Effective April 1, Air Canada will no longer serve Lethbridge and Medicine Hat from Calgary. Lethbridge is currently served three times daily and Medicine Hat twice daily, both with the Dash 8-100 operated by Jazz Aviation. Historically, these flights have been operated on the Dash 8-300 (Jazz Aviation) and Beechcraft 1900 (Air Georgian and Central Mountain Air). Source

This comes shortly after the City of Lethbridge approved the first of a five-phased renovation and expansion project for their terminal.

Nice little coup for WestJet.

After AC left, I only can see WS still operates to these small airports.

They have been using the few remaining DH1s in the fleet to operate these flights - my guess is this corresponds with exit of those last DH1s from the Jazz fleet.

Unfortunately Castlegar is rumoured to be next on the chopping block... don’t know the validity of this or how much is removed from the flying.

I could definitely see the Calgary to Castlegar route being the next to fall. I'm sure WS would be quick jump in if that happens.

Is the DH1s or the oil price tanking again, I wonder....

shoelessjoe wrote:

They have been using the few remaining DH1s in the fleet to operate these flights - my guess is this corresponds with exit of those last DH1s from the Jazz fleet.

That would make sense - per Air Canada's 2019 year-end update, all six Dash 8-100s are to exit the fleet this year.

North3270 wrote:

I could definitely see the Calgary to Castlegar route being the next to fall. I'm sure WS would be quick jump in if that happens.

WestJet isn’t allowed into YCG without amendments to the participation act between AC and the Federal Govt. With more pressing issues I doubt there’s even time to consider that right now.

[twoid] no[/twoid]

C172YT wrote:

shoelessjoe wrote:

They have been using the few remaining DH1s in the fleet to operate these flights - my guess is this corresponds with exit of those last DH1s from the Jazz fleet.

That would make sense - per Air Canada's 2019 year-end update, all six Dash 8-100s are to exit the fleet this year.

Could be, -100s we’re done in May according to internal information and the AC timetable. However, YXH and YQL weren’t; they were slated to have -300 service once again along with all other Dash 8 serviced routes out of YYC/YVR this summer.

CFM565A1 wrote:

North3270 wrote:

I could definitely see the Calgary to Castlegar route being the next to fall. I'm sure WS would be quick jump in if that happens.

WestJet isn’t allowed into YCG without amendments to the participation act between AC and the Federal Govt. With more pressing issues I doubt there’s even time to consider that right now.

What restrictions would be preventing WS serving YCG??

Guess WS is beating AC to the YYC hub. AC should more focus on YVR as they are stronger there.

Refresh my memory why the Qs can’t serve YCG? I mean CP and PW used to fly in there with 37s.....not sure why a Q can’t do it

Whiteguy wrote:

CFM56 I 5A1 wrote:

North3270 wrote:

I could definitely see the Calgary to Castlegar route being the next to fall. I'm sure WS would be quick jump in if that happens.

WestJet isn’t allowed into YCG without amendments to the participation act between AC and the Federal Govt. With more pressing issues I doubt there’s even time to consider that right now.

What restrictions would be preventing WS serving YCG??

They’re apparently in the participation act with AC. I’d have to look into it again; it was explained to me a while back so I’m foggy on it...

ramprat320 wrote:

Refresh my memory why the Qs can’t serve YCG? I mean CP and PW used to fly in there with 37s.....not sure why a Q can’t do it

Speeds in icing conditions aren’t slow enough for what the approach demands on the Q400. A 737-200 actually could have a Ref Speed much slower than a Q400 & the stable approach criteria did not exist when CP/PW operated there.

AC also axed 1 of 2 Whitehorse flights for April

It should be interesting to see what changes might occur with the current Castlegar flight schedule. It's obvious that AC is trying to ditch their classic DH8 flying out west. Currently the western DH8 are cycling out of the YYC base once a day to YYC - YEG -YXE -YEG -YYC, 2 X YYC - YXH -YYC, 3 X YYC - YQL - YYC and 1 X YYC - YCG - YVR - YCG - YYC with an additional 2 X YVR - YCG - YVR. What agreement AC has with the federal government for YCG remains a mystery. WS if they were smart would avoid YCG and leave it to 8P to operate YYC -YZZ as 8P already operates YVR - YZZ - YVR.

