[walli]

I think it's part of the new trend that breaks the old Western Canada into Pacific and Western Canada; with Vancity being in Pacific Canada.

I'm Calgarian 100%, but that type of thinking is just silly. There is nothing wrong with them stating that it would solidify the airport as one of two major international hubs in Western Canada.

[FFX-ME]

have they begun the expansion if not when will the construction begin?

[freeweed]

I'm Calgarian 100%, but that type of thinking is just silly. There is nothing wrong with them stating that it would solidify the airport as one of two major international hubs in Western Canada.

It's just the same thinking that results in southern Ontario being called "Central Canada".

East/West/Central have never really been used in the correct geographical sense in North America. Heck, the US "Midwest" is mostly in the eastern half of the country.

[walli]

I think part of the reason you Edmonton folks are irritated is semantics. In addition to the DT stations, the reason a YYC stop should be considered is that it is by far the largest air traffic hub in Alberta - more than double Leduc. We should not be thinking HSR versus air traffic, but rather, part of an integrated travel network. Rename YYC to Alberta International. Connect it directly with the three main DT cores in Alberta, and we're done. Now we don't hurt all the egos - we simply change the names to properly reflect what the airports are about: Leduc Domestic and Alberta International.

[walli]

^^ sorry - partially the wrong thread. was supposed to go in the HSR thread.

[Coldrsx]

I think part of the reason you Edmonton folks are irritated is semantics. In addition to the DT stations, the reason a YYC stop should be considered is that it is by far the largest air traffic hub in Alberta - more than double Leduc. We should not be thinking HSR versus air traffic, but rather, part of an integrated travel network. Rename YYC to Alberta International. Connect it directly with the three main DT cores in Alberta, and we're done. Now we don't hurt all the egos - we simply change the names to properly reflect what the airports are about: Leduc Domestic and Alberta International.

can i change your name to go :whip: yourself you :koko:

[Wooster]

I think part of the reason you Edmonton folks are irritated is semantics. In addition to the DT stations, the reason a YYC stop should be considered is that it is by far the largest air traffic hub in Alberta - more than double Leduc. We should not be thinking HSR versus air traffic, but rather, part of an integrated travel network. Rename YYC to Alberta International. Connect it directly with the three main DT cores in Alberta, and we're done. Now we don't hurt all the egos - we simply change the names to properly reflect what the airports are about: Leduc Domestic and Alberta International.

Wow, you are bound to start a flame war with that one. But in a sense you are right, it is important to integrate the transportation systems. Alberta International! ha ha ha. If Edmonton can get AGA and RAM... Isn't its official name Calgary-Banff International? We are almost overshadowed by our nearby tourist trap!

Maybe we should change the name of Calgary to Alberta City! ;)

Honestly, who gives a fuck about the Province? My allegiences don't lie as much with arbitrary political boundaries, especially a province. I am about Calgary and its hinterland! I think the fact that Edmonton has all their institutions named "Alberta" this and "Alberta" that hurts the profile and exposure of the city. Some people I know think the U of A is in Calgary.

[Coldrsx]

^agreed it should be at Edmonton Intl and Calgary Intl...

[evolv]

Does anyone know when BA will start flying the additional flight per week? (up to 6x/week)

[Bigtime]

Does anyone know when BA will start flying the additional flight per week? (up to 6x/week)

I may be reading the BA website timetables wrong, but it looks like as of right now they are operating the LHR run 6x a week. The only day it doesn't show as flying is the Friday. These were effective from March 25th, which would exlpain why I was able to leave on a Friday with them on Mar.2nd but couldn't fly back direct on Mar.30th.

[freeweed]

Isn't its official name Calgary-Banff International? We are almost overshadowed by our nearby tourist trap!

Josh, could you elaborate on this a bit?

Flying through several US airports this year, I found it rather funny that all Calgary-bound flights were listed as "Calgary-Banff" for the destination; I figured it was just so the skiiers knew which flight to take.

Is that actually what we're called??

Side note on US travel to Calgary/Banff: the US security clearing area at YYC (ie: going home for them) has an entire luggage scanner dedicated to "golf clubs and skiis only". I've never seen this in any of the 30+ North American airports I've been through. Shows you what Americans mostly come up here for. :haha:

[The Chemist]

Josh, could you elaborate on this a bit?

Flying through several US airports this year, I found it rather funny that all Calgary-bound flights were listed as "Calgary-Banff" for the destination; I figured it was just so the skiiers knew which flight to take.

Is that actually what we're called??

