Edmonton International Airport (EIA/YEG)

[EdmTrekker]

What kind of business scheme? A scheme to operate a flight to make profit?

Its the soft stuff - like funding a new hangar at the airport for training by MRU for Westjet. Or issuing a directive that all Government employees will use Westjet ... and fly through the YYC HUB. Not sure there is a single thing falling out of the so called MOU for Edmonton (and metro). A simulator for YYC while there are private one(s) already in Edmonton.

 

[IanO]

Edmonton International Airport (YEG)Author​

20,097 followers
1m


Thank you! A London, UK non-stop flight is definitely one of our many destination goals to acquire for our region! We're continuously working with all our airline partners to bring in more non-stop flights for our community. You can also contact your airline & let them know where you would like to fly non-stop from YEG. Airlines respond to demand and we work closely with them to advocate for routes our community wants and needs.

 

[Vanfan123]

Edmonton International Airport (YEG)Author​

20,097 followers
1m


Thank you! A London, UK non-stop flight is definitely one of our many destination goals to acquire for our region! We're continuously working with all our airline partners to bring in more non-stop flights for our community. You can also contact your airline & let them know where you would like to fly non-stop from YEG. Airlines respond to demand and we work closely with them to advocate for routes our community wants and needs.

The *New* Air Canada Airbus A321XLR is Edmonton YEG’s best chance for a London UK route!

As for WestJet ,(no) they don’t have enough Boeing 787’s to add more long haul routes currently & even *if* they did get new 787’s is not a “guarantee”.

BA British Airways (not likely) as they haven’t added much in Canada after the Calgary YYC route ended October 2019, except for increased BA flights for Vancouver YVR & Toronto YYZ during the Spring /Summer seasons. Plus BA is cutting back on some long haul international routes due to (engine issues with its 787 planes https://simpleflying.com/all-routes-...gine-problems/ )

VS Virgin Atlantic (not likely) & plus they codeshare with WestJet . They’ve add YYZ year round starting in 2025 & *if* VS is going to add in Western Canada, YVR which they used to fly to (seasonally) until it ended October 2014 https://www.biv.com/news/transportat...lights-8240725 will be their 1 choice “as they know how the YVR market is already” or YYC .

 

[IanO]

'The *New* _______ is Edmonton YEG’s best chance for a London UK route!'

Insert - C200, 737Max, 787, etc. etc.

We've been hearing this for a few decades now.

 

[HappyJazzz]

Perhaps its time to admit that the demographic changes of recent decades have resulted in less and less demand for UK flights?

Anglophilia peaked a long time ago. IMO there's no need for a direct flight to airstrip one as long as we still have a connection to Amsterdam or another euro hub.

The Iceland air flight YEG had was decent, even if the Reykjavik airport isn't. Personally I'd rather have that back than a direct flight to London.

 

[David A]

The *New* Air Canada Airbus A321XLR is Edmonton YEG’s best chance for a London UK route!

As for WestJet ,(no) they don’t have enough Boeing 787’s to add more long haul routes currently & even *if* they did get new 787’s is not a “guarantee”.

BA British Airways (not likely) as they haven’t added much in Canada after the Calgary YYC route ended October 2019, except for increased BA flights for Vancouver YVR & Toronto YYZ during the Spring /Summer seasons. Plus BA is cutting back on some long haul international routes due to (engine issues with its 787 planes https://simpleflying.com/all-routes-...gine-problems/ )

VS Virgin Atlantic (not likely) & plus they codeshare with WestJet . They’ve add YYZ year round starting in 2025 & *if* VS is going to add in Western Canada, YVR which they used to fly to (seasonally) until it ended October 2014 https://www.biv.com/news/transportat...lights-8240725 will be their 1 choice “as they know how the YVR market is already” or YYC .

Good point about Air Canada. Given WestJet's recent announced new and expanded routes in Edmonton, it would be nice to see Air Canada also do more here.

I don't feel Air Canada has completely ceded the western Canadian market to WestJet and in particular they are still the main airline in Canada for international service

 

[BASE]

As much as Air Canada is very hub focused (as with all network carriers) they have been open to doing certain routes that make sense. LHR slots are the big challenge but they are in demand for a reason. AC does offer LHR from a few airports that aren't considered hubs (YOW, YHZ, & YYC) so it's not out of the realm of future possibilities for sure.

