7636 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Air Canada has already quit the route.

Maybe Westjet is next.

[vortoozo]

Air Canada has already quit the route.

Maybe Westjet is next.

 

AC ended the route because there they closed the Jazz regional base in Calgary. It was a blessing for them as there's no sense in competing when competitors are dumping seats well below cost. 

 

Westjet won't quit the route. They need to feed their Calgary hub.

[Victoria Watcher]

Perfect. That’s why the AC trip with one stop is $300 to $500 but the WJ cost can be under $90.

WJ would be $300 or more if not for the stiff competition.

[Mike K.]

Westjet can still feed Calgary through Vancouver, like Air Canada does now.

[Sparky]

Westjet may not be feeding anyone soon.

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6797805

[vortoozo]

Westjet can still feed Calgary through Vancouver, like Air Canada does now.

 

For Westjet it's not about feeding Calgary, it's about feeding what's beyond.

Just like AC has been deemphasizing Calgary as a hub, Vancouver is getting less important to Westjet. They have way more destinations/frequency accessible from Calgary. If you want to fly to Penticton, Cranbrook, even Kamloops these days on Westjet from Victoria, chances are you're connecting through Calgary, not Vancouver. All international long-haul flying has also been concentrated in Calgary.

[Mike K.]

But first they have to feed Calgary to feed what’s beyond.

Flair and Lynx are making it very difficult for Westjet to do that.

[vortoozo]

Westjet will be fine.

One or both of the other two, likely not, if they don't smarten up.

[spanky123]

For Westjet it's not about feeding Calgary, it's about feeding what's beyond.

Just like AC has been deemphasizing Calgary as a hub, Vancouver is getting less important to Westjet.

 

Very true. Looking looking at some sun destinations this fall and most Westjet flights now route out of Calgary.  You can still get some connections out of Vancouver, but you risk a very long delay if you miss your connection or the Vancouver flight is cancelled.

[Mike K.]

That might explain why Westjet has fallen out of favour for vacation travel out of YVR, and why A/C is focusing so heavily on Vancouver and putting less energy into Calgary.

In return, Westjet is focusing more on Toronto and Montreal. I wouldn’t be surprised if Westjet drops its name in a decade, or moves operations to Ontario.

[vortoozo]

That might explain why Westjet has fallen out of favour for vacation travel out of YVR, and why A/C is focusing so heavily on Vancouver and putting less energy into Calgary.

In return, Westjet is focusing more on Toronto and Montreal. I wouldn’t be surprised if Westjet drops its name in a decade, or moves operations to Ontario.

 

They've cut back significantly in Toronto & Montreal, too.

Their focus is Calgary.

[Mike K.]

In the vacation market? I see destinations from Toronto that aren't offered from Calgary.

[vortoozo]

In the vacation market? I see destinations from Toronto that aren't offered from Calgary.

 

There are still a few destinations from YYZ, but the operation is a lot smaller than it used to be.

 

 

WestJet is in the midst of reinvention and—in some cases—retrenchment as the recovery kicks in, WestJet director of commercial strategy Frank Satusky told Routes World 2023 in Las Vegas.

 

.... 

 

After making a run at Air Canada in the east, Satusky said WestJet elected to downsize its high cost and operationally plagued former hub at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and “own the west”—returning to its Western Canadian roots and routes. This means eschewing unprofitable flying in the eastern provinces, and refocusing on its home and most profitable hub, Calgary, along with Edmonton and Vancouver strongholds.

 

WestJet Refocuses On Calgary Hub, Adds Terrace Route | Routes (routesonline.com)

 

Note that they consider Calgary as their only their hub. Vancouver / Edmonton / Toronto are considered focus cities. They're no longer intended to absorb much connecting traffic.

 

 

The Alberta government and WestJet announced on Wednesday that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that promises to make Calgary and Alberta a hub for the aviation industry. 

 

As part of the agreement, the government committed around $73 million over a number of years toward the aviation and tourism industries in Alberta.

 

WestJet also said they will designate the Calgary airport as its only connecting hub within its network.

WestJet says it will make Calgary its global hub in announcing pact with province | CBC News

Edited by vortoozo, 03 April 2023 - 09:36 PM.

[Mike K.]

Yeah, weird. I guess the hedge fund has its own ideas.

Jetlines has pulled out of Calgary now.

[Victoria Watcher]

Exciting times for cheap air travel.

[spanky123]

Exciting times for cheap air travel.

 

It is cheap travel as long as you don't have ANY luggage aside from a purse or small backpack, your travel times are flexible and you have no connecting flights. 

[Victoria Watcher]

Exciting times for cheap baggageless air travel on flexible schedules.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 April 2023 - 07:41 AM.

[vortoozo]

Yeah, weird. I guess the hedge fund has its own ideas.

Jetlines has pulled out of Calgary now.

 

Vancouver, too.

[Mike K.]

Wowzers. Aren’t they based out of YVR?

[Victoria Watcher]

Canada Jetlines has pressed pause on its domestic routes as the upstart airline refocuses its efforts on sun destinations and leasing its planes, but says it plans to resume in-country flights come fall.

The carrier quietly halted its twice-weekly return trips between Toronto and Vancouver and Toronto and Calgary in January after launching commercial operations in September.

Canada Jetlines continues to offer two return flights per week from Toronto’s Pearson airport to Las Vegas and to Cancun, Mexico.

Chief operating officer Duncan Bureau says the company’s two Airbus A220 jetliners work both of those routes as well as a so-called wet lease, where the lessor furnishes the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance for another airline.

https://lethbridgehe...me-in-the-fall/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 April 2023 - 02:13 PM.