Chicago Aviation - 2023

glbltrvlr · Fri Jan 27, 2023 10:07 pm

BB78710 wrote:
Im guessing you misread what I actually wrote because at no point did I suggest, write or imply opening up Polars lounges to people not traveling in business class.

My mistake - I thought when the Polaris lounges opened that access was limited to just those with Polaris tickets on UA aircraft. Hadn't realized that non-UA flights qualified.

dopplerd · Sat Jan 28, 2023 1:16 am

A lot going on at ORD today.

Cape Air nose gear collapse
https://abc7chicago.com/ohare-airport-c ... to8klirktg

And apparently two planes ended up nose to nose on the Alpha bridge and one needed to be pushed back by a tug.

yeogeo · Sat Jan 28, 2023 2:53 am

Icelandair is bumping up its KEF-ORD schedule a bit to 14/wk this year starting the week of June 4. Double daily continues through September 10.
If my memory serves me, last summer was 13 flights per week through the summer.

Meanwhile United will serve the route once per day starting May 13, continuing through September 28.

gabik001 · Sat Jan 28, 2023 3:44 am

yeogeo wrote:

Icelandair is bumping up its KEF-ORD schedule a bit to 14/wk this year starting the week of June 4. Double daily continues through September 10.
If my memory serves me, last summer was 13 flights per week through the summer.

Meanwhile United will serve the route once per day starting May 13, continuing through September 28.

I think its time for me to visit Iceland finally... My wife will like it.

se210 · Sat Jan 28, 2023 1:50 pm

Aeronaves TSM has been very active with LRD (Laredo,TX) flights to GYY and RFD this last week **.

GYY has seen 3 DC-9 flights since Thursday (01/26/2023):

XA-UPS DC-9-33F VTM462 LRD-GYY (01/26/2023)
XA-DHL DC-9-33RC(F) VTM193 LRD-GYY (01/26/2023)
XA-UXR DC-9-15MC VTM61 LRD-GYY (01/27/2023)

RFD has seen 6 MD-82/MD-83 flights since Monday (01/23/2023):

XA-VCB MD-83(SF) VTM293 LRD-RFD (01/23/2023)
XA-VDR MD-83 VTM122 LRD-RFD (01/24/2023)
XA-VBG MD-82 VTM217 LRD-RFD (01/25/2023)
XA-UVG MD-83(SF) VTM663 LRD-RFD (01/25/2023)
XA-UZX MD-83 VTM289 LRD-RFD (01/26/2023)
XA-UVG MD-83(SF) VTM663 LRD-RFD (01/27/2023)

XA-VDR has the orange/red paint scheme and the rest of the MD-82s/MD-83s that visited RFD this week have the black paint scheme.

Some additonal photos of various Aeronaves TSM aircraft from their Our Fleet webpage including interior photos and a nice one showing a hint for one of XA-DHL's previous owners (N941F).

** Note: According to Wikipedia-Aeronaves TSM and the Center For Aviation-Deutsche Post DHL Group they are listed as a DHL contract carrier/operating for DHL. However, neither the DHL Aviation-Fleet Information / Wikipedia-DHL Aviation-Fleet (which shows many DHL Contractor Aircraft) show any DC-9/MD-82/MD-83 aircraft and there is no mention of DHL on Aeronaves TSM.

emcm541 · Sat Jan 28, 2023 3:00 pm

Service update:

-AAEagle restarting service from ORD-SPI on a CR2 (Air Wisconsin) in June - https://www.sj-r.com/story/business/tra ... 840643007/

yeogeo · Sat Jan 28, 2023 3:09 pm

se210 wrote:
Aeronaves TSM has been very active with LRD (Laredo,TX) flights to GYY and RFD this last week **.
GYY has seen 3 DC-9 flights since Thursday (01/26/2023)...

Thanks for your reporting, se!
Especially interesting to hear about GYY flights which very rarely get mention on this thread.
Any other activity at Gary, cargo or pax, or is Aeronaves pretty much it for commercial flights these days?

yeogeo · Sat Jan 28, 2023 4:56 pm

schernov wrote:
What ORD needs is t1-2-3 to t5 transport on the clean side for connections.

The bus service that did just that has been suspended for, what, three years now?

https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/Servic ... s/tbt.aspx

My theory is that TTB (Terminal Transit Bus) will quietly fade away from the CDA web site one day - sorta like what happened to UA's T2 <> C gates shuttle.

