757 for Hawaii?

[bcflyer]

Little birdie mentioned something about WJ wet leasing a 757 to do YYC and YEG to Hawaii.. Any truth to that one guys?

[Amateur Turbines]

Yes it's true! Thomas Cook will be the wet lease company. I hear it's probably going to be one of the Jazz machines and crew doing it.

[LisaS]

I thought we were wet leasing from Jazz.

[conehead]

He's yanking your chain.

[Bede]

I missed the last townhall regarding some "strategic decisions". Can someone send me a PM or post what Greg was saying about this. My WJPA account doesn't seem to work.

[Glen Quagmire]

WJA wet leasing a 757 from Finland to do 6 weekly flights between YYC/YEG and Hawaii. Will be a 9 week "Trial" starting in Feb to try and compete with AC and it's 767's.

[bcflyer]

Interesting to say the least... How are the line guys taking it? Losing some of their premium flying to another carrier...

[DaveP]

I think very well judging by Monday's town hall.
We aren't losing premium flying. We simply couldn't do it in the first place from Alberta effectively with our machines.
Our 737 fleet will continue to do what it does best while hiring and interviewing continues.
This will test the waters imho.

Dave.

[True North]

Good on you guys DaveP. Says a lot about your pilot group and the relationship you have with your management. Refreshing.

[aviator2010]

I think very well judging by Monday's town hall.
We aren't losing premium flying. We simply couldn't do it in the first place from Alberta effectively with our machines.
Our 737 fleet will continue to do what it does best while hiring and interviewing continues.
This will test the waters imho.

Dave.

no one was pissed that your differing aircraft while wetleasing your flying would a 900er not fit the bill and yet be diverse enough when you drop the route?

[aviator2010]

does that mean your looking at a more diverse fleet like dash 8's on routes that your unable to serve with 737's

[DaveP]

Deferring isn't related to this since the 600/700/800 or 900 for that matter can't do the job effectively.
The 900 was already looked at and in fact the 700 does better at the ranges the 900 does. Trust me it was examined.

Cheers
Dave.

[Frank Castle]

Please let it be "Ed Force One"... Please let it be "Ed Force One"!!!

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Astraeus ... 6522249004

[DanJ]

Not O Force One? LOL

http://www.airliners.net/photo/North-Am ... 1447990/M/

[rudder]

I think very well judging by Monday's town hall.
We aren't losing premium flying. We simply couldn't do it in the first place from Alberta effectively with our machines.
Our 737 fleet will continue to do what it does best while hiring and interviewing continues.
This will test the waters imho.

Dave.

Dave,

I am glad that WJ acknowledges when something is not working, and is willing to think outside the box for solutions. It is obvious that before the dust settles that WJ will eventually be operating more than one equipment type even if only from a single manufacturer.

Having said that, humilty is also an admirable trait. Many suggested that the WJ announcement of service to HNL using existing fleet would not work. And they were right.

[turbo-prop]

Is it a lease until they can get the 787?

[Rotten Apple #1]

Is it a lease until they can get the 787?

An order for the purchase of 787's be a material change in WestJet's business model, and therefore would be announced via a press release. (Unless you're just looking for speculation.)

The TSX's Policy Statement on Timely Disclosure

Examples of developments likely to require prompt disclosure as referred to above include the following:

a) Changes in share ownership that may affect control of the company.
b) Changes in corporate structure, such as reorganizations, amalgamations, etc.
c) Take-over bids or issuer bids.
d) Major corporate acquisitions or dispositions.
e) Changes in capital structure.
f ) Borrowing of a significant amount of funds.
g) Public or private sale of additional securities.
h) Development of new products and developments affecting the company’s resources, technology, products or market.
i) Significant discoveries by resource companies.
j) Entering into or loss of significant contracts.
k) Firm evidence of significant increases or decreases in near-term earnings prospects.
l) Changes in capital investment plans or corporate objectives.
m) Significant changes in management.
n) Significant litigation.
o) Major labour disputes or disputes with major contractors or suppliers.
p) Events of default under financing or other agreements.
q) Any other developments relating to the business and affairs of the company that would reasonably be expected to significantly affect the market price or value of any of the company’s securities or that would reasonably be expected to have a significant influence on a reasonable investor’s investment decisions.

