GGN YYZ 1900 to Cease Operation

[skytrucker]

Word in the sky via internal memos and top sources is GGN will cease it's 1900 operation in YYZ. Routes replaced by Jazz. Armchair critics from the North End might position this as a good thing, but others might
say that promises of expansion on the jets are to thwart the strike votes that are already in process.

[C-GOYR]

I have no knowledge of the above and it might just simply be a coincidence that they cancelled the 1900 ground school that was supposed to start this month. If it's true, I wish them well and hope things work out for the guys and gals there.

best of luck.

[ggn]

Thank you for posting. After serving the Toronto market for 22 consecutive years and over a million flight hours our Beechcraft will be retiring from this market. Our focus in Toronto turns to growing our jet operation starting with the addition of one additional CRJ tentatively scheduled to enter our fleet later in 2018. The decision to retire the Beech in Toronto is consistent with the decision Air Canada made to retire the Dash 8 100 in other Express markets as the regional network matures and focuses on larger gauge lift.

The Beech YYZ retirement does not result in any loss of jobs as we prepare to expand. All current Beech pilots in Toronto will either transition to Air Canada, the CRJ or our Beech fleet in YYC.

[PRM1]

Uncle loves you...

[Lightchop]

Thank you for posting. After serving the Toronto market for 22 consecutive years and over a million flight hours our Beechcraft will be retiring from this market. Our focus in Toronto turns to growing our jet operation starting with the addition of one additional CRJ tentatively scheduled to enter our fleet later in 2018. The decision to retire the Beech in Toronto is consistent with the decision Air Canada made to retire the Dash 8 100 in other Express markets as the regional network matures and focuses on larger gauge lift.

The Beech YYZ retirement does not result in any loss of jobs as we prepare to expand. All current Beech pilots in Toronto will either transition to Air Canada, the CRJ or our Beech fleet in YYC.

Transition to Air Canada? Right.

[iflyroads]

Thank you for posting. After serving the Toronto market for 22 consecutive years and over a million flight hours our Beechcraft will be retiring from this market. Our focus in Toronto turns to growing our jet operation starting with the addition of one additional CRJ tentatively scheduled to enter our fleet later in 2018. The decision to retire the Beech in Toronto is consistent with the decision Air Canada made to retire the Dash 8 100 in other Express markets as the regional network matures and focuses on larger gauge lift.

The Beech YYZ retirement does not result in any loss of jobs as we prepare to expand. All current Beech pilots in Toronto will either transition to Air Canada, the CRJ or our Beech fleet in YYC.

Transition to Air Canada? Right.

Not so hard to believe. In the past year or so there has been about 10-20 in the PIT courses coming right from a 1900. Majority from Georgian, few from EVAS and some from other operators of the plane.

Wish the crews there best of luck, hope this works out for them.

[Cavalier44]

Thank you for posting. After serving the Toronto market for 22 consecutive years and over a million flight hours our Beechcraft will be retiring from this market. Our focus in Toronto turns to growing our jet operation starting with the addition of one additional CRJ tentatively scheduled to enter our fleet later in 2018. The decision to retire the Beech in Toronto is consistent with the decision Air Canada made to retire the Dash 8 100 in other Express markets as the regional network matures and focuses on larger gauge lift.

The Beech YYZ retirement does not result in any loss of jobs as we prepare to expand. All current Beech pilots in Toronto will either transition to Air Canada, the CRJ or our Beech fleet in YYC.

Transition to Air Canada? Right.

Not so hard to believe. In the past year or so there has been about 10-20 in the PIT courses coming right from a 1900. Majority from Georgian, few from EVAS and some from other operators of the plane.

Wish the crews there best of luck, hope this works out for them.

Perhaps if they were already in the Air Canada hiring process and they were offered jobs prior to this announcement being made, then yes it would be accurate to say that some GGN Beech 1900 pilots are going to Air Canada. However this is not a simple “transition”, and as such it is disingenuous for GGN to come online and make such a claim. They would’ve had to apply through the AC Express portal and successfully go through the interview process just like everyone else.

I’m sure that those Beech 1900 pilots who don’t currently have a standing offer of employment with Air Canada aren’t going to get a “transfer” to Air Canada just because their jobs will soon no longer exist - either they’ll transition onto the CRJ if they have the seniority to do so, or they’ll end up being given the option to go to YYC and continue flying the B1900.

[AvifiskAlly]

Transition to Air Canada? Right.

Not so hard to believe. In the past year or so there has been about 10-20 in the PIT courses coming right from a 1900. Majority from Georgian, few from EVAS and some from other operators of the plane.

Wish the crews there best of luck, hope this works out for them.