Side note on US travel to Calgary/Banff: the US security clearing area at YYC (ie: going home for them) has an entire luggage scanner dedicated to "golf clubs and skiis only". I've never seen this in any of the 30+ North American airports I've been through. Shows you what Americans mostly come up here for. :haha:

I did notice it being called 'Calgary-Banff' when flying home from Denver last year, but it was just Calgary when flying home from London. Maybe it's just a branding thing in the US? :shrug:

[CanadianCentaur]

I have a few old Air Canada timetables from 1998-1999 showing YYC as Calgary/Banff. So, it's not always some Yank branding thing. And I also have a few Canadian Airlines timetables from that same period showing Banff as a separate destination - they would show the equipment listed as a bus. Interestingly enough, Edmonton was listed in the CP timetables as Edmonton/Jasper.

[Bigtime]

Regarding the Calgary/Banff Designation:

I've seen the same thing in my travels in the US as well. Last time I saw it was last summer in LAX. It makes sense to see it seeing as we brand our airport as the "Gateway to Banff and the Canadian Rockies".

However I've never seen it listed as such when overseas in Frankfurt or London. Probably just easier and simpler to leave it as Calgary.

[tuffyy]

I agree that YYC should be listed as Calgary/banff,YEG should also be Edmonton/Jasper as it is the nearest city to the destination.Yes CP used to practice this in there timetables.

[craner]

I agree that YYC should be listed as Calgary/banff,YEG should also be Edmonton/Jasper as it is the nearest city to the destination.Yes CP used to practice this in there timetables.

Is it not about 4 hours from Edmonton to Jasper ? (a littlle different that 1 hour Calgary to Banff). I believe the actual travel distance from Calgary to Jasper is less than Edmonton-Jasper, but travel time is probably more from Calgary because of the mountains.

[tuffyy]

^Nearest travel time=gateway does it not?It would be a good marketing tool just as Calgary practices the Banff/canmore thing.Think about it,YHM now calls itself Toronto Munro Hamilton Int'l airport in some schedules.As mentioned CP marketed YEG as Ed/jasper a few years back.

[freeweed]

Is it not about 4 hours from Edmonton to Jasper ? (a littlle different that 1 hour Calgary to Banff). I believe the actual travel distance from Calgary to Jasper is less than Edmonton-Jasper, but travel time is probably more from Calgary because of the mountains.

Yeah, as the crow flies they're close. Road distance is 412km from Calgary, 366km from Edmonton according to Google maps - but of course the drive from Calgary is MUCH longer (and prettier, and often shut down in the winter...) through the mountains. Red Deer is 413km by road to Jasper, incidentally. Not sure if they have an international airport though. :haha:

[YYCguys]

^Nearest travel time=gateway does it not?It would be a good marketing tool just as Calgary practices the Banff/canmore thing.Think about it,YHM now calls itself Toronto Munro Hamilton Int'l airport in some schedules.As mentioned CP marketed YEG as Ed/jasper a few years back.

Sigh...that's how Globespan was marketing Hamilton Airport when they first announced service there. It must be a UK thing. However, a look-see at their website this time around reveals nothing about it anymore. Hamilton is just Hamilton, Calgary is just Calgary....Wonder why they changed?

[craner]

^Nearest travel time=gateway does it not?It would be a good marketing tool just as Calgary practices the Banff/canmore thing.Think about it,YHM now calls itself Toronto Munro Hamilton Int'l airport in some schedules.As mentioned CP marketed YEG as Ed/jasper a few years back.

I agree with you - it would be a good marketing tool. The more tourists we get to Alberta the better I think. I was merely curious about the distances (Thanks Freeweed) and wondering if there was a practical limit on the term "Gateway".

[freeweed]

I agree with you - it would be a good marketing tool. The more tourists we get to Alberta the better I think. I was merely curious about the distances (Thanks Freeweed) and wondering if there was a practical limit on the term "Gateway".

I'd go with "closest international airport", myself.

Jasper doesn't have quite the cachet that Banff does (and some of us like it this way!), but Edmonton is still hands down the best way to get there by plane.

[Policy Wonk]

Skywest opperating for United at one time identified Calgary as Banff (Calgary, AB) but on the display at the gate is just said Banff.

[YYCguys]

Found this in the "What's new" section of the YYC website: http://www.calgaryairport.com/fts/getfile.cfm?FID=8640

I thought that the second N/S runway would be needed long before 2015! And I hope they get on with the B/C concourse expansion tout de suite, though that completion date is set for 2011. I assume they will widen it in a first phase and then move onto the hammerhead after that? I also see in one of the slides that there's to be a commuter wing across from the security checkpoint in the D wing. Does that mean AC will be booting WS out of the D wing to accomodate their commuter fleet?

[lubicon]

Considering that a new runway takes 3-4 years to build, plus the fact that they will have to relocate Barlow (ie build a new Barlow) and extend Airport Trail east underneath the new runway to connect to Barlow it's not surprising that 2015 is mentioned as the date. They still have to figure out who will pay for the road work so it's probably at least 2 years away from even starting contruction. Add in 4 years or so of construction and you get pretty close to 2015.

