7636 replies to this topic

[Jackerbie]

The BIG little airline on the coast is going thru some changes. Noticed nearly doubling of their flights out of YYJ this christmas season to PG/Kelowna and YVR.

 

They have added a handful more aircraft ( B1900D )

 

Something is brewing with this many people being brought on board for this Smith family run company.

 

 

https://canadianavia...executive-team/

 

Pacific Coastal has an arrangement with Westjet to operate feeder flights, and I remember reading somewhere on VV that they received regulatory approval to enter the US market. There was much speculation about what destinations they would serve, but I haven't heard any news since. Stay tuned, I guess!

[Missed Approach]

Pacific Coastal has an arrangement with Westjet to operate feeder flights, and I remember reading somewhere on VV that they received regulatory approval to enter the US market. There was much speculation about what destinations they would serve, but I haven't heard any news since. Stay tuned, I guess!

Well aware of the WestJet Link, pulling 4 Saab 340B aircraft from the west coast fleet to cover the new YYC base. They have picked up 3 more 1900D aircraft for coast operations and still contracting out Alkan Air often for sked and charter work. The hiring of some heavy exec hitters is interesting from the tightly controlled Smith family company.

[LJ]

The problem will be getting pilots.

[thundergun]

Pacific Coastal has an arrangement with Westjet to operate feeder flights, 

 

This is good news. There have been too few YYJ<>YVR flights on WJ, making it difficult to use that airline unless there's a good connection in YYC.

[Missed Approach]

This is good news. There have been too few YYJ<>YVR flights on WJ, making it difficult to use that airline unless there's a good connection in YYC.

Pacific coastal airlines is under contract to WJA to operate WestJet Link base in YYC to places like Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Cranbrook, PG Lloydminster and Vancouver via Cranbrook.

 

Not operating anything for WJA on the YYJ-YVR routing for them.

 

PCA still operates stand alone on the coast based out of the South Terminal at YVR.  

[todd]

What does it say when we have six nonstop flights to Mexican destinations and only one nonstop flight to the United States?

[shoeflack]

What does it say when we have six nonstop flights to Mexican destinations and only one nonstop flight to the United States?

 

That Victorians love authentic Mexican food? I thought we already knew that from the number of taco places downtown...

[Mike K.]

We’ve lost flights to Hawaii, Vegas, Phoenix and San Fran. Sun destinations just don’t last outside of Mexico.

[Victoria Watcher]

We’ve lost flights to Hawaii, Vegas, Phoenix and San Fran. Sun destinations just don’t last outside of Mexico.

 

because taxes and fees and regulations make those places too expensive.  nobody has ever had a bad time in mexico.   

[Mike K.]

The US dollar being so expensive probably plays into this, you’re right.

[shoeflack]

Part of the issue also is gate demand at American airports. Airport would much rather a twin aisle jet from Europe than a 737 or smaller from Victoria. Mexican airports are also very friendly to Canadian airlines...particularly ones like Sunwing who even go as far as to contract Mexican airlines like VivaAerobus to run some of their flights.

[Missed Approach]

The US dollar being so expensive probably plays into this, you’re right.

 

But yah gotta ask yourself, Kelowna, Abbotsford still have LAS and PHX service, heck towns on the parries still have US destinations like MSP via Delta ……. YYJ got - - - - SEA 4 times daily at least. 

 

Someone is still going to play in the sun or be entertained and gamble that USD away

Edited by Missed Approach, 03 January 2020 - 06:49 PM.

[Mike K.]

Hmmm, yeah that’s a good point.

So what gives?

[shoeflack]

MSP is essentially the Seattle equivalent for the prairies, so no surprise that places like Saskatoon and Winnipeg get that as a destination.

As for Abbotsford, that’s all Swoop and it’s model of using secondary airports like YXX and Hamilton instead of Vancouver or Toronto.

Kelowna is a bit more complicated, but there is a far heavier snowbird population in the Okanagan to sustain the WS Phoenix route. Other than that, it’s just Swoop to Vegas and Swoop was an early arrival at YLW in part to kill NewLeaf/Flair at that airport, but also WestJet is very friendly with YLW (both with the airport authority and Kelowna Flightcraft).

[Mike K.]

It just baffles me that a 400,000 person catchment area for YYJ is so poorly serviced.

[shoeflack]

The airport authority here desperately needs some fresh blood, that’s for sure.

[Victoria Watcher]

It just baffles me that a 400,000 person catchment area for YYJ is so poorly serviced.

 

who is in charge of pushing the airport to be better?  a lot of complacency at the board level due to a thinking that we are the only airport and thus there is no alternative - even though those stare us in the face (vancouver seattle and bellingham).

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 January 2020 - 07:26 PM.

[shoeflack]

You look at places like Nanaimo, Abbotsford, Kelowna...even Kamloops...and what you see are CEOs who are pushing for growth. That’s not happening at YYJ. Would have loved to see Mike Hooper from YCD take a stab at running the airport here, but unfortunately he’s now retiring altogether.

YYJ would almost be better served if management was taken over by Vantage.

[Victoria Watcher]

You look at places like Nanaimo, Abbotsford, Kelowna...even Kamloops...and what you see are CEOs who are pushing for growth. That’s not happening at YYJ. Would have loved to see Mike Hooper from YCD take a stab at running the airport here, but unfortunately he’s now retiring altogether.

YYJ would almost be better served if management was taken over by Vantage.

 

agreed.

[Mike K.]

YYJ's CEO says the airport authority has a growth strategy but their hands are tied. When we discussed the airport promoting itself, the CEO said there is little appetite for self-promotion.

 

I think YYJ could play a much, much larger role in our collective consciousness. Why not support a few events in town, or a high-profile public space?