Perhaps if they were already in the Air Canada hiring process and they were offered jobs prior to this announcement being made, then yes it would be accurate to say that some GGN Beech 1900 pilots are going to Air Canada. However this is not a simple “transition”, and as such it is disingenuous for GGN to come online and make such a claim. They would’ve had to apply through the AC Express portal and successfully go through the interview process just like everyone else.

I’m sure that those Beech 1900 pilots who don’t currently have a standing offer of employment with Air Canada aren’t going to get a “transfer” to Air Canada just because their jobs will soon no longer exist - either they’ll transition onto the CRJ if they have the seniority to do so, or they’ll end up being given the option to go to YYC and continue flying the B1900.

I think it is the cadets that are "transitioning" to AC sooner than scheduled

[LegoMan]

So I take it minimums for hire now will be the 1500 TT?

[pianokeys]

All those YYZ 1900 guys probably have woodies right now.

All those YHZ 1900 guys at EVAS are probably very, very sad.

[toelessjoe]

Didn't they post an ad looking for both jet and 1900 pilots literally the same day as this post? (Which they acknowledged and responded to.)

Toeless.

[HansDietrich]

From a sentimental point of view, the B1900 is an amazing aircraft. It has been part of YYZ for many years. I've flown one before and I loved it. It's not however an airplane that needs to be tied to Air Canada's network. It's more suited with 704 operators. That itself is a cool thing to reflect on.

[yycinformer]

So about another year before the YYC 1900s get the axe then?

[HansDietrich]

What routes does GGN fly out of YYZ, on the 1900s? Will Jazz get those routes then?

[altiplano]

It's not "transition", it's called attrition.

[Rowdy]

What routes does GGN fly out of YYZ, on the 1900s? Will Jazz get those routes then?

Thats what its looking like from the bid pacs. I've also noticed the addition of CYXC overnights and the associated flying coming up out west.

Just speculation, but I'm thinking the pressure from WJ link is being felt and the YYC 1900 base will be next to disappear as that flying transitions to something with more than 34 seats, a potty and an FA to compete.

[fish4life]

What routes does GGN fly out of YYZ, on the 1900s? Will Jazz get those routes then?

Thats what its looking like from the bid pacs. I've also noticed the addition of CYXC overnights and the associated flying coming up out west.

Just speculation, but I'm thinking the pressure from WJ link is being felt and the YYC 1900 base will be next to disappear as that flying transitions to something with more than 34 seats, a potty and an FA to compete.

I think another factor is the decreasing experience levels and probably some concern about the ability to staff 1900 operations. If people keep having flights cancelled or there is a crash when people are on an Air Canada ticket it’s probably not worth the risk for at the most 19 seats of revenue.

[Phlyer]

Agreed. The 1900 must be very long in the tooth also. They were pushing 25,000 hours when I was there a decade ago.

[Rowdy]

What routes does GGN fly out of YYZ, on the 1900s? Will Jazz get those routes then?

Thats what its looking like from the bid pacs. I've also noticed the addition of CYXC overnights and the associated flying coming up out west.

Just speculation, but I'm thinking the pressure from WJ link is being felt and the YYC 1900 base will be next to disappear as that flying transitions to something with more than 34 seats, a potty and an FA to compete.

I think another factor is the decreasing experience levels and probably some concern about the ability to staff 1900 operations. If people keep having flights cancelled or there is a crash when people are on an Air Canada ticket it’s probably not worth the risk for at the most 19 seats of revenue.

Well they did remove all the AC express branding from them a while back now..

[rudder]

AC has intended to phase out the 19 seat/no FA product for a while. It wasn’t going to happen overnight. It will happen in phases. That is mostly a brand/marketing choice (witness the earlier removal of AC paint from the Express 1900’s).

On a more macro level, upguaging/reduced frequency is inevitable. Pilot supply is dwindling. Is it smarter to use a pilot unit of work (a flight hour) to move 19 passengers at 230 kits or 50 passengers at 400kts? If your revenue potential is based on available ASM’s the answer is obvious. This trend will continue and manifest upwards with old Express Dash’s replaced by Q400’s and with Express 76 seat jets replaced by A220’s on some routes. This is already well underway in the US industry and with a few local exceptions, the Canadian marketplace is no different.

On a local note, it is no coincidence that as unionization manifests itself and labour cost increases are inevitable that an operator starts to exit the smallest gauge equipment. This also frees up GGN pilots to migrate to preserve the staffing supply on the CRJ. This may also be a precursor to the anticipated transfer of up to 10 CRJ’s (and routes) from Jazz to GGN in the 2019/2020 timeframe.