[tarapoto]

Interesting tidbit: Calgary Airport handled 11.7 million passengers in 2006. Vancouver Intl, with more than double the metropolitan population only did 16.9 million, plus another 393,000 at Abbotsford "Intl". Not sure why they call it an international airport when they only have flights to Calgary, Edmonton and Victoria. I work at the Calgary Airport, and I have heard that the expansion plan will double the size of the terminal and gates in the next 25 years, and that the city will have to build an underpass for the ring road to cross under runway 16-34 R

[Policy Wonk]

The numbers are skewed in favor of Calgary because both WestJet and Air Canada hub here. The number of terminated pax is much lower.

[mersar]

Not the ring road, but Barlow Trail will need to be rerouted and an underpass is one possible option that has been mentioned. The ring road is on the north side of the warehouses, etc that lay norths of the airport.

[Champion3]

/\ Airport Trail

[freeweed]

Not sure if anyone's posted this or not yet, but those of you who were looking forward to a visit from Air Force One this year...

Looks like the big meet in Kananaskis has been cancelled. Bad for airplane buffs, but good for us backcountry types. :tup:

[Bokimon]

Oh^ that is bummer! 2002 repeat wont be happening I guess. Dissapointing.

On a lighter note, starting tomorrow Flyglobespan will be flying into our city from Gatwick around 3:40pm. It goes to YVR and back within a 4 hr period and then off to UK around 930ish.
I think it will be 767 type plane used.

Oh the Hungarian PM was in town last week and he departed today.
No Hungarian "AF1" or such sorts.. He flew as a regular passenger on AC 844 to Frankfurt. I do wonder how that works out when a leader is flying on board.

[Champion3]

I ran into the Hungarian delegation in the Calgary Tower on Friday. We were standing on the observation deck when all of a sudden a whole bunch of plainclothes officers came around the corner with the Hungarian president.

[lubicon]

Interesting tidbit: Calgary Airport handled 11.7 million passengers in 2006. Vancouver Intl, with more than double the metropolitan population only did 16.9 million, plus another 393,000 at Abbotsford "Intl". Not sure why they call it an international airport when they only have flights to Calgary, Edmonton and Victoria. I work at the Calgary Airport, and I have heard that the expansion plan will double the size of the terminal and gates in the next 25 years, and that the city will have to build an underpass for the ring road to cross under runway 16-34 R

Because they also have international flights to sun destinations like Mexico, and as such the airport is a port of entry into Canada (with customs facilities). By definition that makes it an international airport.

[Bigtime]

and as such the airport is a port of entry into Canada (with customs facilities). By definition that makes it an international airport.

You beat me to it, if you have customs facilities you can be branded an International airport. Oklohoma City isn't, no customs there and a real pain when we had to divert there coming back from Cancun a couple of years ago.

[You Need A Thneed]

and that the city will have to build an underpass for the ring road to cross under runway 16-34 R

Not for the ring road, but rather for Airport Trail. I think the city is still negotiating with other levels of government and with the airport authority to determine who's going to build the tunnel. Country Hills Blvd won't need a tunnel, and the Ring Road is further north than that.

[Champion3]

Right now there is definitely a lot of jurisdictional squabbling over who should be paying for the Airport Trail tunnel.

[adeep88]

The numbers are skewed in favor of Calgary because both WestJet and Air Canada hub here. The number of terminated pax is much lower.

Can you explain that further?

[mersar]

Roughly works out to because YYC is a 'hub' for those two, there are far more passengers that simply connect flights or have layovers here, versus Calgary being their destination.

[BobTheBuilder]

how do all these laws work with flights stopping over to pickup passengers?
YYC has lots of flights comming in from Houston daily and since Houston has a pretty big asian population. Would this be a possibility . . . where the flight originates from Houston . . . stops over in Calgary where it drops/picks up passengers . . . and then continues on as a direct flight to HKG?

[tuffyy]

Houston now has a large number of asian flights.China airlines now has flights to Taipei from IAH and CO operates flights to a few points in Asia from IAH.I would not be surprised to see a scheduled Asian connection for YYC within the next 3-5yrs.

[KrisYYC]

how do all these laws work with flights stopping over to pickup passengers?
YYC has lots of flights comming in from Houston daily and since Houston has a pretty big asian population. Would this be a possibility . . . where the flight originates from Houston . . . stops over in Calgary where it drops/picks up passengers . . . and then continues on as a direct flight to HKG?

The Canada/US bilateral agreement allows for such flights. AC was planning to do YYZ-LAX-SYD with the 7773ER. However there needs to be an agreement with the destination country that also allows it. In AC's case the Australian government is purposely dragging its heels on accepting an agreement. This is classic Australian protectionism of Qantas. Singapore Airlines was also a victim of this.

So, CO or even AC operating IAH-YYC-HKG is legal on the Canada/US side, I'm not sure about the HKG side though.

