Air Canada to Increase Western Flights

[jetsetfly]

In another sign airline competition in Canada is intensifying, Air Canada is adding more daily flights on upgraded equipment in western Canada, home of rival WestJet Airlines Ltd.

The additional flights, between such oilpatch hotspots as Calgary and Fort McMurray, will begin this fall, the Montreal-based airline said Thursday. The upgraded equipment will be introduced starting next February.

The move comes in response to increased demand in western Canada, along with research showing business travelers prefer to fly Air Canada, the company said.

It could also be a pre-emptive strike against WestJet, which has announced plans to start a regional airline next year. The Calgary-based airline has made a firm order for 20 Q400 Bombardier turboprops with an option for another 25. WestJet hasn’t said whether the new service will start in the east or the west.

Air Canada said that it’s boosting daily service on eight western regional routes starting this fall. It’s adding one flight on each route for a total of seven daily flights on some routes, and doubling capacity on others from one flight a day to two.

In February, Air Canada will begin replacing its CRJ equipment with new Bombardier Q400 Next Gen aircraft on certain key western routes.

The Q400 is ultra quiet, features all-leather seats and can carry 74 passengers, 24 more than the CRJ aircraft, the company said

“Air Canada is increasing capacity this fall and winter on key regional routes reflecting strong demand within western Canada, the centre of the country’s energy and resource industries,” said Marcel Forget, Air Canada’s vice president, Network Planning. “These changes are designed to meet the needs of western Canadian business travelers, who overwhelmingly prefer Air Canada for travel within Canada.”

More than 80 per cent of frequent business travelers in western Canada prefer Air Canada, according to an Ipsos Reid survey, the airline said.

The flights are operated by Air Canada Jazz, a provider of regional service to Air Canada.

[ODA]

Does anyone know when this is happening? Nothing on AC's website.

[vanishing point]

"In February, Air Canada will begin replacing its CRJ equipment with new Bombardier Q400 Next Gen aircraft on certain key western routes."

[mbav8r]

Guess you both missed the second paragraph

The additional flights, between such oilpatch hotspots as Calgary and Fort McMurray, will begin this fall, the Montreal-based airline said Thursday. The upgraded equipment will be introduced starting next February.

[MUSKEG]

More than 80 per cent of frequent business travelers in western Canada prefer Air Canada, according to an Ipsos Reid survey, the airline said.

Statistics are like bikini's. What they reveal is exciting, what they hide is crutial.
80%? laughable.

[yycflyguy]

More than 80 per cent of frequent business travelers in western Canada prefer Air Canada, according to an Ipsos Reid survey, the airline said.

Statistics are like bikini's. What they reveal is exciting, what they hide is crutial.
80%? laughable.

What other Canadian airline has a dedicated Business class?

[RFN]

referring to dash 8s as "upgraded" equipment when speaking of the YYC-YZF or YWG-YEG routes is laughable.

[seniorpumpkin]

can carry 74 passengers

operated by Air Canada Jazz

I thought anything over 50 pax was operated by mainline? Aren't the CRJ's limited to smaller pax loads because of this?

[whiteguy]

can carry 74 passengers

operated by Air Canada Jazz

I thought anything over 50 pax was operated by mainline? Aren't the CRJ's limited to smaller pax loads because of this?

Seriously???

[MUSKEG]

The 50 seat restriction was certainly a scope Claus. What they are doing to get around that with the 400's I don't know. I believe it was a union think. One more thing. I have yet to see business class on an RJ or a Dash and that is predominantly what the west seems to be stuck with. Re the 80% Statistic. If you tell yourself enough times that the sky is actually pink eventually to you it will be.

[mbav8r]

Seniorpumkin and muskeg, not really sure where you've been or if your trolling, but the scope covers jets over 50 seats, except for the 16 705s.(small jet agreement) It doesn't cover turboprops, Jazz could run 100 seat dash 8 if there was such a thing, limited by ASM ratio. Also there most certainly is a business class out West, there is even 705s running to YMM these days. I even suspect you might see a business class on the q400s down the road, I believe Ethiopian just took delivery of some. The Air Canada embraers also have a business class, lots of them running around the West.

From Wikipedia,

The Air Canada Pilots Association negotiated a scope agreement with Air Canada limiting the maximum seating capacity of any jet aircraft at Air Canada Jazz to 75 seats. Air Canada Jazz was the launch customer for this aircraft in 2005 with 10 Executive Class and 65 Economy Class seats, all fitted with personal audio/video-on-demand systems. The FAA Type Certificate designation of the CRJ705 is the CL-600-2D15. Jazz Aviation operates 16 CRJ705ERs on behalf of Air Canada and is currently the only operator of this type

[seniorpumpkin]

Thanks mbav8r, I clearly have a very vague understanding of the agreements between AC and it's partners. I just remember hearing something about a 50 seat limit (actually 75 apparently) and thought it was interesting.
So I guess it's actually Jazz trading in the CRJ's for Q400's then?

