Jazz announces service to Nunavut

[Cold and Dark]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/20 ... anada.html

[onspeed]

How long before WJ is on this run as well?

[magyar]

hmm. I wonder how this will affect the other nortern operators such as first air and candian north air inuit...etc

also how/why did they decide to just now start flying up there did they need to get rights, or is it free for all

[ettw]

I'm a little surprised that Jazz would do this. I think we were expecting AC and WJ. Now it's just a matter of time I'm sure.

As to how it will affect the other northern airlines, time will tell. This aspect of this news release has been flogged on the other thread regarding YZF service.

Cheers,

ETTW

[Four1oh]

Where's FICU and his outrage?

[whiteguy]

Where's FICU and his outrage?

Lets see....one way fare on AC Jazz to YFB $659. Not really the same as WJ going into YZF at $75 one way!!!

[Four1oh]

Where's FICU and his outrage?

Lets see....one way fare on AC Jazz to YFB $659. Not really the same as WJ going into YZF at $75 one way!!!

And? AC is driving down the cost of a ticket, doesn't that make them the bad guy here? So let me get this straight, it's ok for AC to offer a lower fare that still keeps them profitable, regardless of the northern carrier's break even price, but when WJ does it, they're evil?

[The Raven]

I e-mailed my friend who travels north every second year to do some trekking across the Arctic. Here was his response:


Excellent.

I look back at my flying to the north with First Air. $3,200 to Resolute (return), $1,800 to Pangnirtung (return). On all 3 trips to the north First Air either lost something or never delivered. On our way to Ellesmere all of our camping gear (sent via Air Cargo over a month before) did not arrive.

This should be good for Air Canada. I must admit the meals were excellent on First Air but you sure are paying for it!

[Donald]

So the current northern airline seat sale airfare is $699/one way.

Jazz arrives and offers an intro of $659/one way.

A drop of less than 10% on the fare, and a fare that should allow profitability even while selling more than a few seats at that rate.

How does this compare to WJ and their current promotions?

YQT-Punta Cana for $29

YEG-PSP/LAX/Cabo San Lucas for $69

London, ON to Orlando for $49

YWG to Mazatlan for $49

Are you sure that M. Leblanc is not running the show at WJ?

[CanadianEh]

It seems like there's too much capacity as it is on the Ottawa-Iqaluit route. First Air and Canadian North and now Jazz? We'll see how it goes!

[FICU]

Where's FICU and his outrage?

I'm touched that you keep me in your thoughts 41oh.

[whiteguy]

Where's FICU and his outrage?

Lets see....one way fare on AC Jazz to YFB $659. Not really the same as WJ going into YZF at $75 one way!!!

And? AC is driving down the cost of a ticket, doesn't that make them the bad guy here? So let me get this straight, it's ok for AC to offer a lower fare that still keeps them profitable, regardless of the northern carrier's break even price, but when WJ does it, they're evil?

You said it yourself. "its ok for AC to offer a lower fare that still keeps them profitable". If AC was doing this to WJ they'd be on the competition bureau hot line!

[the original tony]

Either the hotline, or announce their own service starting Mar 27 '10
10 mins earlier than AC and $1 cheaper, but you have to do your research for that, if you know what i mean.............

Tony

[WetJet]

At least with the 705 there should be room for the extra bags and gear that people will undoubtedly bring...

[ettw]

I e-mailed my friend who travels north every second year to do some trekking across the Arctic. Here was his response:


Excellent.

I look back at my flying to the north with First Air. $3,200 to Resolute (return), $1,800 to Pangnirtung (return). On all 3 trips to the north First Air either lost something or never delivered. On our way to Ellesmere all of our camping gear (sent via Air Cargo over a month before) did not arrive.

This should be good for Air Canada. I must admit the meals were excellent on First Air but you sure are paying for it!

Here's the thing. Your friend might well get a better price with JAZZ to YFB but I have no idea how his bags are gonna get there in the back of a 705. I'd love to be a fly on the ceiling at YUL and YOW AC ticket counter when Joe Pudloo and the rest of the North shows up with his 2 FULL hockey bags and 2 55 pound action packers to got to YFB in a CRJ705.