Kris

[BobTheBuilder]

The Canada/US bilateral agreement allows for such flights. AC was planning to do YYZ-LAX-SYD with the 7773ER. However there needs to be an agreement with the destination country that also allows it. In AC's case the Australian government is purposely dragging its heels on accepting an agreement. This is classic Australian protectionism of Qantas. Singapore Airlines was also a victim of this.

So, CO or even AC operating IAH-YYC-HKG is legal on the Canada/US side, I'm not sure about the HKG side though.

Kris

that's very interesting! Thanks!
The reason why I was thinking of that route is, I see Cathay Pacific running a route from Vancouver to New York, which I assume is a way to get their planes over to fly a direct flight from JFK to HKG.
which seems like a logical thing for YYC to IAH too

[tarapoto]

Right now there is definitely a lot of jurisdictional squabbling over who should be paying for the Airport Trail tunnel.

apparently (hearsay) Airport Authority told the city that they're going to start building the runway as soon as they're ready whether the city has made plans for airport trail or not, so I think the cost would probably fall in the lap of the city. I heard that was why the city decided to fast-track the ring road to get it done much sooner than originally planned

[tarapoto]

i am very excited too that Air Canada will have direct flights from Vancouver-Guangzhou starting this summer, so I can go visit my friends there without having to go through Beijing or Hong Kong!

[lubicon]

I heard that was why the city decided to fast-track the ring road to get it done much sooner than originally planned

1. The ring road is well north of any future runway so it's construction is not impacted by future runway construction in any way, shape, or form.

2. the ring road is a provincial responsibility and the city has no say on when/how it is built. It was the province who decided to build it as a P# project.

[The Chemist]

Sort of relevant to this topic - last night I saw the BA flight coming over Fish Creek Park at about 7.15pm. Was he late or has the arrival time of this flight been moved to later in the evening?

I've never seen a B777 in flight before - man, that thing is QUIET for a plane its size! :eek:

[Bokimon]

yah since the daylight savings its arrival was pushed back 1hr. so 4:55 is now 5:55 and on some days it is 6:55pm.
I dont know why its that late, I would think its better if it came in an hour or two earlier when the other international flights from AC come in.
I only care about getting good pictures of it rather than stress the airports load of passengers disembarking all at once.. :)

[Blader]

i am very excited too that Air Canada will have direct flights from Vancouver-Guangzhou starting this summer, so I can go visit my friends there without having to go through Beijing or Hong Kong!

This route was announced by Air Canada a couple of years ago. I believe it was to start June 1, 2007. I don't believe this will be happening - there is no such route in the Air Canada online timetable and it would be a little late to add it now - major lost marketing opportunity! Obviously a change of plans for whatever reason.

[KrisYYC]

This route was announced by Air Canada a couple of years ago. I believe it was to start June 1, 2007. I don't believe this will be happening - there is no such route in the Air Canada online timetable and it would be a little late to add it now - major lost marketing opportunity! Obviously a change of plans for whatever reason.

The route is still planned, but it is pending approval from the authorities.

Kris

[lubicon]

I've never seen a B777 in flight before - man, that thing is QUIET for a plane its size! :eek:

Well you can look forward to seeing it more in YYC. Starting Aug 1 (I believe), Air Canada will be running the 777 on it's early evening departure to LHR. Not sure if it's just a seasonal thing or permanent though.




Flight: Calgary (AB) - YYC to London Heathrow (GB) - LHR
Date: Wednesday August 15, 2007



Flight Aircraft Departure Arrival Travel Time Stops Via
AC 850 77W 18:40 10:00 +1 8 hr 20 mn 0

AC 852 763 22:00 13:50 +1 8 hr 50 mn 0

[The Chemist]

Well you can look forward to seeing it more in YYC. Starting Aug 1 (I believe), Air Canada will be running the 777 on it's early evening departure to LHR. Not sure if it's just a seasonal thing or permanent though.




Flight: Calgary (AB) - YYC to London Heathrow (GB) - LHR
Date: Wednesday August 15, 2007



Flight Aircraft Departure Arrival Travel Time Stops Via
AC 850 77W 18:40 10:00 +1 8 hr 20 mn 0

AC 852 763 22:00 13:50 +1 8 hr 50 mn 0

Wow! That's pretty sweet. I hadn't expected to see AC bring their 777s here to Calgary any time soon. :) Maybe BA forced AC to have a competitive product on the YYC-LHR route, which is a good thing.

[lubicon]

Nor did I.

[Doug]

Virgin America scans Calgary market
Small operators can add pizazz, CEO argues
Gina Teel, Calgary Herald
Published: Friday, May 04, 2007

Calgary's robust economic growth has made it a vibrant centre of commerce, but there's still plenty of opportunity for even more growth with a boost from commercial aviation, particularly from well-financed startup niche carriers like Virgin America.