[Lost Lake]

I use AC and West Jet for travel. WJ is way above AC in customer relations and service. I don't have the luxury of flying business class, but if WJ took over all of AC's routes tomorrow, I wouldn't shed a single tear!

[SeptRepair]

I sure hope Westjet comes into YXH. Parents got royally screwed over by them or should I say the arseholes who run under their banner. Parents had a 5:00 am departure to YYC for a connecting flight at 7:30 am to San Fran for a 2 week cruise. They get a call at 10:00 pm the night before the flight informing them their YXH flight was canceled ( crewing problems) and they were now forced to drive the 3 hours to get to Calgary if they wanted to make their flight. Since they were forced to drive to Calgary they are now saddled with parking fees etc and obviously will not need the return flight from YYC to YXH They are now fighting with Air Canada to be reimbursed for both flights and parking fees. Parents are absolutely pissed and have always flown Air Canada and vow to never again. Anybody know if WestJet will be making an appearance to YXH? Would love to tell my parents good news.

[Mig29]

I sure hope Westjet comes into YXH. Parents got royally screwed over by them or should I say the arseholes who run under their banner. Parents had a 5:00 am departure to YYC for a connecting flight at 7:30 am to San Fran for a 2 week cruise. They get a call at 10:00 pm the night before the flight informing them their YXH flight was canceled ( crewing problems) and they were now forced to drive the 3 hours to get to Calgary if they wanted to make their flight. Since they were forced to drive to Calgary they are now saddled with parking fees etc and obviously will not need the return flight from YYC to YXH They are now fighting with Air Canada to be reimbursed for both flights and parking fees. Parents are absolutely pissed and have always flown Air Canada and vow to never again. Anybody know if WestJet will be making an appearance to YXH? Would love to tell my parents good news.

S**t happens man! Be realistic and realize that it could've happened to any airline. Air Canada should reimburse your parents for the return segment since they were forced to drive, that I agree.

[flying4dollars]

I sure hope Westjet comes into YXH. Parents got royally screwed over by them or should I say the arseholes who run under their banner. Parents had a 5:00 am departure to YYC for a connecting flight at 7:30 am to San Fran for a 2 week cruise. They get a call at 10:00 pm the night before the flight informing them their YXH flight was canceled ( crewing problems) and they were now forced to drive the 3 hours to get to Calgary if they wanted to make their flight. Since they were forced to drive to Calgary they are now saddled with parking fees etc and obviously will not need the return flight from YYC to YXH They are now fighting with Air Canada to be reimbursed for both flights and parking fees. Parents are absolutely pissed and have always flown Air Canada and vow to never again. Anybody know if WestJet will be making an appearance to YXH? Would love to tell my parents good news.

I can assure you that the reason your flight was cancelled wasn't because we are 'arseholes'. I think know which particular flight you're referring to, and I can tell you the crewing issue was an issue that can, has, and will happen to any other company/airline out there. It was just unfortunate it had to come down to a cancellation. I will not disclose exactly what happened but the crews in YYC have worked hard to provide a 98-99% OTP figure for Air Canada out West. The cancellation was one of not even a handful that have happened since operating out of YYC 1 year ago, and this was I believe the first non-weather related cancellation we had. I have flown several airlines in my life all over the world and have experienced flight cancellations myself for various reason, most of which are legitimate. I don't think an airline cancels a flight without a good reason.

You can hope for a new carrier, but they are susceptible to the same problems as the rest of the airlines out there. I'm sorry to hear that your parents' flight was cancelled and I agree they should be reimbursed for the YXH-YYC and return portion. Good luck to your parents.

[SeptRepair]

Ok I take back the arsehole comment. Thanks for responding. The fact remains they are now in a battle to be reimbursed fairly when Air Canada/ ( Insert sub carrier name here) should readily admit fault, suck it up and pay whats owing instead of making them jump through hoops. The amount of incompetence they have encountered while trying to speak to someone/anyone who gives a rats ass about this problem is the one major thing that is driving them away from Air Canada.

[Beefitarian]

See, this seems to be the same as the largest part of my issues with air Canada.

The amount of incompetence they have encountered while trying to speak to someone/anyone who gives a rats ass about this problem is the one major thing that is driving them away from Air Canada.

They might have much nicer/better pilots but I have barely ever spoke to any of the pilots. Especially since they spend most of the flight in their cell now and I'm not allowed to go visit anymore. I guess I'm a demanding prick or something expecting a nicer response than, ~ugh noise~ "Are you serious?" from flight attendants in cheap bastard class too.

Maybe I've been spoiled by Alaskan, Singapore Air, Air NewZealand, they treat you like you're important and don't worry, I know I'm not.