Maybe the CDA is thinking we should get that thing going again, but...

•intl' traffic hasn't picked up to '19 levels.
•how will the OGT affect pax circulation between terminals in a few years time?!
•just spent a whole lotta money on ATS rejuvenation.
•buses on the field complicate circulation in a congested areas -esp btw T-5 and T-3 - scary!
•T-5 isn't done yet - we'll see
•We have a lot on our hands and you want buses?!

Who knows?

jcwr56 · Sun Jan 29, 2023 1:45 pm

yeogeo wrote:
schernov wrote:
What ORD needs is t1-2-3 to t5 transport on the clean side for connections.

The bus service that did just that has been suspended for, what, three years now?

https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/Servic ... s/tbt.aspx

My theory is that TTB (Terminal Transit Bus) will quietly fade away from the CDA web site one day - sorta like what happened to UA's T2 <> C gates shuttle.

Maybe the CDA is thinking we should get that thing going again, but...

•intl' traffic hasn't picked up to '19 levels.
•how will the OGT affect pax circulation between terminals in a few years time?!
•just spent a whole lotta money on ATS rejuvenation.
•buses on the field complicate circulation in a congested areas -esp btw T-5 and T-3 - scary!
•T-5 isn't done yet - we'll see
•We have a lot on our hands and you want buses?!

Who knows?

It resumes March 1st, L24 stop has been removed due the 3 gate expansion that's started.

PHAN2OM · Sun Jan 29, 2023 2:20 pm

jcwr56 wrote:
It resumes March 1st, L24 stop has been removed due the 3 gate expansion that's started.

Just out of curiosity, how do you know this? I feel like we have heard that before but they kept kicking it down the road. I don't see anything about it on the website.

If it is coming back, will one need a BP for T5 like before or can anyone airside use it?

ORD2010 · Sun Jan 29, 2023 2:53 pm

PHAN2OM wrote:
jcwr56 wrote:
It resumes March 1st, L24 stop has been removed due the 3 gate expansion that's started.

Just out of curiosity, how do you know this? I feel like we have heard that before but they kept kicking it down the road. I don't see anything about it on the website.

If it is coming back, will one need a BP for T5 like before or can anyone airside use it?

I don’t know when it’ll resume, but we designed and built out a new covered bus waiting and loading area on the airside side with the terminal work, I believe specifically for inter-terminal travel.

yeogeo · Sun Jan 29, 2023 3:05 pm

jcwr56 wrote:
yeogeo wrote:
schernov wrote:
What ORD needs is t1-2-3 to t5 transport on the clean side for connections.

The bus service that did just that has been suspended for, what, three years now?

https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/Servic ... s/tbt.aspx
...
Who knows [when/if it will start up again]?

It resumes March 1st, L24 stop has been removed due the 3 gate expansion that's started.

I should have known: jcwr will know. Thanks for that! Good news!

ORD2010 wrote:
...we designed and built out a new covered bus waiting and loading area on the airside side with the terminal work, I believe specifically for inter-terminal travel.

You're talking about T5 I presume... Where exactly is the waiting/loading area? *curious

yeogeo · Sun Jan 29, 2023 3:32 pm

yeogeo wrote:
se210 wrote:
Aeronaves TSM has been very active with LRD (Laredo,TX) flights to GYY and RFD this last week **.
GYY has seen 3 DC-9 flights since Thursday (01/26/2023)...

Thanks for your reporting, se!
Especially interesting to hear about GYY flights which very rarely get mention on this thread.
Any other activity at Gary, cargo or pax, or is Aeronaves pretty much it for commercial flights these days?

Having some time, I did my own research on flights out of GYY - took me about one minute on Wiki - and the answer is there are no commercial pax flights currently:
G4 pulled out in 2013. However, aside from Aeronaves, UPS and AirNet Express operate regularly scheduled cargo flights.

Gary has a 8859' runway (for comparison, 9L/27R at O'Hare is 7500' in length), so the field is capable, but its easy to say that GYY isn't living up to its potential, especially for an airport that touts itself as being just 25 miles from downtown with the lowest landing fees and fuel fees in the region.

https://flygyy.com

se210 · Sun Jan 29, 2023 7:15 pm

yeogeo wrote:
se210 wrote:
Aeronaves TSM has been very active with LRD (Laredo,TX) flights to GYY and RFD this last week **. GYY has seen 3 DC-9 flights since Thursday (01/26/2023)...

