Hawaiian763 From Canada, joined May 2009, 239 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 4618 times:
Edmonton Airport has started a campagin to get people from their city to stop flying to YYC to catch flights in hopes of getting direct flights from airlines that already serve YYC like Lufthansa and KLM. They basically want to give up the Calgary flights so it frees up slots so those major carriers can move in and want people to drive to Calgary rather than fly.
Now of course me being from Calgary I think it's pretty dumb but for them to think that they will get more international service by eliminating the Calgary flights is just wrong. The reason YYC has more international flights than YEG is our location in general, we are closer to the Rockies, we are a huge economic centre and we are a huge year-round tourism spot. Edmonton just isn't a huge business centre like Calgary is which in turn is the reason why major carriers would pick Calgary over Edmonton.
yegbey01 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 1679 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 4556 times:
I think that the real issue here is that there are over 750,000 passengers that drive to the YYC from the Edmonton Airport catchment area - which alone could generate a lot of demand for flights out of YEG.
In addition, travel agents continue to route people through YYC - which is something YEG wants to change.
The Edmonton Airports folks fully realize that Calgary boats s large corporate presence and is much closer to the rockies, but they also have the right to educate their customers (Passengers) about how their "Innocent" habits of using YYC can be a major drag to YEG's development.
SANFan From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 4721 posts, RR: 15 Reply 2, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 4110 times:
This (leakage or alt airport usage) is certainly not a unique problem to this pair of cities but the approach to the problem is a bit uncommon, very direct, and, IMO, a good one. As yegbey' said, probably a lot of the travelers who do use the alternate airport are not even aware that they might be part of YEG's problem.
I think it's money well spent by the Edmonton Airport and, given the continued poor economy in most of the world, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see other airports starting similar campaigns. A city's airport brings in lots of money to that region's economy and if leakage of that revenue to some nearby airport can be slowed or even stopped, it can make a substantial local economic impact.
thenoflyzone From Canada, joined Jan 2001, 1964 posts, RR: 11 Reply 3, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 3986 times:
Quoting SANFan (Reply 2): the approach to the problem is a bit uncommon, very direct, and, IMO, a good one.
It might be good, but it is still pointless. No one cares about an airport, but they do care about prices. As long as it will be cheaper for Edmontonians to fly out of YYC, that's what they will keep doing.
Anyways, those people supporting YEG on the streets are probably there for the free t-shirts and the chance to win the 4000$ travel voucher ! No one gives a *hit about YEG.
Thenoflyzone
us Air Traffic Controllers have a good record, we haven't left one up there yet !!
CGKings317 From Canada, joined Nov 2005, 303 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 3733 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
This campaign reminds me of DSM's "Do the Math" campaign to keep DSMmers, or people going to DSM from leaking to OMA and MCI -- though much more funny.
thenoflyzone From Canada, joined Jan 2001, 1964 posts, RR: 11 Reply 5, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 3597 times:
Quoting CGKings317 (Reply 4): The intraprovincial rivalry continues unabated...
YEG needs to realize that with a population of 3.6 million, Alberta is pretty much well served to Europe through YYC. Maybe in 10-15 years will there be a European heavy landing at YEG in my opinion, not sooner. Until then, YEG is just a glorified domestic airport with a daily flight to LHR and a handful of flights to the States.
Heck, even YYC is a glorified domestic airport. Out of the 12 million passengers it serves, only 1 million are on international flights (excluding USA, which are considered transborder flights).
YYZ, YVR and even YUL have considerably more international passengers than that.
Thenoflyzone
us Air Traffic Controllers have a good record, we haven't left one up there yet !!
JBAirwaysFan From United States of America, joined exactly 4 years ago today! , 784 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3515 times:
We have to do this with DAB to stop the MCO leakage. I can see it now: Just say no to Orlando!
In Loving Memory of Casey Edward Falconer; May 16, 1992-May 9, 2012
Chinook747 From Canada, joined Mar 2007, 126 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3297 times:
Quoting thenoflyzone (Reply 3): It might be good, but it is still pointless. No one cares about an airport, but they do care about prices. As long as it will be cheaper for Edmontonians to fly out of YYC, that's what they will keep doing.
Exactly...finally a comment that makes sense..this is about $.
Even Mexicana gave it an honest go at flying out of YEG, but, they could not fill up the planes and now have added the extra capacity to YYC...something to think about
MtnWest1979 From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 2122 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3286 times:
They just need to big a large airport in Lacombe and connect it with Edmonton and Calgary with fast light rail, then both can be served equally poorly lol.
Maybe they should each share services: LON-YEG-YYC-LON, etc.
A332 From Canada, joined Feb 2005, 1644 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3258 times:
People in general just do not like YEG as an airport. It's old, in the middle of nowhere, has subpar amenities, and it costs a fortune to take a cab downtown as there is no regular transit service linking the airport with the city.