Has Air Canada always had a presence at Lethbridge? It was on the original Transcontinental route back in the late 1930s.

I've always been surprised that a city the size of Lethbridge doesn't have either YYZ or YVR service. It must be such a time wasting hassle to transit in YYC.

Skywatcher wrote:

I've always been surprised that a city the size of Lethbridge doesn't have either YYZ or YVR service. It must be such a time wasting hassle to transit in YYC.

WestJet’s hub in YYC is much larger than YVR; AC is opposite. YYC is the logical hub for that airline. YYZ is too far away for an aircraft small enough, and YVR would only be a daily DH4. Better to have frequent service to closest hub which for AC is still YYC.

And prior to the Central Mountain Air operated B1900D's, it was operated by BarXH Aviation using Jetstream 31/32, and before that AirBC Jetstreams.

I flew into Lethbridge and Medicine Hat quite a few times on the J31/32, 1900D, and Dash8, and always found it convenient. Just unfortunate that more people didn't. I never understood why more people didn't - while it costed a bit more for domestic, it often cost the exact same as flying out of YYC for international, and much less hassle factor with the short security line in YQL rather than the drive plus standing in line at YYC. But lots of people didn't seem to have any interest if it wasn't WestJet...

The lack of YQL-YVR has puzzled me for a long time - it seems the exact sort of route to use an RJ, and there is definitely enough population base plus possibility of stimulating new traffic.

ghYHZ wrote:

Has Air Canada always had a presence at Lethbridge? It was on the original Transcontinental route back in the late 1930s.

The original transcon was through YQL, but AC discontinued YQL service in the '50's or '60's. Those routes were typically transferred to regional carriers. TimeAir, based in Lethbridge, was the main carrier for a long time.

Pacific Western had badly wanted in to Lethbridge, but ended up buying TimeAir instead. And then after the PWA/CPAir merger, AC bought AirBC (which was a CP Air connector before that, I believe), and AirBC started competing against TimeAir (Canadi>n Regional) in most of the western regional routes.

In the 80's, Time Air (KI) did operate a daily YQL-YLW-YVR service.

How about an A-220 YVR-YQL-YYZ service? The population is close to 100k while there's lots of money and transplanted Easterners in Lethbridge. I would think that there are more than a few young southern Albertans re-locating to YVR these days too. I've been to Lethbridge and realize that there may be a severe anti-AC bias but still....

CFM565A1 wrote:

North3270 wrote:

I could definitely see the Calgary to Castlegar route being the next to fall. I'm sure WS would be quick jump in if that happens.

WestJet isn’t allowed into YCG without amendments to the participation act between AC and the Federal Govt. With more pressing issues I doubt there’s even time to consider that right now.

Unmitigated nonsense.

Lethbridge had served (forgot name airline not sure) B737-200 many years ago.

Q

jimbo737 wrote:

CFM565A1 wrote:

North3270 wrote:

I could definitely see the Calgary to Castlegar route being the next to fall. I'm sure WS would be quick jump in if that happens.

WestJet isn’t allowed into YCG without amendments to the participation act between AC and the Federal Govt. With more pressing issues I doubt there’s even time to consider that right now.

Unmitigated nonsense.

Could WestJet send in WS Link with a Saab 340 YYC - Castlegar?

jimbo737 wrote:

CFM565A1 wrote:

North3270 wrote:

I could definitely see the Calgary to Castlegar route being the next to fall. I'm sure WS would be quick jump in if that happens.

WestJet isn’t allowed into YCG without amendments to the participation act between AC and the Federal Govt. With more pressing issues I doubt there’s even time to consider that right now.