Having some time, I did my own research on flights out of GYY - took me about one minute on Wiki - and the answer is there are no commercial pax flights currently:
G4 pulled out in 2013. However, aside from Aeronaves, UPS and AirNet Express operate regularly scheduled cargo flights.

Although not a "commercial pax" flight, GYY gets a weekly iAero immigration flight from HRL every Friday (n.b. these all start with SWQ3xxx flight numbers). Here are the flights for January, 2023:

01/06/2023 SWQ3606 N397SW (B737-3H4) HRL-GYY-MCI-AEX-HRL
01/13/2023 SWQ3709 N397SW (B737-3H4) HRL-GYY-OMA-MCI-AEX-HRL
01/20/2023 SWQ3620 N397SW (B737-3H4) HRL-GYY-MCI-AEX-HRL
01/27/2023 SWQ3710 N276EA (B737-8AL) HRL-GYY-OMA-MCI-AEX-HRL

FYI, Aeronaves TSM operated another LRD-GYY DC-9 flight (VTM194) late last night (01/28/2022). The aircraft was XA-UOG DC-9-33RC and was last photograhped in October, 2022 in ex-Mercado Libre colors (see below; not certain if it has been repainted since). It is still at GYY as of noon today (01/29/2023) and anyone driving along I-90 should be able to see it as it would stand out in the fresh snow we just had. No doubt bringing back memories of another airline who operated DC-9s in a yellow paint scheme!

ORDLHR787 · Sun Jan 29, 2023 7:24 pm

In previous discussions on GYY some have pointed out the need to replace the terminal and parking facilities as the primary obstacle to renewed passenger operations. Why GYY isnt attracting much bigger investment in freight operations is a mystery to me.

jcwr56 · Mon Jan 30, 2023 12:21 pm

yeogeo wrote:
jcwr56 wrote:
yeogeo wrote:

The bus service that did just that has been suspended for, what, three years now?

https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/Servic ... s/tbt.aspx
...
Who knows [when/if it will start up again]?

It resumes March 1st, L24 stop has been removed due the 3 gate expansion that's started.

I should have known: jcwr will know. Thanks for that! Good news!

ORD2010 wrote:
...we designed and built out a new covered bus waiting and loading area on the airside side with the terminal work, I believe specifically for inter-terminal travel.

You're talking about T5 I presume... Where exactly is the waiting/loading area? *curious

It's labeled as M13. This will also be used for live departures that will bus out to the hardstand or EAS areas up at M1.

PHAN2OM · Mon Jan 30, 2023 3:27 pm

jcwr56 wrote:
It's labeled as M13. This will also be used for live departures that will bus out to the hardstand or EAS areas up at M1.

Can one take this bus from T3 to T5 for a lounge and then take it back to T3?

emcm541 · Tue Jan 31, 2023 11:38 am

Some service Updates:

- Swiss will be sending its refurbished 4 class 343 on ORD-ZRH beginning April 1 (no joke) - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230131-lx340

AA Has made the following changes to the schedule - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230131-aaus

Dropped Routes
- ORD-SJC

Service Resumptions Now Pushed Out to 8/15
- ORD-BOI
- ORD-RNO

Service Resumptions Now Pushed Out to 6/1 or 6/3
- ORD-BIL
- ORD-BTV
- ORD-MHT
- ORD-MSO
- ORD-MYR
- ORD-PWM
- ORD-RAP
- ORD-SAV
- ORD-ILM

Mexicana757 · Wed Feb 01, 2023 2:35 am

Frontier will be launching MDW-SJU. Flights start May 4th and will operate 6x weekly, except Saturdays. WN currently operates the route 1x weekly on Saturdays.

F9 134 MDW 10:14am - 3:52pm SJU
F9 135 SJU 4:00pm- 8:06pm MDW

SumChristianus · Wed Feb 01, 2023 4:36 am

Mexicana757 wrote:
Frontier will be launching MDW-SJU. Flights start May 4th and will operate 6x weekly, except Saturdays. WN currently operates the route 1x weekly on Saturdays.

F9 134 MDW 10:14am - 3:52pm SJU
F9 135 SJU 4:00pm- 8:06pm MDW

8 minute turn in SJU? Or does it turn to somewhere else in SJU?

