Squigee From Canada, joined May 2001, 652 posts, RR: 5 Posted (6 years 7 months 4 weeks ago) and read 4772 times:
Hi everyone,
This was a big story in Calgary today:
CALGARY, AB, April 23 /CNW/ - WestJet and DEW Engineering celebrated the
introduction of an innovative new product today, and the first of its kind in
Canada. A dual boarding bridge, also known as an over-the-wing bridge, is the
first of its kind built in North America, and is now operational at the
Calgary International Airport. This bridge permits faster boarding and
deplaning of guests by allowing them to enter and exit the aircraft from both
the forward and aft doors directly from the airport terminal.
As well, several news stories I have heard today have said that they are the first in North America and will be trying to sell this idea to other carriers. However, I recall a Popular Science article months ago where this idea was discussed, and that Southwest was already using this new system.
What gives?
Someday, we'll look back at this, laugh nervously, and then change the subject.
MxCtrlr From United States, joined Nov 2001, 2485 posts, RR: 53 Reply 3, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 4625 times:
BA at MIA in the late 1970's and early 1980's used a dual bridge set-up on their night MIA-LHR flights on the E-Satellite Concourse, so, no, they aren't the first in North America to do this.
MxCtrlr
Freight Dogs Anonymous - O.O.T.S.K.
DAMN! This SUCKS! I just had to go to the next higher age bracket in my profile! :-(
QANTAS747 From Australia, joined Mar 2000, 198 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 4577 times:
Dual bridges are all over the place in australia and Asia!! mainly used for 747's, but now QF decided they would uses them for domestic 330's. Clearly not a "new" thing....... maybe Canada is lagging behind? I'm sure they're not., but anyway, the photo looks like a 320 or 737 is using it?, is this true? because it wouldn't be economical, let me tell ya
Donreith From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 29 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 4557 times:
If you read the article, it says it is the first of its kind *built* in North America, not necessarily deployed in North America.
And why would this not be economical? Planes don't make money on the ground, so anything get them turned around faster probably get WestJet's attention.
QANTAS747 From Australia, joined Mar 2000, 198 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 4553 times:
sorry, I thought the extra bridge weas loading in the middle of the plane, not aft, and if they used that door it would have ripped out a couple of seats, damn what am I thinking! Its late here in australia, well no not really (its 10pm) but I'm tired
LoneStarMike From United States, joined Jul 2000, 3016 posts, RR: 52 Reply 9, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 4522 times:
Donreith has it right. It is the first dual jetbridge built in North America. Southwest's dual jetbridges were manufactured in Sweden by FMC.
Here's an article from the Ft. Worth Star Telegram from 3 years ago about the ones Southwest is using.
In addition to the dual jetbridge at DAL, there is one at AUS, and ALB has either gotten or is in the process of getting 2.
I don't have anything to back this up, but I seem to remember reading that Southwest wanted to experiment with this because of BUR. BUR is the only Southwest station to not use jetbridges. Passengers board and deplane using airstairs at the front and back of the aircraft and apparently BUR had some of the fastest turn times in Southwest's system.
Greg From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 0 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 4471 times:
UAL used them first in SFO in 1960....for economy and first class boarding.
So Canada is only about 40 years behind...
(just kidding, we love that little loft above America known as Canada!
AvroArrow From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 877 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 4459 times:
Speaking as a WestJet passenger, I love the ability to load from both the front and back when on the tarmac, you don't have to wait for Aunt Bertha or whoever to take forever trying to figure out how to fit her purse into the overhead while you are trying to get to your seat at the back. So not only is this faster, but I think it can result in happier passengers as a result. (Greg, since you have wounded my pride I'll take this chance to point out that Canada is significantly larger than the U.S. in terms of land mass, in fact we are second only to Russia in the world standings.) Although I think we do have one of the lowest population densities in the world as a result.
Give me a mile of road and I can take you a mile. Give me a mile of runway and I can show you the world.
AC_B777 From Canada, joined Aug 2000, 723 posts, RR: 13 Reply 13, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 4441 times:
Actually,
Air Canada used dual bridges quite a while ago. I believe they were used in YUL or YMX.
I remember seeing a picture of them being used on an L1011 while I was in training at AC.
They were not the overwing design like Westjet is using, but rather one bridge on either side of the plane. If I recall correctly, they were attached to the L2 and R1 doors.