But what Calgary needs to figure out is how it might bring players into the market to add some "pizazz" to an already pretty good service offering, maintains airline industry veteran Don Carty, chairman of U.S.-based Virgin America Inc.

"Economic growth and airline services are symbiotic. The more business you have the more flights you get, the more flights you get, the more business is done, and Calgary obviously has got a good run going for it on the business side and it's hard to see an end to it," Carty, who is also chief financial officer and vice- chairman of Dell Inc. -- as well as chairman of Toronto-based Porter Airlines, said in an interview prior to a noon-hour address to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

Carty, a retired chairman and chief executive of AMR Corp. and American Airlines Inc., said Calgary has just the sort of vibrant business market of interest to Virgin America, which he referred to as "JetBlue on steroids," in terms of customer service.

The fledgling airline -- which expects to take its inaugural flight from its home base in San Francisco to New York's John F. Kennedy airport in July -- has a rapid growth line for the next three or four years and is looking at all the major destinations, Carty said.

Virgin America's tentative plan involves "several" Canadian cities. And while Calgary is likely included in the mix -- there's a hitch.

"It's got to look on our forecast to be better than every other opportunity, and given Calgary's strength, it's got a chance of doing that," he said.

Bruce Graham, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development, said he's not surprised that Virgin would be looking at markets like Calgary. The more air carriers the merrier, he added.

"It really is an up-and-coming market and both Air Canada and British Airways do very well between here and London," he said following Carty's speech.

He agreed with Carty that the city's economic success is dictated by access to international markets -- which is why EDC is working closely with the Calgary Airport Authority on a huge push into China and the Middle East.

"Once you get that first one in from Asia, I know there is going to be increased interest," Graham said.

Aviation analyst Rick Erickson of RP Erickson & Associates, urged the city and airport authority to be on the lookout for niche carriers.

"We're on the cusp of seeing low-cost international niche players, Virgin is an example of that, starting to penetrate the North American market," he said.

Julien De Schutter, vice-president airport marketing, Calgary Airport Authority, said his organization has been building up the city as an attractive hub for some time -- and successfully so.

"The only non-stop link we don't have is a non-stop link to Asia, everything else we're putting into place one piece at a time, and we're working very diligently on getting service to Asia," he said.

In his speech, Carty cited a move toward more liberalization as another global aviation trend, and pointed to Ottawa's new Blue Sky policy, which seeks to open up Canada's aviation agreements across the border.

The only caveat is that within the broad policy of liberalization, it's important that Canada has its priorities straight, he said.

Carty said the big question Calgary should be raising is, what are the priorities?

"Is an incremental flight from Toronto to Serbia or Croatia our objective, or is it making sure that we have multiple carriers from London and Japan, the places where business really wants to connect to," Carty told the Herald.

"Of course, Calgary's interest is in the latter, Air Canada's interest is probably just the opposite. They don't want multiple carriers in the Calgary to London, so I think communities in Canada want to be actively engaged in that debate around priorities with the federal government," he said.

gteel@theherald.canwest.com


© The Calgary Herald 2007

[KrisYYC]

Well you can look forward to seeing it more in YYC. Starting Aug 1 (I believe), Air Canada will be running the 777 on it's early evening departure to LHR. Not sure if it's just a seasonal thing or permanent though.




Flight: Calgary (AB) - YYC to London Heathrow (GB) - LHR
Date: Wednesday August 15, 2007



Flight Aircraft Departure Arrival Travel Time Stops Via
AC 850 77W 18:40 10:00 +1 8 hr 20 mn 0

AC 852 763 22:00 13:50 +1 8 hr 50 mn 0



Holy crap, I work for AC and I didn't even hear about it! This is sweet though. For those that have seen the BA 777 you really need to check out AC's when it comes. BA uses a 777-200 while as the "77W" is the 777-300ER which is signifigantly longer, and also has the raked wingtips. It's a monster even compared to a 200 series.

*Update: YVR-NRT was supposed to be operated by 77W but is now reverted back to 343 for August and the 77W put on YYC-LHR

Kris

[KrisYYC]

"Of course, Calgary's interest is in the latter, Air Canada's interest is probably just the opposite. They don't want multiple carriers in the Calgary to London, so I think communities in Canada want to be actively engaged in that debate around priorities with the federal government," he said.



Ah yes, the big evil Air Canada :rolleyes: I haven't heard AC say anything about not wanting multiple carriers... as usual the media doesn't have a clue. Clive Beddoe has even publicly stated that his goal was to crush competition on certain sectors, of course you'd never hear that in the Herald or Sun.

BA started LHR-YYC and it didn't even phase AC, the fact that AC is going double daily again this summer and even upgraded to the 777 for a while proves that bookings are high. AC does not mind competition.