Mexicana757 · Wed Feb 01, 2023 5:16 am

SumChristianus wrote:
Mexicana757 wrote:
Frontier will be launching MDW-SJU. Flights start May 4th and will operate 6x weekly, except Saturdays. WN currently operates the route 1x weekly on Saturdays.

F9 134 MDW 10:14am - 3:52pm SJU
F9 135 SJU 4:00pm- 8:06pm MDW

8 minute turn in SJU? Or does it turn to somewhere else in SJU?

The inbound and outbound flights are different airplanes. Yesterday F9 announced the launch of several routes out of SJU.

United787 · Wed Feb 01, 2023 3:08 pm

The Chicago Tribune has an article saying the T5 expansion is now officially open:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business ... story.html

United787 · Wed Feb 01, 2023 3:09 pm

United787 wrote:
The Chicago Tribune has an article saying the T5 expansion is now officially open:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business ... story.html

emcm541 · Wed Feb 01, 2023 3:48 pm

United787 wrote:
The Chicago Tribune has an article saying the T5 expansion is now officially open:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business ... story.html

It'll be interesting to see what it looks like in about 6-9 months after new concessions pop up. While it does appear a bit sterile, I actually like the open look it has.
Was there an option for more lounge space, if some airlines so desire, to be built at the newer end of the terminal?

se210 · Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:57 pm

se210 on 10/27/2022 wrote:
CMA CGM Air Cargo CMA404/2C404 CDG-ORD B777-F F-HMRB. First trip to North America since the delivery flight on 06/01/2022 from PAE-CDG (based on ADS-B Exchange website data). Currently due in ORD around 19:50.

The other CMA CGM Air Cargo B777-F, F-HMRF, operating as CMA410/2C410 (CDG-ORD) yesterday (01/31/2023), made its first** trip to North America since the delivery flight on 06/08/2022. Flying back today (02/01/2023) as CMA411/2C411 (ORD-CDG).

**Source: ADS-B Exchange data

glbltrvlr · Thu Feb 02, 2023 10:29 pm

emcm541 wrote:
It'll be interesting to see what it looks like in about 6-9 months after new concessions pop up. While it does appear a bit sterile, I actually like the open look it has.

That's the problem. My money is that it will look just like B&C and DFW Terminal D. What starts out as open space that makes walking easier turns into a nightmare of booths and bodies. They look at sales per square foot as a metric. All that open space drags down the numbers.

emcm541 · Sat Feb 04, 2023 3:33 pm

UA Service Updates (Note: some have been previously reported) - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230204-uans23:

- ORD-FRA upguages to 781 starting March 25 - 7x
- ORD-MXP service on 788 starts April 23, 1x, going to 7x May 27
- ORD-CDG upguages to 781 starting May 25 - 7x
- ORD-HND upguages to 781 starting March 25 - 7x
- ORD-AMS upguages to 788 starting March 25 - 7x
- ORD-BCN service on 788 starts May 25 - September 27 - 7x
- ORD-PEK downguages to 788 - 7x*
- ORD-BRU upguages to 781 starting March 25 - 7x
- ORD-MUC upguages to 781 starting March 25 - 7x
- ORD-GRU swaps to 781 starting March 25 - 7x
- ORD-PEK downguages to 788 - 7x
- ORD-SNN service on 752 starts May 25 - September 27 - 7x

se210 · Tue Feb 07, 2023 9:58 am

se210 on 01/22/203 wrote:
With today's flight CI5136 (TPE-KIX-ORD) operating as B-18772, 4 out of the 5 China Airline B777-Fs will have visited ORD in January, 2023 (B-18771,B-18772,B-18773,B-18775). The remaining B777-F aircraft, B-18776, is brand new and was delivered to China Airlines Cargo on 12/16/2022 but has not visited ORD yet (Source: ADS-B Exchange).

China Airlines Cargo B-18776 B777-F, operating as CI5216/CAL5216 (TPE-ORD), is making its first visit to ORD this morning (02/07/2023).

sircygnus · Wed Feb 08, 2023 2:12 pm

For those interested, I wonder if we might see some 4R arrivals early tomorrow morning, before winds switch around later in the morning. Could certainly see some crosswind usage tomorrow. I have fond memories of watching arrivals on 4R from Irving Park Rd. before OMP started.

emcm541 · Wed Feb 08, 2023 3:13 pm

sircygnus wrote:
For those interested, I wonder if we might see some 4R arrivals early tomorrow morning, before winds switch around later in the morning. Could certainly see some crosswind usage tomorrow. I have fond memories of watching arrivals on 4R from Irving Park Rd. before OMP started.

