8069 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

[Mike K.]

This is crazy. Could you imagine, if this technology can do away with 5G and all of the nonsense that comes with it?

[lanforod]

What nonsense?

 

Also, don't count on it. They are quite different in architecture and I don't see direct phone to satellite 'wifi' (its not actually Wifi, it runs on LTE bandwidth) replacing 5G anytime soon.

 

The planes will have a local wifi network that connects to the satellites - I'm not sure what that connection would be, could be LTE as well, but probably something faster.

 

Read: https://api.starlink...TEXT_UPDATE.pdf

[Missed Approach]

VAA just popped out some surprising stats for Aug 2024 via Face-Book post. 

Not since 2018 has YYJ seen over 200K passengers in a month.

For July and Aug, YYJ has beaten YLW ( Kelowna ) by over 20K passengers each month, but may still come out behind YLW at the end of the year anyways. 

[Victoria Watcher]

Trudeau says up to Air Canada and pilots to reach a deal as deadline approaches

 

As the deadline approaches on a potential shutdown of Canada's largest airline, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it's up to Air Canada and the union to reach a deal to avoid disrupting travellers and businesses.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...roaches-9515457

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 September 2024 - 02:41 AM.

[Mike K.]

Air Canada strike averted.

[Victoria Watcher]

Air Canada strike averted.

 

https://www.cbc.ca/n...ilots-1.7323676

[Victoria Watcher]

Quite a few online suggesting the pilots will not ratify the agreement.

[Matt R.]

Air Canada strike averted.

For now. Let’s see what the vote is.

[Mike K.]

They wanted 45%, and will get 42%.

If they vote this down, the feds will step in, surely.

[Victoria Watcher]

Politics, public opinion and salary hikes south of the border helped push Air Canada toward a deal that secures major pay gains for pilots, experts say.

 

Hammered out over the weekend, the would-be agreement includes a cumulative wage hike of nearly 42 per cent over four years — an enormous bump by historical standards — according to one source who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The previous 10-year contract granted increases of just two per cent annually.

 

The federal government’s stated unwillingness to step in paved the way for a deal, noted John Gradek, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made it plain the two sides should hash one out themselves.

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...pilots-1215001/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 September 2024 - 08:22 PM.

[Mike K.]

Hmmm.

The railroads didn’t stand a chance. But the airline wasn’t pressured back by the Feds. Is there an election strategy there?

Also, AC is Quebec-based.

[vortoozo]

Air Canada was issuing press releases calling on the government to step in ahead of a strike, citing precedent from Westjet and the railways. However, none of the precedent of previous intervention happened before a strike/lockout started. No way the government would say, sure, we'll do that and support you over the workers ahead of a strike. IMO AC misplayed their hand because their ask was turned down publicly by Trudeau so they were forced to settle rather than rely on intervention. I believe the government also still has a small stake in AC from the covid release measures so any government intervention would have been seen as a conflict of interest. Even still, it's not a slam dunk that the pilots will vote yes. However, I don't think binding arbitration will get them any further. What arbitrator is going to look at a 46% increase in labour cost and say, nah, that's too low?

[Missed Approach]

SunWing and WestJet will be busy this winter  

 

Note routes marked with * below represents this route is also operated by WestJet.

 

 

https://www.aerorout...g/240917-wgnw24

[Missed Approach]

With the wind down of WestJet Link operated by Pacific Coastal, the fleet of Saab 340's shift back to their YVR base for PCA network support. 

YYJ gets two routes upgraded from Beech 1900 service to the larger Saab 340 

YXS will be 7 days a week this winter. I was expecting PCA to operate to YLW more with WJA Encore cutting back daily flights to only a few days a week. 

 

https://www.pacificc...dule-2024-2025/

[Victoria Watcher]

Low pay for junior Air Canada pilots poses possible hurdle to proposed deal

 

 

On the assumption that pilots work roughly 75 hours per month — a common baseline in the industry — newer recruits currently earn between $55,000 and $77,000 per year. Under the would-be agreement, that range would rise to between $75,700 and $134,000 versus nearly $187,000 in year five, and more than $367,000 for an experienced captain flying a Boeing 777.

 

____________________

 

Despite the pay disparity between flight crews at Air Canada, the deal would still see a new hire earn $87.48 per hour — more than first officers currently make in their fifth year — according to the contract summary.

 

____________________

 

He also noted the 42 per cent pay hike marks a large step up from what WestJet pilots notched last year, when they secured a 24 per cent wage bump over four years.

South of the border, pilots at Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines in 2023 reached agreements that included four-year pay boosts ranging from 34 per cent to 40 per cent.

 

 

https://www.timescol...ed-deal-9537618

[vortoozo]

Harbour Air has been teasing something upcoming on social media.

My guess is they will start land-based service.

[Victoria Watcher]

Indeed. They are emphasizing both ROLLING and DARK.

[vortoozo]

https://harbourair.com/wheels/

 

 

We're "wheelie" excited to announce

our new WHEELED flight service!

 

Vancouver International Airport’s (YVR) South Terminal and

YYJ Victoria International Airport

 

Flights starting November 4, 2024

 

2-3 roundtrip flights/day using twin otter aircraft.

 

It also looks like the Pat Bay - downtown route might be gone. Don't know if that ever actually got started.

[Victoria Watcher]

Isn’t that something.