My training instructor told us that the right side bridge idea was eventually scrapped because it slowed down loading and unloading because it got in the way of things.
AC_B777
In life, some days you are the bug..... some days you are the windshield!
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6398 posts, RR: 67 Reply 15, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 4402 times:
I have always wondered why modern airports in Canada didn't use dual jetbridges. Was it economics? As was pointed out above, it's always refreshing to be able to board or deplane on the tarmac from multiple doors. Makes it quicker and less frustrating. I do remember at AMS when deplaning the KLM 747 they had the dual jetbridges and it really helped make things smoother. Hopefully TNew at YYZ, or the new additions to YUL will incorporate a few of these gates, but I wont hold my breath.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
USAIRWAYS321 From United States, joined Jul 2001, 1588 posts, RR: 17 Reply 17, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 4299 times:
If these things ever get popular, it's only a matter of time until a rushed ground crew member working a delayed flight drives one of these right into the wing...
Cessnapimp From Canada, joined Oct 2001, 1319 posts, RR: 30 Reply 18, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 4276 times:
The only bad thing I can see about this is that I can visualise AvroArrow's Aunt Bertha (your quitessential everyday totally lost pap) with seat 2B going straight ahead and boarding by mistake at the back and another little old lady with seat 22C boarding from the front. Then they meet in the middle of the plane; "You go ahead dear" "No, I'll do no such thing, you go ahead..."
You can have a sign at the boarding arm intersection with 15inch letters saying" Rows 1-14 turn left here, rows 15-25 straight ahead", Aunt Bertha will not read it. Besides, her boarding pass is all the way to the bottom of her purse, and the heck if she remembers her seat.
F/A: "Oops! Ma'am, before you head to your seat I need to see your boarding pass!" in a singing tone.
AB: "Aw crap! Where did I put it?" I had it a minute ago! Did the gate agent take it? Is it possible?"
BH346 From United States, joined Jan 2000, 3265 posts, RR: 29 Reply 22, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 4211 times:
They have those at KIX? I never recalled seeing any boarding bridges that go over the wing there. I do know they have dual jetways that board both of the front doors on the larger aircraft. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Northwest Airlines - Some People Just Know How to Fly
Squigee From Canada, joined May 2001, 652 posts, RR: 5 Reply 23, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 4140 times:
I gave the marketing department at Westjet a call, and here's what they told me. This is the first over the wing jetbridge built in Canada. As well, it's the first over-the-wing jetbridge to be used in North America. All other dual jetbridges connect to the first two doors ahead of the wing, not behind.
As well, she said she hadn't heard about the Southwest trial of similar bridges, but she also stressed that these bridges are unique in that it starts as one bridge, and then splits into two halfway down. Other dual bridges are actually two separate gate units.
Someday, we'll look back at this, laugh nervously, and then change the subject.
Timf From United States, joined Mar 2003, 341 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 4102 times:
The link above that shows the Southwest bridges clearly shows that it's the same idea as the DEW bridge. The design is not unique. WestJet should have done more research before making the claims they did, or at least limited their claims to just Canada and not all of North America (US inclusive).
LV From United States, joined Jun 2001, 1176 posts, RR: 0 Reply 25, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 4077 times:
Greg,
Thats the beauty of not having boarding passes on WN.....
Save A Plane.... Mail A Letter!!
26 Garuda: Does the dual jetbridges compatible with B737NG with blended winglets? From the pics, it looks like it's going to be a tight manouvering, since the wi
27 Fallingeese: I believe it will also support the aircraft with winglets as the gate goes over the wing. If you look closely the wingtip is still aways from the gate
29 Dash8King: The picture above shows two different bridges, the bridge that Wesjet uses is one bridge and uses the same gate.
30 Squigee: Wow, those gates in that picture sure look confusing! One pier splits into two gates that lead into two different aircraft. As well, maneuvering a jet
31 Westjet_8: I think this is really cool and will probally improve turnaround times withe Westjets 737 fleet. Hopefully YYC gets more of these gates when they remo
32 UALPHLCS: I've asked about this before and gotten the same confusion. Dual loading bridges have been around alongtime. More Hubs that service widebodies aircraf
33 AA61hvy: BH346-at Kix the jet bridge split off, but it did not go over the wing. It went to first class and coach. So it could be considered dual. I know El Al
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