To boot, JAZZ ain't gonna north from YFB so they don't have the infrastructure to put the polish on your friends trip. We have the infrastructure, experience, and equipment to do the job that JAZZ and WJ don't feel the need to do. I'm sorry to say but YRB is an expensive place to operate out of as are all of the communites up there, hence the dramatic ticket prices.

But as I said above, this topic has been beaten to death in the YZF thread. Time will tell.

Cheers,

ETTW

PS I'm sorry your friends trips were fouled up because of missing baggage. That's a rotten deal.

[rigpiggy]

Just wait till it hit's -41 haw haw

[The Raven]

I e-mailed my friend who travels north every second year to do some trekking across the Arctic. Here was his response:


Excellent.

I look back at my flying to the north with First Air. $3,200 to Resolute (return), $1,800 to Pangnirtung (return). On all 3 trips to the north First Air either lost something or never delivered. On our way to Ellesmere all of our camping gear (sent via Air Cargo over a month before) did not arrive.

This should be good for Air Canada. I must admit the meals were excellent on First Air but you sure are paying for it!

Here's the thing. Your friend might well get a better price with JAZZ to YFB but I have no idea how his bags are gonna get there in the back of a 705. I'd love to be a fly on the ceiling at YUL and YOW AC ticket counter when Joe Pudloo and the rest of the North shows up with his 2 FULL hockey bags and 2 55 pound action packers to got to YFB in a CRJ705.

To boot, JAZZ ain't gonna north from YFB so they don't have the infrastructure to put the polish on your friends trip. We have the infrastructure, experience, and equipment to do the job that JAZZ and WJ don't feel the need to do. I'm sorry to say but YRB is an expensive place to operate out of as are all of the communites up there, hence the dramatic ticket prices.

But as I said above, this topic has been beaten to death in the YZF thread. Time will tell.

Cheers,

ETTW

PS I'm sorry your friends trips were fouled up because of missing baggage. That's a rotten deal.

Don't be too fast to pat yourself on the back regarding baggage ETTW. As my friend mentioned in his e-mail, on each of the trips he made, First Air either lost some of his luggage or in one case they never delivered it at all.

As a matter of fact, he told me that when he goes on these adventure tours to the Arctic, First Air requires him to send his gear at least a month in advance. They do so, because they can't guarantee which flight it will get on. On his trip to Ellesmere Island, he shipped his gear a month ahead and was told by First Air that it was waiting for him when he gets to YFB. Upon arrival in YFB he finds out from First Air that his gear is still in Ottawa and they can't tell him when it will be shipped north. These high Arctic adventure tours cost him $20,000 each time he goes. It sort of pi$$es him off when he gets to his destination and he finds out First Air can't find the space to ship his equipment when they've had a month to do so.

Anyway, I am sure Jazz will have it's challenges in this environment. But you have to admit, a bit of competition can't hurt.

The Raven

[johnkruk]

ya I guess some competition would be a good thing considering 7F charges almost 2k for a round trip from ottawa to Iqaluit. $2000..are you kidding me!!!!!! one could fly from vancouver to almost anywhere in asia for less than that. unbelievable how others haven't picked up on these routes . its only a 2.5 hour flight , why so much?

[Rotten Apple #1]

Kruk: I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you haven't ventured too far outside of the major cosmopolitan areas of this country in your aviation career/leisure flying. How copy?

[onspeed]

Raven,

That's a bad deal on the baggage. First Air used to have that problem, now with the 767 online the 737 doesn't carry food mail so his bags should be making it north on time. Although as ETTW pointed out, if you thought 7F was bad with baggage ... Just wait till the RJ shows up, would the resolute parka even fit in the overhead bins?

[ettw]

Just wait till it hit's -41 haw haw

Actually it's pretty rare for YFB to dip below -40. We're moderated quite heavilly by the large bodies of water around us.

Raven. I wasn't patting ourselves on the back there. I think you will note my PS. Just a suggestion if your friend was going to travel North again. Make sure he leans on cargo with the waybill #. The squeaky wheel does get the grease.

