Edmonton International Airport (EIA/YEG)

[Glenco]

The issue is, they can't possibly undergo a massive international expansion from Edmonton without compromising another the entire existence of their Calgary "base". Having an expansion from a market that already partly powers their current hub would just lead to them cannibalizing their own services. Air Canada manages to have multiple hubs because they are both larger cities and are further apart. If we're here to critique Westjet's model and not just get sour about YEG's lack of transatlantic flights, YVR would be the better target for expansion.... and I personally believe they will tap into that market again sooner or later.

This is why, as disappointed as I am too, it's extremely naive to get mad at WS for not throwing money at YEG for international flights like some people here (and on other parts of the internet) often do. Edmonton wasn't picked as an international base on the hub-and-spoke model, Calgary was. You can't have both, that will never change.
It just kind of sucks that this thread seems to only ever get active when there's some expansion from Westjet, and everyone is only ever capable of seeing the negatives. It's always just the uninformed griping along the lines of "Westjet sucks and is destined to fail because they chose Calgary over Edmonton".

I think you are missing the point. No WS will not make Edmonton a hub that is a given. They probably won’t offer an international intercontinental flight at this time as they simply don’t have the metal. The point we are trying to make is every time someone else offers a new service they jump in and offer the same service. Porter started YOW next thing you know WS offers the same. F8 offers Nashville next thing you know WS offers the same. I’m surprised they haven’t started YHM again as they did when F8 decided to do the same a number of years ago. Licking the cookie is the most appt description I can come up with. Their hub model in YYC is absolutely dependent on making YEG dependent on them and don’t you forget it.

 

[blue12]

I think you are missing the point. No WS will not make Edmonton a hub that is a given. They probably won’t offer an international intercontinental flight at this time as they simply don’t have the metal. The point we are trying to make is every time someone else offers a new service they jump in and offer the same service. Porter started YOW next thing you know WS offers the same. F8 offers Nashville next thing you know WS offers the same. I’m surprised they haven’t started YHM again as they did when F8 decided to do the same a number of years ago. Licking the cookie is the most appt description I can come up with. Their hub model in YYC is absolutely dependent on making YEG dependent on them and don’t you forget it.

Okay, but this is just how competition amongst airlines work. This strategy of "licking the cookie" as you call it is not even remotely specific to Westjet or Edmonton. I could come up with a million examples of this phenomenon happening from other parts of Canada from different airlines, or even other parts of the world. Really strange thing to blame WS for.

 

[TAS]

Okay, but this is just how competition amongst airlines work. This strategy of "licking the cookie" as you call it is not even remotely specific to Westjet or Edmonton. I could come up with a million examples of this phenomenon happening from other parts of Canada from different airlines, or even other parts of the world. Really strange thing to blame WS for.

I primarily have a problem with the MOU of our provincial government and WS that only mentions and addresses one city in terms of guarantees and exclusivity. Not remotely suggesting YEG should be a co-hub but for us to not even have 1 international flight when airlines like KLM can provide it successfully to us is a joke

 

[Oilguy]

I primarily have a problem with the MOU of our provincial government and WS that only mentions and addresses one city in terms of guarantees and exclusivity. Not remotely suggesting YEG should be a co-hub but for us to not even have 1 international flight when airlines like KLM can provide it successfully to us is a joke

That deal expires in October 27. There should be serious lobbying already from the
Community here that if this deal gets renewed Edmonton is included in it,

 

[blue12]

Also to clear up some fog around that MOU….. it didn’t prohibit other airports, like YEG, from getting any 787 service, it just stated that YYC would be the *base* for the 787s. WS chose to do some winter flying from YVR/YYZ using these 787s after the MOU was signed, and that was completely allowed. They chose not to deploy any to YEG, nothing was prohibiting it.

 

[TAS]

Also to clear up some fog around that MOU….. it didn’t prohibit other airports, like YEG, from getting any 787 service, it just stated that YYC would be the *base* for the 787s. WS chose to do some winter flying from YVR/YYZ using these 787s after the MOU was signed, and that was completely allowed. They chose not to deploy any to YEG, nothing was prohibiting it.

Was just making the point how YEG was excluded from any mention in the MOU that involved provincial investment while targets and requirements were outlined for YYC such as: increasing annual seat capacity in Calgary by 80 per cent by 2028 compared to 2022 levels, maintaining a fleet of 100 aircraft based in Calgary, and expanding WestJet’s global hub in Calgary to offer 100 non-stop routes, representing a 20 per cent increase from 2022.

Not even knocking the idea of an MOU. Just want to get in on it as a large tax and population base in the province that seemingly needs to battle hard for some increased service.

 

[Vanfan123]

Also to clear up some fog around that MOU….. it didn’t prohibit other airports, like YEG, from getting any 787 service, it just stated that YYC would be the *base* for the 787s. WS chose to do some winter flying from YVR/YYZ using these 787s after the MOU was signed, and that was completely allowed. They chose not to deploy any to YEG, nothing was prohibiting it.

