Calgary International Airport

[blue12]

Maybe not many new flights, but Korea is a great hub and I can see getting some more flights there.

I recall someone explaining how the elevation of YYC makes the numbers for Manila flight difficult, I'm wondering how much the distance and elevation difference at YEG changes the economics of that?

One of my biggest hopes for the HSR project is that it runs fast enough that YEG could be used as YYCs north terminal for flights like that.

I do agree with more flights to Korea being a strong possibility down the line, especially with Westjet's 7 new Dreamliners coming "soon".

YEG does have a lower elevation (2340 vs 3550 at YYC), but elevation isn't the main inhibiting factor for YEG-MNL. Air Canada has no connecting network built out of YEG and already serves YVR-MNL, so that rules out AC. Philippine Airlines does have a partnership with WS, but it just doesn't make sense for them to fly to YEG as a part of that partnership instead of YYC when they have capable aircraft to do so. For Westjet to base a single 787 in Edmonton to do a niche route like YEG-MNL just logistically doesn't make sense either.

The issue I see with the HSR opening up more flights for YEG is that it just doesn't make that much sense when you really look into it. It would make life easier for Calgarians taking flights out of Edmonton, but more realistically, Calgary has the better connected airport so you'll likely see more Edmontonians on it heading south to YYC than the reverse. I honestly think it will choke out some of YEG's demand because HSR gives people faster and easier access to a "better" airport. Plus, most airlines looking to start service to Alberta are going to bite the bullet and go to YYC instead of going to YEG and anticipating people to take the train, realistically.

I'm not trying to dump on YEG, I think YYC-MNL is just as unlikely.

 

[trtcttc]

I do agree with more flights to Korea being a strong possibility down the line, especially with Westjet's 7 new Dreamliners coming "soon".

YEG does have a lower elevation (2340 vs 3550 at YYC), but elevation isn't the main inhibiting factor for YEG-MNL. Air Canada has no connecting network built out of YEG and already serves YVR-MNL, so that rules out AC. Philippine Airlines does have a partnership WS, but it just doesn't make sense for them to fly to YEG as a part of that partnership instead of YYC when they have capable aircraft to do so. For Westjet base a single 787 in Edmonton to do a niche route like YEG-MNL just logistically doesn't make sense either.

The issue I see with the HSR opening up more flights for YEG is that it just doesn't make that much sense when you really look into it. It would make life easier for Calgarians taking flights out of Edmonton, but more realistically, Calgary has the better connected airport so you'll likely see more Edmontonians on it heading south to YYC than the reverse. I honestly think it will choke out some of YEG's demand because HSR gives people faster and easier access to a "better" airport. Plus, most airlines looking to start service to Alberta are going to bite the bullet and go to YYC instead of going to YEG and anticipating people to take the train, realistically.

I'm not trying to dump on YEG, I think YYC-MNL is just as unlikely.

Agreed that an HSR will cause even more international flights to concentrate at YYC, not the reverse. SE Asia is unlikely, as others have mentioned, premium traffic is not there and cargo is also not there.

Most likely they'll fly to Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, Hong Kong, China, and have connections to SE Asia. Only places with SkyTeam partners are Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei. Daily frequency to Seoul year round is probably first, then maybe Shanghai or Taipei. I think Shanghai is more likely than Taipei because China Eastern (MU) is more of a Delta partner than China Airlines (CI/Taiwan). There's some internal alliance dynamics at play there where Delta no longer connects CI and CI connects through Alaska and Southwest out of SEA and LAX. Only thing with operating to China is that there is a bit more regulatory complexity compared to the others.

 

[InfrastructureEnthusiast]

The issue I see with the HSR opening up more flights for YEG is that it just doesn't make that much sense when you really look into it. It would make life easier for Calgarians taking flights out of Edmonton, but more realistically, Calgary has the better connected airport so you'll likely see more Edmontonians on it heading south to YYC than the reverse. I honestly think it will choke out some of YEG's demand because HSR gives people faster and easier access to a "better" airport. Plus, most airlines looking to start service to Alberta are going to bite the bullet and go to YYC instead of going to YEG and anticipating people to take the train, realistically.

What you're describing is spot on for the situation right now, but by the time HSR is actually running things could be different.

Both metros will likely be over 2 mil by then, total HSR catchment could be closer to 5 mil when it goes live. When demographic trends are factored in, that's a lot more potential demand for Asian flights.

YYC can't add any more runways, and its a lot cheaper to make use of YEG than build out springbank or red deer. Plus when a climate event hits YYC, being able to divert to an airport 40 mins away by train really minimizes the disruption.

Long term I think the combined system would really offer robust resilient air service to all of Alberta, even if most of the international routes continue to use YYC.

 

[Surrealplaces]

Who's "we"?

If you hadn't noticed, Canada is well on it's way to becoming majority Asian. At this rate it wouldn't surprise me if the tipping point is hit before the end of the decade.

Companies make these decisions based on future growth projections, not nostalgic waxing.

Canada has will and will have a large Asian population, but for Canadians, and even many Asian Canadians, Europe is still the huge destination for tourists. I'm sure it'll change as time goes on. For Calgary, we can also reach European destinations easier than Asian destinations.