Unmitigated nonsense.

pot calling the kettle bud!

Since routes are being suspended which part of the fleet will be parked and where?

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/hom ... ravel.html

SpaceshipDC10 wrote:

Since routes are being suspended which part of the fleet will be parked and where?

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/hom ... ravel.html

Apart from its troubled 737 MAX, I see most of its long haul fleet will likely be grounded as well - mostly 787, 777? Also, Will AC accelerate E190 and 767 retirement as well?

Possibly some early retirements for older A320s as well. Expect more suspensions as Canada has closed its borders to all but the US.

What are the chances of the Air Transat acquisition aborting? Stock market seems to think it’s not gonna happen

Don't know whether it's related but it seems that A333 C-GFUR has not returned to service since it flew back from Singapore at the end of February and landed at YYZ.

Salomon wrote:

What are the chances of the Air Transat acquisition aborting? Stock market seems to think it’s not gonna happen

At this point TS’ survival probably hinges on it happening. AC have at least 6 billion in unrestricted liquidity.

SpaceshipDC10 wrote:

Don't know whether it's related but it seems that A333 C-GFUR has not returned to service since it flew back from Singapore at the end of February and landed at YYZ.

No point flying an aircraft that is in a different configuration then the other 330s.

It would just be more of a headache for operations/gate agents to have to reprint boarding passes and re seat everyone.

alexdelzotto wrote:

SpaceshipDC10 wrote:

Don't know whether it's related but it seems that A333 C-GFUR has not returned to service since it flew back from Singapore at the end of February and landed at YYZ.

No point flying an aircraft that is in a different configuration then the other 330s.

It would just be more of a headache for operations/gate agents to have to reprint boarding passes and re seat everyone.

That's why you dedicate the aircraft to one route at first, you don't just park it ! These are not BAU times though and C-GFUR is looking shiney and ready to go outside the AC hangar next to T3 at YYZ, it's not in storage per se.

If you are talking about planes being parked due to this crises I would predict the following.

All EMJ, mainline 767, unconfigured 330. And all 777. Once the repatriation is (mostly)complete they would likely continue a domestic operation. Skeleton transborder, Caribbean, and all but cease European flying.

I would suggest there will be more once things evolve. Also booking momentum is gone. And if this thing ended tomorrow it would take months not weeks to produce a demand to justify the return of metal.

This thing is beyond massive. And without huge government support airlines globally will vanish.

The timeline for this would be fluid, and I’ve never hoped to be completely wrong before. Good luck to all.

The St. John's Airport Authority has given AC approval to park up to 16 a/c here in YYT. I haven't heard officially what a/c will be stored here or if there will be any at all. I was talking to one of our Aircraft techs yesterday and he told me there could be some A330's parked here, but it hadn't been confirmed.

Not Air Canada but Canada sent a 737-200 to Morocco to pick up Canadians today.

rlwynn wrote:

Not Air Canada but Canada sent a 737-200 to Morocco to pick up Canadians today.

As in Nolinor? That'll be quite the multi-stop journey...but those stuck will just be happy to be heading home.

Yes, Nolinor. Canada, Iceland, Shannon, Cassablanca. The article is only in German. And it was an x Royal Air Moroc plane from 1983.

I read that Air Canada would be flying the Morocco repatriation charter. I can't imagine if they are that they'd sub-charter a 737-200 from Nolinor???

As for parking aircraft, AC will be flying a very limited international schedule to LHR, CDG, FRA, HKG, DEL, and NRT. I'm guessing they'll use 77Ws for those. Even though they will likely be impossible to fill with pax, they likely can carry way more cargo with them than any other aircraft in their fleet and that means not only $$$ but the capacity to carry strategic materials in these tough times (medicine, medical equipment, etc.)