That’s true . WestJet did operate some Vancouver YVR/ Toronto YYZ on the Boeing 787’s to Hawaii / Mexico even after the MOU. Even YYC - YYZ / YYZ - YVR domestic rotations too.

(If) Edmonton YEG did get a WS 787 to London UK route (in a few years time), It probably be rotated on inbound plane from either YVR/ YYZ - London Gatwick LGW -YEG - LGW- YVR/YYZ.


But yes Calgary YYC will remain WS WestJet’s Boeing 787’s base there as its Main Hub & plus they built a 125,000-square-foot, eight-story facility at the YYC Calgary International Airport designed for servicing its Boeing 787 Dreamliners and other aircraft. Built to house one 787 at a time, the state-of-the-art hangar includes maintenance areas, parts storage, and office space for technical teams, allowing WestJet to perform indoor maintenance on its wide-body jets and support its new international routes.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/westjet-new-hanger-787-1.4300964

 

[David A]

That deal expires in October 27. There should be serious lobbying already from the
Community here that if this deal gets renewed Edmonton is included in it,

Yes, COVID era restrictions of only having international flights out of a limited number of airports in Canada are over, ended some time ago. So it would be nice to see a broader approach to this by the Provincial government now.

 

[Vanfan123]

Yes, COVID era restrictions of only having international flights out of a limited number of airports in Canada are over, ended some time ago. So it would be nice to see a broader approach to this by the Provincial government now.

Even without, provincial government help.
WS WestJet continues to build up Calgary YYC aviation hub in .

WestJet and CAE sign contract to bring world-class aviation professional training facility to Calgary

/CNW/ - WestJet and CAE announced today the signing of a 15-year training agreement under which CAE will establish the Alberta Training Centre of Excellence...

www.newswire.ca

 

[SarcasticMarmot]

Even without, provincial government help.
WS WestJet continues to build up Calgary YYC aviation hub in .

WestJet and CAE sign contract to bring world-class aviation professional training facility to Calgary

/CNW/ - WestJet and CAE announced today the signing of a 15-year training agreement under which CAE will establish the Alberta Training Centre of Excellence...

www.newswire.ca

Uh, the province is paying for it.

"The training centre, which will officially be called the Alberta Training Centre of Excellence for Aviation and Aerospace, is being built with an $11-million grant from the provincial government."

New aerospace training facility coming to Calgary

The Calgary International Airport will soon be home to a new training hub.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[Oilers99]

Even without, provincial government help.
WS WestJet continues to build up Calgary YYC aviation hub in .

WestJet and CAE sign contract to bring world-class aviation professional training facility to Calgary

/CNW/ - WestJet and CAE announced today the signing of a 15-year training agreement under which CAE will establish the Alberta Training Centre of Excellence...

www.newswire.ca

This is their HQ and where they were founded, why would they not 'prop it up'?

 

[Vanfan123]

This is their HQ and where they were founded, why would they not 'prop it up'?

That’s true.
Yes all airlines in Canada / around the world build its Hubs 1st , before adding frequencies at other bases.

 

[Vanfan123]

It looks like (AC) Air Canada *New* Boeing 787 Dreamliner 10 fleet of planes will be based at Toronto YYZ 1st to support AC’s YYZ hub & international flights /expansion.

Global Horizons: Air Canada Further Strengthens Toronto Hub with Expanded International Network

/CNW/ - With new, exciting routes already set to begin operating to South America and Mexico this winter from Air Canada's global hub at Toronto Pearson, the...

www.newswire.ca

Plus the AC 787-10 has lot of premium seats 42J 28W and 262 Y according to Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Canada_fleet

I’m sure as AC gets more deliveries of 787-10 they will rotate some of it to operate international flights from Vancouver YVR & Montreal YUL AC hubs & even on the Calgary YYC- London LHR UK route too (seasonally) .

I don’t think Edmonton YEG will see the AC 787-10 , unless AC decides to upgauge from YYZ.

 

[Payd1964]

Vanfan, you missed the point that our provincial government provides subsidies to WS which favour YYC over YEG. We all know that the hub and spoke system used by WS and AC hurt air transborder and international service from YEG. No one living in Edmonton wants the dreaded 3:40 YYC layover after a european flight. All people in YEG want is just a bit better transborder and international service (dare to dream but year round service of some sort to LHR or CDG in addition to to current AMS service). As the metro approaches 2 million it is becoming apparent that our air service may not significantly improve due to the hub and spoke mentality of the two Canadian airlines. Vanfan, if you were in charge of YEG, what would you do to attract new transborder and international flights to/from YEG?

 

[David A]

That’s true.
Yes all airlines in Canada / around the world build its Hubs 1st , before adding frequencies at other bases.

They have been "building" or propping it up for quite a while now. I really don't think they are so precarious now that they need to keep doing that, so I really hope that will be done soon.