I grew up and still live under/adjacent to the 4R approach in the very close burbs to ORD. It was a great way to spot from my backyard as a kid and still remember seeing DC10s in UAs rainbow livery and the numerous 747s on final. The one drawback of the OMP....
Crosswind days are a great way to stare up and relax with some spotting at home.

IrishAyes · Wed Feb 08, 2023 7:05 pm

piedmontf284000 wrote:
gabik001 wrote:
yeogeo wrote:
Lufthansa is sending a 744 today on LH430, due to arrive at ~1pm today (Wednesday). Just thought it curious - Haven't seen LH operating one of those to O'Hare in years.

Seems like B744 by LH will visit ORD entire week. They started on Monday and 744 is scheduled till Friday.
I think last year we saw 744 one time.

You might be seeing more of them this summer. From a colleague "Advanced TATL sales are much higher then last year and there might not be enough capacity if bookings continue at this pace". Possible that LF might utilize the 744 in place of the A343 on the second daily.

That would be exciting. I am scheduled to fly ORDFRA in August on the 343 flight.

gabik001 · Wed Feb 08, 2023 9:22 pm

sircygnus wrote:
For those interested, I wonder if we might see some 4R arrivals early tomorrow morning, before winds switch around later in the morning. Could certainly see some crosswind usage tomorrow. I have fond memories of watching arrivals on 4R from Irving Park Rd. before OMP started.

So departures might be from 4L which gonna be just over my place. I can easily do plane spotting from my place on 22R arrivals (living near RIDGE reporting point).

pilotfox · Thu Feb 09, 2023 12:04 am

I noticed JAL has downgauged HND flights to 789 on some flights at the end March/April. Not sure how far out it goes.

emcm541 · Thu Feb 09, 2023 5:09 pm

For those of you that like data and visuals, another user on anet has taken the time to compile information regarding aircraft and destination for UA (all hubs) and AA (ORD only). In case anyone wishes to take a look, it's available here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1481375

atrude777 · Fri Feb 10, 2023 5:24 am

If DOT approves Marion-MWA's choice of Contour, a new airline may be coming to Chicago.

https://www.kfvs12.com/2023/02/10/veter ... take-over/

Curious if Contour will wind up at Terminal 5, or if AA would let them utilize a gate like they are in CLT!

I live in Chicago and utilize MWA Airport so I am looking forward to what will hopefully be a non stop flight back to my hometown!

Alex

emcm541 · Fri Feb 10, 2023 7:11 pm

Some service updates:

- AC upgauges ORD-YVR to 319 starting May 1, 7x (currently 14x on CR9) - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230210-acyvr
- CM reduces ORD-PTY to 10x starting March 26 - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230208-cmns23
- F9 ads MDW-SJU on 32N starting sometime May 2023, 1x - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230210-f9pr

muralir · Sat Feb 11, 2023 8:50 pm

emcm541 wrote:
United787 wrote:
The Chicago Tribune has an article saying the T5 expansion is now officially open:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business ... story.html

[...]
Was there an option for more lounge space, if some airlines so desire, to be built at the newer end of the terminal?

It would be a wasted opportunity for the CDA if they didn't build in some extra lounge space into the T5 expansion. I'm sure they could get top rates, especially with the expanded gates meaning more traffic.

I'm hoping at some point ORD finally gets a Centurion lounge. AmEx probably wants one but there probably isn't enough space. The T1/2/3 complex is old and built in a time before lounge space was in such demand. If the T5 expansion doesn't have more lounge space available to rent, then I'm hoping at least the new satellites will.

I wonder if CDA realizes that, for a lot of frequent fliers, especially the ones that airlines covet and build new service for (business travelers on expensive international flights), lounge quality is actually an important part of choosing your layover airport. Especially international service where you might have to layover for a few hours or more.

