Realitychex wrote:
The Northern carriers have had well over a decade to prepare for Westjet's arrival into the YZF, and, I would imagine, YXY.
They've taken no steps at all to get the appropriate equipment to be able to be cost competitive with WJA on north - south routes.
There are lots of 737NG's available had they had the foresight to acquire them. There's no need for gravel kits in Whitehorse or Yellowknife.
You "Westjeters" are really starting show very inflated egos... you think that airlines should be thinking about you 10 years ago and how they are going to face your greatness when you decide to cherry pick new routes in markets with a completely different operating structure? Now I am starting to believe you guys are drinking that kool-aid.
7F and 5T are private companies with a mandate by their northern "owners" to supply an air service that not only moves people but freight to communities in the arctic. They run combi's because of the volume and size of freight that goes north. They don't buy NGs to run between EG and ZF because they need fleet commonality, something you should understand. They keep gravel equipped machines for redundancy. You are only thinking about the easy EG-ZF run and have no understanding about what these airlines are about or who they serve. You will find out about the volume of passengers that go between EG and ZF this summer... don't expect to fill your NGs.
Maybe once you give them the knockout punch you will look into combi NGs to help those further north who need the freight support that 7F and 5T have been providing. Maybe you will start sponsoring hockey tournaments and other athletics for the people of the north. You see 5T and 7F are more than just "airlines" they are providers of needed funding and sponsors to many different groups and events across the arctic... will you care when that funding is pulled in order to compete with $100 fares between EG and ZF?
Again.. these decisions to now, *cough* economic downturn *cough*, start to bully other airlines who have completely different operations, seem like moves of desperation.
BTW... was on a WJ flight to YWG earlier this week... 2 hours late(aircraft swap)... we sat in the plane on the gate for an hour and a half waiting for more "guests" to show up after being rushed to board. No water service was offered in the time we sat there. If it matters, I have been on 5T with a delay on at the gate and they did water and snack service while we sat there followed by a complimentary alcoholic drink not including the already complimentary wine once we were enroute... it's called customer service and yes, it does cost money.
"7 dollars for a pillow and blanket"... I remember being in disbelief when Air Canada started charging for blankets and pillows... another sign of the economic times for WJ?
So Air North will be the next airline you decide to punch in the gut because you are so compassionate about the plight of the Whitehorse residents? Let me guess... a seasonal run to cherry pick the tourists?