Kris

[Policy Wonk]

Virgin America would be nice, but they will probably get scared away just like JetBlue did by the absolutely crushing tax regime on flying.
The the American LCC's the price is as much a part of their brand as anything else, when taxes will double their fares... they would see the opperation as hurting their brand.

[Bigtime]

AC's 77W in August?! WOOHOO!

So does that mean it is replacing the 333 on the first departure? I believe AC is still going with the 767 on the later departure.

[lubicon]

So does that mean it is replacing the 333 on the first departure? I believe AC is still going with the 767 on the later departure.

According to the info I pasted (taken from Air Canada's website) that is correct.

[BlueFusion]

Good news with the 77W coming here already.. I think AC definitely might be trying to ensure they offer a comparable product to BA.. and using that aircraft is definitely a good way of doing that.. with the Korean charters.. YYC is gonna see three 777's on some days.. and possibly even four if the Japanese charters are back.. it looks like its gonna be another busy summer at YYC.. we definitely will crack 12M passengers this year forsure.

[tarapoto]

I ran into the Hungarian delegation in the Calgary Tower on Friday. We were standing on the observation deck when all of a sudden a whole bunch of plainclothes officers came around the corner with the Hungarian president.

They fly civilian flight. I helped load their luggage onto a Frankfurt flight. Is that a little bit weird that they don't have their own plane, or even a charter? I guess Hungary is a small country

[freeweed]

They fly civilian flight. I helped load their luggage onto a Frankfurt flight. Is that a little bit weird that they don't have their own plane, or even a charter? I guess Hungary is a small country

Or they do everything in their power to not waste taxpayer money. :tup:

[BobTheBuilder]

So does anyone know when AC is lauching the 2nd daily flight to JFK?
or did I hear this completely wrong because I couldn't see the 2nd flight on my searches

[BobTheBuilder]

So Oasis is having a sales blitz for YVR - HKG right now

do you think Vancouver has too many HKG flights? this may be a good thing though, having companies look over here to add a new flight.

[Blader]

So does anyone know when AC is lauching the 2nd daily flight to JFK?
or did I hear this completely wrong because I couldn't see the 2nd flight on my searches

It's effective June 15, 3 times weekly, Fri, Sat, Sun. Out of Calgary it's a red-eye.

[tarapoto]

I work at Air Canada and apparently in summer we're going to two or three flights a day to London heathrow and two to Frankfurt. Sucks for the employees, good for everyone else I guess

[tarapoto]

If the terminal were big enough to handle many more international destinations, what are some destinations you think airlines would or should add?

I would say some destinations in Asia, like Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Manila, Beijing. Australian destinations like Melbourne and Sydney. Add more South American destinations like Caracas, Buenos Aires, Bogota, some in Brazil.

And flights to Paris and Madrid and Barcelona would be good too

I love to travel, but less connections is always better! And I hate flying through America!

[Bigtime]

I work at Air Canada and apparently in summer we're going to two or three flights a day to London heathrow and two to Frankfurt. Sucks for the employees, good for everyone else I guess

Well every summer LHR has gone up to two flights a day, FRA up to 2x daily would be a first. I'm going to have to go and search this one out over a.net to see if the rumour is there as well.

[chenmau]

Australian destinations like Melbourne and Sydney.

I'm not that familiar with aircraft. Which ones could fly that far without refueling?

[Bigtime]

I'm not that familiar with aircraft. Which ones could fly that far without refueling?

For Air Canada I believe their new 777-300ER's have the legs to make that trip non-stop.

[KrisYYC]

LHR will go twice daily as normal. FRA will stay 1 daily.

Direct flights to Asia will remain extremely limited thanks to Calgary's proximity to YVR. Possibly a seasonal YYC-NRT could happen in the future but these are low-yield leisure routes so don't count on it. But forget about Australia or Manila etc. AC is short widebody lift and they will concentrate any additions to well developed routes to maximise use of priceless slots at airports such as LHR, FRA, NRT etc. I don't think the 777-300ER could do YYC-SYD non-stop without a payload restriction, but the 777-200LR which start arriving soon could. YYC-SYD non-stop would be over 16 hours flight time.

Also, AC will launch 2 daily flights to SEA using CRJ's.

Cathay will go from 2 daily to 3 daily at YVR starting June.

Kris

[Policy Wonk]

Over the years Calgary has lost a number of flights to slot constraints at major international airports. YYC-NRT on a CP DC-10-30 went out full every flight, but so would a 747 out of YVR in the same slot.

[tarapoto]

Well there are lots of rumors working at an airport, another one is that Cathay Pacific wants to run a direct flight from Calgary-Hong Kong, but apparently there is some sort of extra landing fee because of the high traffic in Hong Kong already that might make it too expensive for them

[Bokimon]

I think of the biggest problems is the fact that the federal government still has a hard fist on allowing more foreign airlines serve our cities.
I hope someday they will loosen up and be more open towards carriers overseas who wants to make money and do business wiht more of our cities, like Calgary.
I would love to see some asian airlines commit service directly from their hubs.