Having the space for good lounges isn't just about earning rent like a regular concession, but about providing a critical amenity that incentivizes the type of travel and passenger that gets airlines to add routes and service.

muralir · Sat Feb 11, 2023 8:54 pm

emcm541 wrote:
For those of you that like data and visuals, another user on anet has taken the time to compile information regarding aircraft and destination for UA (all hubs) and AA (ORD only). In case anyone wishes to take a look, it's available here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1481375

Wow. Can't believe that Denver is now 2nd to ORD in UA's system! That said, it's clear DEN and ORD are still primarily domestic hubs for UA. SFO and EWR have far more widebodies in service, and that seems to follow United's penchant for starting new services from those hubs, and then maybe expanding them to ORD if they first prove successful on the coasts.

piedmontf284000 · Sat Feb 11, 2023 11:18 pm

emcm541 wrote:
Some service updates:

- AC upgauges ORD-YVR to 319 starting May 1, 7x (currently 14x on CR9) - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230210-acyvr
- CM reduces ORD-PTY to 10x starting March 26 - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230208-cmns23
- F9 ads MDW-SJU on 32N starting sometime May 2023, 1x - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230210-f9pr

FWIW (not trying to shoot the messenger), AC has been daily on YVR for several years and since last May (sans the Month of November) it has been a mix of A319/20/21 with a few sprinkled 7M8's in there.
CM has only been daily since its resumption to ORD last year. I don't see them changing that either with a slew of new routes coming online, just not enough staff/equipment.

yeogeo · Sun Feb 12, 2023 3:59 pm

Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle, with up to 93mph winds and 12 inches of rain, is descending on New Zealand.
AirNZ operations will be affected through Tuesday, their time.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/weather-t ... ref=topbox
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/air-new-z ... ABKHIX5SY/

NZ26, today's arrival from AKL, was not one of the many cancelled flights. ETA 4:42pm, 45 minutes late

At this time Air New Zealand is predicting a 11:00 pm departure for NZ27 ORD-AKL, a four hour delay. We'll see if that holds...
https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/flight-status

emcm541 · Mon Feb 13, 2023 12:19 pm

Westjet is making their return to ORD-YYC on a 738, 3x starting May 18 - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230212-wsns23

yeogeo · Mon Feb 13, 2023 2:16 pm

emcm541 wrote:
Westjet is making their return to ORD-YYC on a 738, 3x starting May 18 - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230212-wsns23

Interesting! They haven't operated the O'Hare-Calgary route since June of 2018, according to the link in emcee's post.
I assume they'll dock at T-5, but with a 174-seat 738, hopefully not at a hardstand position needing bus transport like with their Dash 8 YYZ flights last summer.

WS has code share agreements with most SkyTeam members including Delta, so T-5 is their logical O'Hare home, and with interline agreements with both American and United, they should be in pretty good shape for connections with a late afternoon arrival & departure, although O&D is no doubt the primary driver of this route.

yeogeo · Mon Feb 13, 2023 7:39 pm

Never seen a retro Air Wisky livery before!
- ORD from a few day ago:

jplatts · Tue Feb 14, 2023 1:38 pm

intotheair wrote:
UA seems to really have quite a stronghold on the SF-Chicago market. Some of that's to be expected, of course, as it is a hub-hub route. But they not only have the most flights but also seem to have the highest fares, anecdotally whenever I look. I just looked today for a weekend in May when I want to fly (not Mother's Day or Memorial Day), and they're asking $800 r/t for a Friday outbound, Sunday return. AA and AS were only marginally less.

AS does offer connections from SFO-ORD onto AA flights out of ORD to some destinations not served by AS, and AS is likely carrying more than just O&D traffic on its SFO-ORD nonstop flights due to the codesharing that AS has with AA.

AS also has AA's FF base in Chicagoland in addition to the former VX FF base in the San Francisco Bay Area to support AS SFO-ORD nonstop service.

emcm541 · Tue Feb 14, 2023 2:57 pm

yeogeo wrote:
Never seen a retro Air Wisky livery before!
- ORD from a few day ago:

As much as I hate the CR2, it does look really sleek and sharp in that Air Wisky livery.

emcm541 · Tue Feb 14, 2023 3:06 pm

yeogeo wrote:
emcm541 wrote:
Westjet is making their return to ORD-YYC on a 738, 3x starting May 18 - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230212-wsns23

Interesting! They haven't operated the O'Hare-Calgary route since June of 2018, according to the link in emcee's post.
I assume they'll dock at T-5, but with a 174-seat 738, hopefully not at a hardstand position needing bus transport like with their Dash 8 YYZ flights last summer.

