CYQL From Canada, joined Sep 2006, 50 posts, RR: 1 Posted (8 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2967 times:
"Securing direct flights from Lethbridge to Vancouver and Toronto could be the focus of a new steering committee looking to enhance air service at the Lethbridge County Airport."
NorthStarDC4M From Canada, joined Apr 2000, 1946 posts, RR: 31 Reply 1, posted (8 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2826 times:
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Well, it's not as far fetched as some of the airports that have wanted Jazz CRA services to the big pumpkin, I still don't think it's on the radar any time soon though... On the other hand of course maybe WestJet will look into seasonal services?
YVR though... enh... it's within CRJ range of Vancouver, so it seems possible, though still unlikely for AC.
LongHauler From Canada, joined Mar 2004, 1505 posts, RR: 11 Reply 3, posted (8 months 2 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 2760 times:
Bottom line is both AC and WS know exactly how many people wish to travel every day between just about every city in Canada. If the demand were there, the service would be there.
The only time "external" factors come into play is when the city in question adds "incentives" to attract airlines.
On average, more people are killed yearly by falling coconuts (150), than by sharks (10).
Rikkus67 From Canada, joined Jun 2000, 802 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (8 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 2603 times:
Lethbridge has a long history with an air link to Vancouver. When Trans-Canada Air Lines first commenced transcon service, Lethbridge was an important stop. Because of its geographical location, and lack of range with the Lockheed L10 Electra, Lethbridge was chosen as the last stop before flying over the Rockies.
As range increased on aircraft, Lethbridge was dropped in favour of Calgary. Lethbridge did not have Westcoast service again until the early 1980's, when Time Air successfully challenged Pacific Western Airlines and was awarded route authority to Vancouver via the Okanagan (Penticton/Kelowna). PWA had actually started adding check-in facilities at YQL, when Time Air was awarded the route!
When Time Air was bought out by Canadian Airlines (PWA corp.... funny that!), routes were rationalized, and Lethbridge again lost Westcoast service. Again, more than a decade went by before the route was offered again, this time by independant Regional 1. Regional 1 could not compete with competitive pricing (AC & WJ out of Calgary), and dropped the route within a year (they also cancelled Red Deer to Westcoast service). Integra Air of Lethbridge was offered the route by Regional 1, but (IIRC) either did not take up the route, or cancelled it shortly after it was offered.
Being involved with the airline industry as a supplier from 1999 to 2005, I had some dealings with Westjet. I inquired about service to YQL, and (if ever offered) the service would be east-west on a routing of YWG-YQR-YQL-YVR.
Time Air was successful with the Vancouver service, and it is a shame that it could not again become a viable route. Cheaper pricing out of Calgary, with larger aircraft, has hurt any smaller airlines trying to promote the route. I was able to enjoy YQL-YLW-YVR service on a number of occasions (via Time Air), and found the service both convenient and time effective. It was a joy not having to drive or fly North to go West, and loose up to 3 hours in the process.
Although I do live in YYC now, I do hope my hometown eventually gets the chance to enjoy Westcoast service once again...on a permanent basis!
TXKF2010 From Bermuda, joined Nov 2005, 121 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (8 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2521 times:
Quoting CYQL (Thread starter): "Securing direct flights from Lethbridge to Vancouver and Toronto could be the focus of a new steering committee looking to enhance air service at the Lethbridge County Airport."
I've been hearing this same thing about Red Deer since 2006.
YEGspotter From Canada, joined Dec 2003, 186 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (8 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2488 times:
I'm curious what the terminal facilities are like in Lethbridge now. I grew up in Lethbridge, but I moved to Edmonton in the mid-1980's. Back then, the terminal was barely adequate for Time Air's service. Has the terminal been upgraded at all in the last 20 years??
Jamincan From Canada, joined Aug 2006, 530 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (8 months 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2386 times:
Quoting A332 (Reply 8): Considering Lethbridge is just a two hour drive on a quick moving freeway to YYC, it's very unlikely WS or AC would ever add these flights.
Considering AC flies from Comox to Calgary and Westjet flies from Comox to Calgary and Edmonton, it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility that Air Canada would fly a CRJ from Lethbridge to Vancouver.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 7388 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (8 months 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2370 times:
Quoting Rikkus67 (Reply 5): Because of its geographical location, and lack of range with the Lockheed L10 Electra, Lethbridge was chosen as the last stop before flying over the Rockies. As range increased on aircraft, Lethbridge was dropped in favour of Calgary.
It wasn't the range (YQL-YVR is about 10% further than YYC-YVR) but the lower altitude that flights from YQL were able to fly to cross the Rockies in the days before pressurization.
