Erm. I believe they have these for 747s at JFK, so it wouldn't be the first in norht America. Fascinating nonetheless.

Nice picture, but they are far away from being the first to use dual bridges. 1967: View Large View Medium Photo © Matt Kluck And over the wing-bridges were installed at the old IAB at JFK (now demolished), but I never saw a picture of them in actual use; for 747. View Large View Medium Photo © Mark Bess AMS is still having them View Large View Medium Photo © Miguel Snoep and I remember also, as mentioned, that Southwest was trying them too a few years ago. So, not a new story at all!!

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! :-(

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

I think this is a 737-700!

Oh hang on, this could be a first, because most dual airbridges are all before the wing. Haven't seen many over-the wing ones......

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.

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

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. Southwest tests twin loading systems; airline trying dual boarding of passengers a Love Field. 03/07/2003 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. LoneStarMike

Brilliant idea, I've always wished these things would be installed for planes like the 737. Here's a link to the company that makes them, good info and photos: http://www.fmt.se/airport/v2/airport/articles/otw001.htm

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!

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.

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

"The finish line is just the beginning of a whole new race"

The difference with this bridge is that it is made solely for smaller single aisle aircraft. Especially the discount market. Yes that is a 737-700 at the gate.

Mark McWhirter...Contrails Photography

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

Yeah, I really think they're talking about dual jetbridges to a tiny plane. Obviously people use them for widebodies daily. N

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...    USAIRWAYS321

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?" somewhere... someone's looking at their watch...

Greg you cynical bastard, don't stand in the way of progress, damn it!!!

"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster

YVR is scheduled to get them next in the new A pier opening in June 2004. If the first one in YYC goes well there will be 3 more put in. You do not actually drive the overwing part. You drive the forward part like a regular bridge and the overwing part bridges automatically.

At KIX, we used a dual bridge for an A330 CX.

Go big or go home

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

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.

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).