[mikeecho]

I am glad that WJ acknowledges when something is not working, and is willing to think outside the box for solutions. It is obvious that before the dust settles that WJ will eventually be operating more than one equipment type even if only from a single manufacturer.

Having said that, humilty is also an admirable trait. Many suggested that the WJ announcement of service to HNL using existing fleet would not work. And they were right.

I think it's important to clarify in terms of "not working."

While the 737 may not be the ideal aircraft, the Hawaii flying is a profitable part of WestJet operations and the 737 has performed very well on that sector.

This move is simply a strategic decision that will help WS review the performance of an a/c like the 757 on an existing (safe bet) route like AB-Hawaii and use the performance to decide whether a larger a/c type would make sense.

WestJet has a pretty proven track record when things don't work out. Cut the route or close the station.

[whiteguy]

WestJet has a pretty proven track record when things don't work out. Cut the route or close the station.

Which is great to able to do. If AC was to do the same the local MPs would be screaming bloody murder about the cuts!

[mikeecho]

WestJet has a pretty proven track record when things don't work out. Cut the route or close the station.

Which is great to able to do. If AC was to do the same the local MPs would be screaming bloody murder about the cuts!

It didn't (and it certainly shouldn't have) stop them from closing down YXX and YHM?

[biffnaked]

Well, I hope Greg wasn't lying when he said this wasnt the "leading edge of the wedge" or whatever the quote was. I'd hate to see us do this year after year and have it get bigger with more planes and routes wetleased.

If we wanna play with the big boys, we gotta have the big toys (with our guys driving them), or else lets stick to our own sandbox. Hiring other operators to keep up with the joneses isn't ideal, especially if its gonna cause our guys to spend more time in the right seat and slow airplane deliveries (someone said we already deferred 3 planes).

One time deal, okay, but don't expect us to be happy if it's a way to get bigger planes, but not really getting bigger planes, if you know what i mean.

[whiteguy]

WestJet has a pretty proven track record when things don't work out. Cut the route or close the station.

Which is great to able to do. If AC was to do the same the local MPs would be screaming bloody murder about the cuts!

It didn't (and it certainly shouldn't have) stop them from closing down YXX and YHM?

Thats true but look at when they stopped the YYT-LHR route a few years back or the recent cut of the YXE-YOW route.

[WJ700]

The 900 ER doesn't have the CASM... it's the same as a 700 with a capped load. The 700 can make AB-HNL easy and when I did it I found more than enough fuel (landed with over 2.3 hours in the tanks still); it could have gone with an 80% load that day. This comes down to economics and even if the aircraft can do it, it doesn't mean it is making any money. I'm supportive yet nervous to this venture (only because its unorthodox and unheard in any other pilot group, but those groups usually had me laid off from their thinking).

If this works well its an investment in our future as a pilot group and an investment in WestJet. If it doesn't then we didn't spend the entire war chest buying large aircraft and then cutting limbs to save a company. History proves that airlines 'shrinking' back to profitability is a long and painful road for employees and investors.

[skyhigh]

Only gripe I have with this is that we are Wet Leasing in a year in which we are deferring an A/C delivery. I know it sounds short sighted and self-fish but thats how I feel about it.

[mikeecho]

Only gripe I have with this is that we are Wet Leasing in a year in which we are deferring an A/C delivery. I know it sounds short sighted and self-fish but thats how I feel about it.

Wet leasing probably makes the most sense in this situation.

It's not like Boeing will let us take an aircraft on delivery for 9 weeks and then return it until we really need it.