SLCUT2777 From United States, joined Dec 2005, 3541 posts, RR: 9 Reply 11, posted (8 months 2 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 2345 times:
Quoting CYQL (Thread starter): "Securing direct flights from Lethbridge to Vancouver and Toronto could be the focus of a new steering committee looking to enhance air service at the Lethbridge County Airport."
Quoting Jamincan (Reply 9): Considering AC flies from Comox to Calgary and Westjet flies from Comox to Calgary and Edmonton, it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility that Air Canada would fly a CRJ from Lethbridge to Vancouver.
The proximity to the U.S. border (GTF) as well as the two hour drive to YYC has hurt YQL for years in getting any viable service. I also don't doubt that this steering committee would possibly mention a trans-border route via DL/OO to SLC as a future wish list item as well. People from the greater YQL region often are the reason for the significant frequencies to SLC on DL/OO from GTF and FCA/GPI. Due to a number of factors, there is an O&D load that is favorable on this route as well as the other connections in the western U.S. SLC service could offer them. Perhaps this might be the service that would get AC of WS to get off their respective butts and start YQL service to YYZ in addition to YVR. The problem is right now isn't the time to start something like this. AC, WS and DL have very little $$$ to experiment with new routes.
DELTA Air Lines; The Only Way To Fly from Salt Lake City; Let the Western Heritage always be with Delta!
The current terminal is +/- 25 years old, and replaced the "terminal" that was used from the 1940's on. Although designed for expansion to a full 2 stories with a jetway, it has never been expanded. I imagine the passengers using the terminal last year for the flights to Mexico had a fun time... 100 passengers, and having to walk out onto the tarmac...
Part of attracting better service would be for the terminal to be properly expanded and a jetway added.
YVRLTN From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 652 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (8 months 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 2158 times:
I cant comment on YYZ, but the only way I can see YVR working is with 8P via Cranbrook or Kamloops with a B1900, possibly a Saab, just like they do now to YYC via Penticton.
Out of interest, what sort of business and attractions are there in YQL to warrant 75 seats to YYZ??
First flight British Airtours L1011 LGW/NAP - last flight QK CRA YEG/YVR
YVR1968 From Australia, joined Feb 2004, 348 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (8 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2120 times:
Canadian Regional definitely had an early morning non-stop flight from YQL to YVR back in the early 1990s. They didn't even have a stop in the Okanagan. With the population boom in southern Alberta, a re-instated direct flight to YVR is not completely out of the question.
I could seriously see (eventually) YVR nonstops to YQL, YQF, YQU and YMM.
These flights would not be very good for domestic connections (other than BC flights) but would be good for Asian and US west-coast connections. The amount of O+D traffic may also warrant direct flights.
A Canadian in Oz. An ex-Wardair/Canadian Airlines boy.
CayMan From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 816 posts, RR: 7 Reply 16, posted (8 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2109 times:
Would YQL and the surrounding area of southern Alberta represent enough potential business for a daily YYZ service? It would include connecting traffic to eastern Canada and US and to Europe, so perhaps it would work.
On a somewhat related note, it appears that YYZ YMM (Ft McMurray) has been a success for AC as they have operated mainline319/320 service? Must be reasonably successful route.
YEGspotter From Canada, joined Dec 2003, 186 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (8 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2002 times:
Quoting CayMan (Reply 16): On a somewhat related note, it appears that YYZ YMM (Ft McMurray) has been a success for AC as they have operated mainline319/320 service? Must be reasonably successful route.
The reason that route is successful is because those aircraft are full of workers heading out to the oilsands. It's a completely different situation than what currently exists in Lethbridge.
LongHauler From Canada, joined Mar 2004, 1505 posts, RR: 11 Reply 18, posted (8 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2002 times:
Quoting CayMan (Reply 16): On a somewhat related note, it appears that YYZ YMM (Ft McMurray) has been a success for AC as they have operated mainline319/320 service? Must be reasonably successful route.
Yes, and starts twice daily with the Summer schedule.
On average, more people are killed yearly by falling coconuts (150), than by sharks (10).
A332 From Canada, joined Feb 2005, 1338 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (8 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 1996 times:
Quoting Jamincan (Reply 9): Considering AC flies from Comox to Calgary and Westjet flies from Comox to Calgary and Edmonton, it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility that Air Canada would fly a CRJ from Lethbridge to Vancouver.
Comox is a leisure destination... Lethbridge is not. There's a big difference.
If there was demand for a direct YVR-YQL flight, it would already exist.
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