 

[IanO]

Perhaps its time to admit that the demographic changes of recent decades have resulted in less and less demand for UK flights?

Anglophilia peaked a long time ago. IMO there's no need for a direct flight to airstrip one as long as we still have a connection to Amsterdam or another euro hub.

The Iceland air flight YEG had was decent, even if the Reykjavik airport isn't. Personally I'd rather have that back than a direct flight to London.

London is still London and LHR is still LHR.

 

[Whatup]

Perhaps its time to admit that the demographic changes of recent decades have resulted in less and less demand for UK flights?

Anglophilia peaked a long time ago. IMO there's no need for a direct flight to airstrip one as long as we still have a connection to Amsterdam or another euro hub.

The Iceland air flight YEG had was decent, even if the Reykjavik airport isn't. Personally I'd rather have that back than a direct flight to London.

London is one of two Global Alpha ++ cities and Alberta's second largest trade partner after the USA is Europe - and London is the financial center of Europe. Plus "English" is the largest recognized ethnic group in Alberta. Lots of reasons to have a flight connect with London.

Alpha ++​

• London
• New York City

 

[HappyJazzz]

Thanks chatGPT!

Wondering what your source on European trade is?
Didn't find any reports from a quick search, but I did find a list of Alberta's overseas trade offices

Seems like YEG should be chasing an Asian hub over a second European one

London is still London and LHR is still LHR.

And Edmonton is still Edmonton, and the market has still spoken.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to have, but seems pretty clear that we don't have the population or business interests to properly support it yet.

Maybe it's one of the flights YEG could scoop off of YYC when HSR is in place?

 

[IanO]

Things have changed over the years for sure, but it is still a major destination for this region and would be an amazing hub for connections as well.

Nothing against AMS as it is a wonderful partner of YEG's, a nice airport and easy connection, but Amsterdam ain't no London.

 

[Offworld]

London is one of two Global Alpha ++ cities and Alberta's second largest trade partner after the USA is Europe - and London is the financial center of Europe. Plus "English" is the largest recognized ethnic group in Alberta. Lots of reasons to have a flight connect with London.

Alpha ++​

• London
• New York City

Your points are spot on. London isn't just an important city, it's one of the rarified cities of true global importance.

 

[Oilguy]

Thanks chatGPT!

Wondering what your source on European trade is?
Didn't find any reports from a quick search, but I did find a list of Alberta's overseas trade offices

View attachment 623259

View attachment 623260

Seems like YEG should be chasing an Asian hub over a second European one


And Edmonton is still Edmonton, and the market has still spoken.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to have, but seems pretty clear that we don't have the population or business interests to properly support it yet.

Maybe it's one of the flights YEG could scoop off of YYC when HSR is in place?

I really don’t think things get better for YEG with HSR if it ever happens. I think more traffic gets consolidated at yyc in that scenario, and we get to take the train to take flights.

 

[Friendmonton]

Economics, along with supply and demand, certainly come into play. But so do perceptions. The reality is Edmonton is now a 1.2-ish million city with 1.5+ million in the metro area with a large disposable income per capita.

When will our major airlines and the international ones figure that out?

 

[HappyJazzz]

I really don’t think things get better for YEG with HSR if it ever happens.

Well not with that attitude they won't!

I think more traffic gets consolidated at yyc in that scenario, and we get to take the train to take flights.

I know is seems like that's the likely scenario at first glance, but so long as the train is truely high speed I think the airports will end up balancing out over time. Think of them becoming terminals E and C of Alberta International Airport.

As it stands YYC is fully built out, they can't add any more runways. They will get a pseudo capacity boost when all the YEG/YYC flights cease, but long term adding a new route may require dropping another, especially if the time slots compete.

I'm not suggesting YEG would capture all of their London or other international flights, but YEG does have a few advantages.

Long term there's still room to add runways, but immediately it's already closer than YYC for destinations using polar routes, so less fuel use, greener flights etc. Plus YEG can compete on time slots and airport fees, and that might be enough to attract some new routes.

Plus the YEG terminal is much nicer than YYC, a far smoother and more comfortable experience IMO, it's the current isolation that drags it down.
When cab fare to the airport costs about the same as a Flair flight to YVR, something has to change!

YEG has so much to gain from HSR it's unreal...