Id also like to see Cargo traffic improve a bit. Maybe our facilities are a possibly blame since they are working at capacity and kinda scattered around our airport rather than a central cargo hub like location.

[Policy Wonk]

The problem is most Air Services Agreements are prehistoric and are tailored to the flag carrier and hub days.

The current agreement with France was signed in 1976
The current agreement with Japan was signed in 1955
The current agreement with Germany was signed in 1973

The agreement with India from 1982 is among the worst and effectively limits service to two routes only and limits capacity to a completely arbitrary point.

The oldest of the agreements currently in force date to 1949 with some then British colonies.

[Innersoul1]

If the terminal were big enough to handle many more international destinations, what are some destinations you think airlines would or should add?

I would say some destinations in Asia, like Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Manila, Beijing. Australian destinations like Melbourne and Sydney. Add more South American destinations like Caracas, Buenos Aires, Bogota, some in Brazil.

And flights to Paris and Madrid and Barcelona would be good too

I love to travel, but less connections is always better! And I hate flying through America!


I would LOVE to see a Singapore Airlines direct flight to Singapore, seeing that it is a major hub. GOD I love the airport in Singapore:slob:

Oh and if you haven't flown with Singapore Airlines DOOOO IT! Best economy class in the world! :banana:

[Bigtime]

Well there are lots of rumors working at an airport,

Heck there are LOTS of rumours working in aviation period! :D

I always go by this rule of thumb for most rumours, until I see the plane/airline/livery in person at YYC I don't believe it. Aviation always has so much awesome scuttlebutt about things that MAY happen and never do come to pass.

I'll still only believe AC is flying the 77W here in August when I see it come in!

[Policy Wonk]

I would LOVE to see a Singapore Airlines direct flight to Singapore, seeing that it is a major hub. GOD I love the airport in Singapore:slob:

Oh and if you haven't flown with Singapore Airlines DOOOO IT! Best economy class in the world! :banana:

you could fit the terminating pax between YYC and SIN on a Beech 1900 and hubbing in Singapore comming from North America doesn't make much sense.

You aren't going to fly all the way to Singapore to connect to a flight to Frankfurt or Sydney.

[evolv]

1,018,033 passengers for march a 9.49% increase over march 2006. International passengers up 23.51%

[YYCguys]

Here is a link to the website for the International Facilities expansion project. Not much to see yet, but construction expected to start in 2008.

http://www.calgaryairport.com/IFP/index.cfm

[Boris2k7]

^ Thanks for posting that. I've been waiting for more information for a while.

Developer: Calgary Airport Authority
Architect: Cohos Evamy

IFP Quick Facts

Existing Concourse
Total Gates - 10
Sectors Served - Domestic, Transborder, International
Total Floor Area - 39,197 square meters
Total Number of Levels - 3

Future New Concourse
Total Gates - 20
Sectors Served - Domestic, Transborder, International
Total Floor Area - 77,322 square meters
Total Number of Levels - 4

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/2105/internationalfacilitiesaz2.jpg
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/1286/internationalfacilitiesvk0.gif

[Boris2k7]

you could fit the terminating pax between YYC and SIN on a Beech 1900 and hubbing in Singapore comming from North America doesn't make much sense.

You aren't going to fly all the way to Singapore to connect to a flight to Frankfurt or Sydney.

^ You do fly to Singapore to connect to Perth. My dad did this just last year. Calgary > Vancouver (or was it L.A.?) > Taipei > Singapore > Perth

[Policy Wonk]

That is quite the route, it is faster to fly Qantas LAX-SYD-PER.

Going through Singapore adds about 2000 miles to the trip.

[jawagord]

you could fit the terminating pax between YYC and SIN on a Beech 1900 and hubbing in Singapore comming from North America doesn't make much sense.

You aren't going to fly all the way to Singapore to connect to a flight to Frankfurt or Sydney.

I would agree, the current SIN-VCR flights only goes 3 times a week and with a stop at Inchon where many Korean passengers get on/off from the SIN-INCHON leg. Changi is a great airport and SingAir has great service but it is not a practical link for Calgary. My bets for a direct flight to Asia would be on Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong if and when Westjet gets its new booking system up and running.

[YYCguys]

For all you ski and golf enthusiasts, thought you might want to know that Cranbrook airport is in expansion mode, having completed a runway expansion and now a terminal expansion. Seems that the Cranbrook airport is wooing Westjet "or another third airline". Do you think that Cranbrook is on Westjet's radar? Could there be a market there for 737 service and to where? Calgary? Vancouver?

[ctown.myth]

I'd say both Calgary and Vancouver...

[tuffyy]

Looks like F9 (Frontier) is dropping YYC this fall.The flights will not return as a seasonal service either.UA seems to have a choke hold on the YYC-DEN route.

