencies per week summer 2012 compared to 2011. These 3 less frequencies are Express to YYC. Every other route is exactly the same.

[LO 044]

^^^ what resort did you you book with???
GP Riviera.

[Airboy]

A shot from Friday Morning. Sorry about the quality, Shot with my BB.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/6997027899_d2c23269cb_b.jpg

[tele75]

Awesome.

[dansk]

Love that they are doing this "signature" tower.

[Coldrsx]

Just hope they retain the original 'signature' tower.

[Jasper and one o nin]

^that would be nice. I am somewhat attached to the thing, but I think that the original terminal as a whole will not be part of the future phases of redevelopment - tower included.

[BLACK STAR]

That's awesome.........However I think Im gonna need more CowBell.

[cyeg66]

You can never have too much cowbell. Everyone knows that!

I hope the old tower gets discarded, my polite way of saying bulldozed. It will in no way make the new terminal look good. It'll always appear like some square, ungainly, unsightly growth on the curved/flowing new structure. "CLEAR"! ---- Ka-boooooooommmm!!!

[Airboy]

Unless they recladd to look like the new one.

[rapid_business]

And I politely disagree. Celebrate the tribute to modernism that it is. And if you haven't seen this yet.... (http://capitalmodernedmonton.com) it might help you gain an appreciation for the architectural style in question.

[hilman]

Edmonton airport tops million-passenger mark
edmontonjournal.com March 20, 2012

EDMONTON - More than one million passengers used the Edmonton International Airport in the first two months of 2012.

Traffic increased 9.4 per cent over 2011 to 1,061,390 passengers, airport officials confirmed Tuesday.

Domestic trips increased 9.2 per cent to 784,000.

U.S. totals rose 11.7 per cent to 211,000, with February’s total of 108,000 setting a record for the month.

International passenger numbers totalled about 100,000 — up 6.6 per cent.

Flights on chartered aircraft increased 22.3 per cent to 50,000.


http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Edmonton+airport+tops+million+passenger+mark/6330866/story.html

[dansk]

With UAL upgauging the IAH flights to 737/700/800 as of April from the 500's that will add to the numbers as well. I still think that the IAH flights will be taking a lot of passengers from DEN and MSP though...

[Airboy]

Second time traveling through YWG and the new terminal again on Friday. I did notice they are getting their second Airport Hotel. The Crane is up.

[dansk]

YEG, will probably get one eventually once investors see how well the marriott does. Then again Nisku has a tonne of hotels, but good luck getting into one...they're usually booked solid.

[Coldrsx]

^hello ALT:)?

[Airboy]

YEG, will probably get one eventually once investors see how well the marriott does. Then again Nisku has a tonne of hotels, but good luck getting into one...they're usually booked solid.

Thankfully I don't need one at YEG, as for YWG only reason I stayed there is my trip out of the north landed a little late to catch a connecting flight.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

YEG, will probably get one eventually once investors see how well the marriott does. Then again Nisku has a tonne of hotels, but good luck getting into one...they're usually booked solid.

Yeah but those are mostly low-budget motels with inflatable cowboys waving at visitors from the QEII interchange. If YEG could support another hotel, hopefully it will be a higher-end brand.

[dansk]

Actually that has changed in the past year, Nisku Inn is still where some flight crews stay, the Holiday Inn Express, Hampton by Hilton, and Hilton Garden Inn are the new standards. The other hotels are mainly used by the service industry, not airport passengers.