I'm guessing there will be a lot of flying consolidated, so you might find a few A330s doing transcontinental, maybe the odd 787, and the best of the narrowbodies doing the rest. I expect to see remaining mainline 767s parked indefinitely, all older 319s and 320s parked and/or retired, and the 4 current A220s and A321s picking up the slack, with the remaining A220s on order being deferred until better times. The Embraers likely will be all retired. So my guess is that it's mainly the 787s that will end up parked until sunnier skies return, which will extend their lives.

It would also not surprise me if AC took the opportunity to cancel all remaining undelivered MAXs, and when good times return, opting for a A321NEO/LR/XLR mix instead.

Those are my prognostications! As I tell my kids, my advice is free, and you get what you pay for...

Beech

rlwynn wrote:

Not Air Canada but Canada sent a 737-200 to Morocco to pick up Canadians today.

YMX-YYR-KEF-SNN-CMN flown by C-GNLN, it's a -200C.

https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/ ... ion/rqnx6r

I'm skeptical it's Nolinor. This news item from today suggests it will be a 77W, high-density version:

https://canadianaviationnews.wordpress. ... ir-canada/

beechnut wrote:

I'm skeptical it's Nolinor. This news item from today suggests it will be a 77W, high-density version:

https://canadianaviationnews.wordpress. ... ir-canada/

Nolinor already operated a charter. There will be many more repatriation flights to come not limited to Morocco.

Are they taking more precautions on these repatriation flights? Is everyone masked, are they actually checking for symptoms, etc.? A friend was on a flight home the other day and there were unmasked coughers galore. Nobody asked about symptoms until they got to Canada.

beechnut wrote:

I'm skeptical it's Nolinor. This news item from today suggests it will be a 77W, high-density version:

https://canadianaviationnews.wordpress. ... ir-canada/

77W C-FIVX was flown as AC7066 YYZ-YHZ yesterday, and today it's on its way as AC7050 YHZ-CMN. Any reason for the Halifax stop?

Currently, 77W C-FNNU and C-FITW have been ferried to YMX March 20th and 19th respectively, while C-FNNQ is at SIN since March 8th.

77L C-FIUJ was flown HND-SIN March 16th a couple of days after operating AC1.

AC have the domestic and international portions of their April schedule live. I found the following aircraft types in service:

Mainline
E90 - mostly on YYZ-YOW, but on a few others
220 - all flights touch YUL
319
320
321
333 - including 1x YYZ-YHZ - lobster hauler?
789
77W

Rouge
319 - to YQT and YQM from YYZ

Express
DH1 - yep still found it active in Alberta, albeit barely
DH3 - all in the East
DH4
CR2
CR9

So no 763s (both mainline and Rouge), 788s, 77Ls anywhere that I can see. I would disregard transborder at this point. E75s show up on transborder...which is where they mostly are anyways. I would imagine some E75 flying will continue.

Lots of Express towns suspended. YLW keeps mainline 1x 320 to YVR, while YQB-YYZ has a mainline E90 or 320 on some days.

Dominion301 wrote:

AC have the domestic and international portions of their April schedule live. I found the following aircraft types in service:

Mainline
E90 - mostly on YYZ-YOW, but on a few others
220 - all flights touch YUL
319
320
321
333 - including 1x YYZ-YHZ - lobster hauler?
789
77W

Rouge
319 - to YQT and YQM from YYZ

Express
DH1 - yep still found it active in Alberta, albeit barely
DH3 - all in the East
DH4
CR2
CR9

So no 763s (both mainline and Rouge), 788s, 77Ls anywhere that I can see. I would disregard transborder at this point. E75s show up on transborder...which is where they mostly are anyways. I would imagine some E75 flying will continue.

Lots of Express towns suspended. YLW keeps mainline 1x 320 to YVR, while YQB-YYZ has a mainline E90 or 320 on some days.

I would think all Rouge flying will disappear, all FAs are being laid off and Rouge shut down.

Whiteguy wrote:

I would think all Rouge flying will disappear, all FAs are being laid off and Rouge shut down.

That is correct. There will be no Rouge flying in April at all. Rouge routes will be flown by mainline flights.