Cheers,

ETTW

[poke-her player]

I'm a little surprised that Jazz would do this. I think we were expecting AC and WJ.

pist.....JAZZ is actually Air Canada JAZZ, WS won't be far behind

[godsrcrazy]

Does Medve not realize what a fool she looks like with the underlined comments. How does she keep this job her comments when West jet went to Yellowknife were no more intelligent. Who exactly does she think will marshal, handle the baggage and do the check in. Maybe i am missing some thing is Jazz bringing employees up on the plane then taking them south when they leave.

All the years that Canadian North ran into Nunavut (Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet) they were not cherry picking. Yes Canadian North and First air put back into the communities with the money they over charge everyone that flies on them.

By CBC News, cbc.ca, Updated: November 10, 2009 7:36 PM
Air Canada accused of flooding Nunavut market

Two of Canada's major northern airlines say Air Canada's expansion into Nunavut will overload the territory's airline market.

Air Canada Jazz announced Monday it will introduce daily flights between Iqaluit, Ottawa and Montreal starting March 28.

The national carrier has already begun selling tickets on its website. One-way flights start at an introductory price of $659 before taxes and surcharges.

Iqaluit becomes the last Canadian capital city to be serviced by Air Canada, which already flies to the other territorial capitals of Yellowknife and Whitehorse.

"It gives us the opportunity to link Canada's eastern Arctic into our vast network," Air Canada spokeswoman Angela Mah told CBC News on Monday.

Excess capacity

But officials with First Air and Canadian North say Air Canada's arrival into Nunavut airspace will hurt their financial situation, which could affect their service.

"This would obviously represent an excess of capacity on the marketplace," said Chris Ferris, a spokesman for Kanata, Ont.-based First Air.

Both Canadian North and First Air have since posted limited-time sale fares between Iqaluit and Ottawa.

Canadian North introduced a $659 price, while First Air posted a sale price of $599. Both fares do not include taxes and surcharges.

First Air and Canadian North already offer flights between Ottawa and Iqaluit. Both airlines also fly between the territorial capital cities and small remote communities across the North.

Both airlines are also aboriginal-owned:

- First Air by Makivik Corp., the organization that represents Inuit land-claim beneficiaries in northern Quebec.

- Canadian North by NorTerra Inc., a company co-owned by the Inuvialuit Development Corp. and Nunasi Corp., which represent the Inuvialuit of the Western Arctic and the Inuit of Nunavut, respectively.

Ferris said he was surprised to see Air Canada Jazz moving into a small city like Iqaluit, especialy during tough economic times.

Canadian North president Tracy Medve, whose Yellowknife-based airline flies to communities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, accused Air Canada of selecting only the most profitable routes, which would still not benefit travellers in smaller northern communities.

"Why are they there? Why are they only going to Iqaluit? Because they're cherry picking the best and biggest routes in the two territories," Medve said.

Invest in region

Medve also noted that northern airlines like Canadian North and First Air invest in the region by hiring local workers and giving back to the communities.

"We don't let resource development companies come into the North and leave nothing behind. We require them to employ local people. We require them to, you know, invest in using local companies for goods and services," she said.

"We do all those things. And for some reason, we don't make the airlines do that. Now, why is that?"

In September, Canadian North announced layoffs and service cutbacks in the N.W.T., blaming Air Canada Jazz and WestJet for flooding the airline market in Yellowknife.

Medve said governments in Nunavut and the N.W.T., as well as the federal government and Inuit organizations, should support the northern carriers by travelling on their planes.

Monday's announcement has generated mixed reactions among the public in Iqaluit, with some hoping the increased competition will lower ticket prices, while others arguing that national carriers like Air Canada still don't care about smaller, remote northern communities.

[BingBong]

I'm a little surprised that Jazz would do this. I think we were expecting AC and WJ.

pist.....JAZZ is actually Air Canada JAZZ, WS won't be far behind

Actually Jazz officially is not "Air Canada Jazz"...its Jazz Air LP. Within the company its just Jazz. The reason for the Air Canada Jazz is for the general public. When someone buys a ticket from Winnipeg to Sudbury on Air Canada....and they get to Toronto...for commonality they are still flying on Air Canada. (yes the CPA is alot more complicated then this..but its broken down).

[yycflyguy]

... you don't suppose this will just be spring/summer service to steal some market share and put a little pressure on other airlines? Wait for the service cancellation release in the fall of 2010 and then everyone can complain how Air Canada/Jazz is not serving Canadians.