[MonctonGoldenFlames]

Down the road, when the new runway is complete, will most large traffic use it, instead of the old one? Or, what will determine which aircraft uses which approach?

[Bigtime]

Down the road, when the new runway is complete, will most large traffic use it, instead of the old one? Or, what will determine which aircraft uses which approach?

The wind/weight/speed and air traffic control will delegate which runways are used by arriving and departing traffic.

The way I see the parallel 34/16 working best is this(and from my flying experience this would make ATC very happy):

Winds prevailing from the North:
34 Left(old runway) for arrivals
34 Right(new) for departures.

Winds prevailing from the South:

16 Left(new) for arrivals
16 Right(old) for departures

You'll notice that they have put the new runway much more 'centered' to the terminal, thus significantly shortening taxi times for departure utilizing it as the new 34 for departures.

Crappy news about Frontier dropping out, I was enjoying seeing a different tail around YYC. :(

[marts1x]

Crappy news about Frontier dropping out, I was enjoying seeing a different tail around YYC. :(


They were running with under 10 pax on alot of occasions

[Bigtime]

They were running with under 10 pax on alot of occasions

Yeah, that will quite about cut it as far as not filling a plane goes.

[BlueFusion]

Looks like F9 (Frontier) is dropping YYC this fall.The flights will not return as a seasonal service either.UA seems to have a choke hold on the YYC-DEN route.

Not a huge shocker here, the only advertisement I seen for them was by the airport, not gonna drum up alot of business in a new market when you don't market your airline enough. Also with UA running 3 mainline flights and 2 CRJ's everyday, they had a way better schedule and the Star Alliance connection with AC, perhaps if F9 and WS hook up at some point in the future we might see this airline return, but that seems doubtful at best.

[Bokimon]

They are not much of a presence anyways, most of the times they are flown via Skywest CRJ's so rarely it the animal tails are sighted here.
But still sad to see an airline pull out.

[Bigtime]

They are not much of a presence anyways, most of the times they are flown via Skywest CRJ's so rarely it the animal tails are sighted here.
But still sad to see an airline pull out.

I'll have to disagree with you here Bo, as from work almost daily I saw their CRJ fly in with the full Frontier livery applied to the plane. Albeit it loses some of the full effect being on a smaller plane like that, especially with the smaller tail.

So on the topic of the eventual parallel runway ops, do you think that ATC will favour more crosswinds to utilize both 34/16's instead of having to throw runway 28/10 into the mix?

[freeweed]

Guys, I heard through the grapevine that Peace Air has gone under. They're partially blaming this on the new requirement to fly through YEG, which is a complete non-surprise. Those flights became a nightmare once they couldn't fly through the city centre.

Does Peace River have ANY regular air service now? That's gotta suck for an up-and-coming Alberta region. :(

[mersar]

Yep, they officially closed down after 40 years on the weekend. Cited slowdown in the oilsands as the main reason, along with increased cost of operating.

Peace Air grounded after 40 years (CBC) (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2007/05/21/peace-air.html)

[Bigtime]

HAHAHAHA! I love the excuses Peace Air is coming up with!

Switching to YEG was not a factor, trying to compete with AC and WJ on the YYC-YEG run was one. Not to mention the very shady history of the owners as well. Go check out some facts over at avcanada.ca forums.

I hope all the good employees find work soon, as for the others...well they get what they deserve!

[Coldrsx]

^bingo...many forumers have used PA vs. WJ and WJ is cheaper and better equipment.

the municipal airport in Edmonton argument is ridiculous....Central Mountain air switched to the international and is doing just fine.

[tuffyy]

CMA plans to pick up the flights to Peace river and will also pick up some of the slack in YQU.The airline already serves High level,and a few other former peaceair points.EAA I dont think should be blamed,flying jetstreams against 737's and Dash-8's is a bad idea unless you have one hell of a product.

[freeweed]

the municipal airport in Edmonton argument is ridiculous....Central Mountain air switched to the international and is doing just fine.

Be that as it may, the switch made a flight to the Peace a very large pain in the rear. Having to walk all the way through YEG twice (because they stuck PA at the very furthest gate possible), just to go through security, to get back on a plane that you boarded without a security check in the first place...

There's never been a more fitting time for this emoticon: :koko:

[Policy Wonk]

They are not much of a presence anyways, most of the times they are flown via Skywest CRJ's so rarely it the animal tails are sighted here.
But still sad to see an airline pull out.

Frontier in Calgary is opperated by Horizon CR7's - I don't know anything about Frontier pulling out, but Republic will be taking over from Horizon in a few weeks opperating the Embraer 175.

[tuffyy]

^Yep the 175's take over for a few months then in Sept the route vanishes with F9,I put a call into the res office and they said it will infact be discontinued after that.