The biggest mistake was trying to operate the two airports at the same time... the loss of international service to Calgary over the years is the result.
Considering it's an hour drive from the north end of Edmonton, why not just drive the 2 extra hours and depart from Calgary instead? That's exactly what people are doing.
Hawaiian763 From Canada, joined May 2009, 239 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3258 times:
Doesn't help that Edmonton's Airport is a half hour drive outside of the city. Heck you might as well keep driving to Calgary. You would probably be almost there by the time your plane landed in Calgary
FlyDeltaJets87 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3255 times:
Quoting JBAirwaysFan (Reply 7): We have to do this with DAB to stop the MCO leakage. I can see it now: Just say no to Orlando!
They already have a campaign here in DAB - "Fly Daytona First!", complete with commercials and billboards along I-75. I know the commercials advertise how you "don't have to drive an hour after landing but can be home in just a few minutes". Pretty easy to see what that is targeted at. www.flydaytonafirst.com takes you to the DAB home page.
HKGKaiTak From Australia, joined Jun 2005, 1050 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3035 times:
LOL on the one hand I applaud the ingenuity of this marketing campaign (guilt-tripping always works) BUT wonder at why the YEG people aren't actually looking into the WHY of this behaviour and addressing it to their advantage.
As a one-time Alberta resident I always find the Edmonton v Calgary rivalry amusing ...
I don't know the YEG dynamics well - what's the reason why there's seemingly a critical mass of travellers who fly ex-YYC? Is it because there's cheaper flights available or just a larger range of direct destinations? I'm only asking this because I'm guessing it'd take quite a good deal (or much better connections) for me to drive 3-4 hours to another airport. You'd think most people wouldn't bother if the difference in fares or travel time aren't significant.
flyb From Canada, joined Aug 2006, 630 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 2880 times:
It is a very different approach. I don't see anything wrong with this approach, I actually just flew through YEG the other day and was very impressed by some of the improvements. I don't know why people would say this airport is old? Sure it's 15 minutes south of the city, but so are a lot of airports.
Not sure what I feel about this approach, but I do know that people in Edmonton should use there airport. YYC is doing fine on our own.
FlyDeltaJets87 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 2843 times:
Quoting FlyDeltaJets87 (Reply 12): They already have a campaign here in DAB - "Fly Daytona First!", complete with commercials and billboards along I-75.
*Should be "I-95", not I-75. I got my sides of the state mixed up.
pnwtraveler From Canada, joined Jun 2007, 2046 posts, RR: 12 Reply 16, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 2809 times:
If Edmonton had a fast rail link to the airport it would help a lot. Albertans don't mind driving so the drive to YEG isn't viewed quite the same as another city would, but that is starting to change. And if a high speed rail is developed between cities with a stop at YYC then it would be even easier to fly out of YYC for Edmontonians and things will be back at the beginning.
Convenience is only part of the issue. As stated above the whole Edmonton and Calgary rivalry thing is the big thing. Edmonton has spent a lot of money upgrading YEG and are just trying to recoup some of the investment. It rankles my Edmonton relatives to have to fly out of Calgary. Some are retired so it isn't really an issue of time but pride and convenience.
YYCowboy From Canada, joined Aug 2006, 143 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
Once again, I'm amazed.
YEG prefering and actively campaigning to rout travellers through a US port and US customs, simply to avoid connecting at YYC. Irresponsible on many fronts and petty at best.
Many, many travellers, including Calgarians, will connect at other ports, be it YYZ or YVR or YUL. Whats the big deal?
For many Albertans, Edmonton is the most hideous place on earth and must be avoided. Some actually enjoy a trip to Calgary to catch a plane, its a very handsome city, in a great location.
My hunch is that Calgary generates a great deal more buisness/tourist travellers than Edmonton, hence the service it recieves and Edmontonians bennefit as well.
I'm stunned, YYC is an Alberta based buisness, lets keep the money here folks, patronise our own. BA, KLM, LH and AC are offering Alberta their long haul product, they hope to make money with these routes. It would appear YEG wishes to boycott them because they use YYC.
The way I see it, the success of any airport is the needs of its citizens combined with it being a destination for buisness and tourists. YYC's success in its growth serves all Alberta well. YEG's tears will not change its economics.
Many airlines have tried, failed and pulled out of YEG, this track record doesn't bode well for future consideration. In the mean time, YYC will welcome all travellers from Edmonton who wish to transit there.
Good luck YYC on your new parallell runway and terminal expansion plans.
Its hard to soar like an eagle when you're flying with turkeys
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 18, posted (3 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 2455 times:
Quoting thenoflyzone (Reply 5):
YYZ, YVR and even YUL have considerably more international passengers than that.
Even YUL? YUL has a huge international operation and has since these flying contraptions have been buzzing around.
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