Scutfarcus From United States of America, joined May 2000, 357 posts, RR: 1 Posted (10 years 11 months 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 735 times:
Bit bored today, so i got to pondering the fate of air service to Juneau, AK. They've had an Alaska airlines monopoly for as long as I know, and if you want to go anywhere in the continental US, you must pass throught SEA.
SO... it seems rather baffling that Air Canada dosn't offer service! There must be enough traffic to Vancouver to justify a regional jet at the very least, wouldn't there be? And possibly even more service if you consider Vancouver to be at the very least a nice alternative hub to the lower 48 as Seattle, plus brings in the Star Alliance.
EA CO AS From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 12595 posts, RR: 64 Reply 1, posted (10 years 11 months 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 719 times:
It's not exactly a huge market, hence there's no direct air service. Realistically, the only time any such service would have high demand is for people who missed their cruise out of YVR and had to pick it up on day two in JNU.
"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem - government IS the problem." - Ronald Reagan
Dutchjet From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 7864 posts, RR: 58 Reply 3, posted (10 years 11 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 672 times:
SEA is the gateway to all Alaska cities.....Vancouver is not. Strange, but thats the way it is. Almost everyone travelling to cities in Alaska other than ANC must transit SEA, and a high percentage of pax to ANC also connect in SEA.
Air Canada's service between YVR and ANC is very, very new......I think it just started this summer and may be seasonal. The ANC market is bigger than Juneau; the cities in ANC are rather small, and rely on air service due to limited roads networks (or, in JNU's case, there are no roads in and out of that city.....one must fly out or take the ferry).
Searpqx From Netherlands, joined Jun 2000, 4343 posts, RR: 12 Reply 4, posted (10 years 11 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 658 times:
Remember, JNU is only 30,000 or so people. While YVR is a relatively popular destination out of Juneau, that still only translates to 4-5 people a day, maybe 10/day during the summer. FAI then PDX would make far more sense for N/S service out of Juneau.
Its not so strange that SEA is the gateway to Alaska vs. YVR. Up until the last 10 years or so air service between the US and Canada was very restricted, so what service there was out of Vancouver was focused south, not north. Plus it makes more sense to transfer in another US city (SEA) vs. a foreign port (YVR) when making your way between two US points.
For the record, besides Alaska, Juneau has been served by PanAm, Wein Air Alaska, Western (once in the 60s/70s then again in the 80s), Delta (after the purchase of WA) and MarkAir. PanAm and Western were required to give up the market by the CAB, and all of the others dropped Juneau after varying amounts of time. Air North has had service to YXY for several years, but only a couple of times a week. Canadian North has never served Juneau.
Sorry for rambling, but I got my start in the industry in Juneau, so I'm sorta fond of the town.
Duane
"The two most common elements in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity"
Scutfarcus From United States of America, joined May 2000, 357 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (10 years 11 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 649 times:
Makes sense...
I had figured that despite its size, Juneau's state capital status would generate some government travel to Canada. Guess not that much!
Dutchjet From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 7864 posts, RR: 58 Reply 6, posted (10 years 11 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 646 times:
You raise a good point concerning govt traffic......I think there are 2 or 3 daily nonstop flights between JNU and ANC, with up to 4 or 5 flights per day in the summer to accommodate additional tourist traffic. The law makers and gove workers head to ANC during their time off, as ANC is Alaska's biggest city.
By the way, JNU is a great place......first time there was with AS 727-100s, second time with Wein Air Alaska 737-200C (from Whitehorse).
Brianhames From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 795 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (10 years 11 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 641 times:
I'm from Sitka, 90 miles south of Juneau. And Delta used to serve Juneau, with flights from JNU-SFO.
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