WS has code share agreements with most SkyTeam members including Delta, so T-5 is their logical O'Hare home, and with interline agreements with both American and United, they should be in pretty good shape for connections with a late afternoon arrival & departure, although O&D is no doubt the primary driver of this route.

FWIW, the press release that WestJet released touted the flights that are going to Delta hubs. (Here's the release: https://westjet.mediaroom.com/2023-02-1 ... kes-flight)
So I would be surprised if they weren't in T5. Not that I have a dog in this fight, I would think Delta may want to try and get WestJet close to their gates as well.

jcwr56 · Tue Feb 14, 2023 3:42 pm

emcm541 wrote:
yeogeo wrote:
emcm541 wrote:
Westjet is making their return to ORD-YYC on a 738, 3x starting May 18 - https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230212-wsns23

Interesting! They haven't operated the O'Hare-Calgary route since June of 2018, according to the link in emcee's post.
I assume they'll dock at T-5, but with a 174-seat 738, hopefully not at a hardstand position needing bus transport like with their Dash 8 YYZ flights last summer.

WS has code share agreements with most SkyTeam members including Delta, so T-5 is their logical O'Hare home, and with interline agreements with both American and United, they should be in pretty good shape for connections with a late afternoon arrival & departure, although O&D is no doubt the primary driver of this route.

FWIW, the press release that WestJet released touted the flights that are going to Delta hubs. (Here's the release: https://westjet.mediaroom.com/2023-02-1 ... kes-flight)
So I would be surprised if they weren't in T5. Not that I have a dog in this fight, I would think Delta may want to try and get WestJet close to their gates as well.

Anywhere in T5 works for them as their goal was just to be collocated within the same Terminal.

ORDLHR787 · Tue Feb 14, 2023 3:54 pm

jcwr56 wrote:
emcm541 wrote:
yeogeo wrote:

Interesting! They haven't operated the O'Hare-Calgary route since June of 2018, according to the link in emcee's post.
I assume they'll dock at T-5, but with a 174-seat 738, hopefully not at a hardstand position needing bus transport like with their Dash 8 YYZ flights last summer.

WS has code share agreements with most SkyTeam members including Delta, so T-5 is their logical O'Hare home, and with interline agreements with both American and United, they should be in pretty good shape for connections with a late afternoon arrival & departure, although O&D is no doubt the primary driver of this route.

FWIW, the press release that WestJet released touted the flights that are going to Delta hubs. (Here's the release: https://westjet.mediaroom.com/2023-02-1 ... kes-flight)
So I would be surprised if they weren't in T5. Not that I have a dog in this fight, I would think Delta may want to try and get WestJet close to their gates as well.

Anywhere in T5 works for them as their goal was just to be collocated within the same Terminal.

SkyTeam starting to exploit the opportunity O’Hare has gifted them.

Lamp1009 · Tue Feb 14, 2023 3:58 pm

ORDLHR787 wrote:
jcwr56 wrote:
emcm541 wrote:

FWIW, the press release that WestJet released touted the flights that are going to Delta hubs. (Here's the release: https://westjet.mediaroom.com/2023-02-1 ... kes-flight)
So I would be surprised if they weren't in T5. Not that I have a dog in this fight, I would think Delta may want to try and get WestJet close to their gates as well.

Anywhere in T5 works for them as their goal was just to be collocated within the same Terminal.

SkyTeam starting to exploit the opportunity O’Hare has gifted them at ORD.

SkyTeam is not going to be the only benefactor here, centralizing every airline alliance to a particular post-security area is going to benefit every alliance. SkyTeam is just the first one to reap the benefits. Besides, WS is not a SkyTeam member and at this rate probably won't be for at least a decade.

That being said, this move is going to help delta and other members out, but the question remains whether delta will take advantage of the opportunity given to them and start building out a focus city in Chicago.

IrishAyes · Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:25 pm

back in the day, when WS was partners with AA, the carrier added seasonal ORDYYC and ORDYVR flights. i flew both of them in 2012. they flew out of the L gates in T3, and as AA was in BK and pre-merger at the time, this allowed it to have a virtual presence in ORD-Western Canada without its metal.

i can see WS leaning into Skyteam, even tho the carrier's ever-evolving business model makes my head spin. It took VS over a decade from its JV proposal with DL to join Skyteam, so anything is possible.

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