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Why does AC fly from Calgary to Comox, but not from Vancouver/Victoria?

  • The heading says it all.

    We may be interested in flying from Vancouver to Comox on AC - why are there no options from Vancouver (or Victoria) - one has to fly from Vancouver to Calgary to Comox and back?


  • ... expansion that will make it "international", with an ability to accept even 747's...

    It is already in a position to accept wide-body aircraft, and as for international,
    YQQ is already one of the four 'international' airports in BC. YVR is a full international, YXX and YQQ are 'international alternates' and YYJ a restricted license allowing only non-sched operations. This definition, and qualification of YVR/YQQ/YXX as 'international airports' has existed as such since at least the early 80s (with YYJ's only being added with its restrictions) in the 90s
    http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/publications/tp14371/FAL/2-0.htm

    Comox has surpassed Nanaimo ..... Comox benefits from the long runway and approach facilities used by the military

    re runway, at 10,000 feet, it is only surpassed by YVR for BC. YCD/Nanaimo on the flip side has a 5000ft runway with a poor non-precision instrument approach. Airlines choosing one or other may pick YQQ as it's a better guarantee to get into in bad weather. Certainly with a new highway from Nanaimo to Courtenay, it's faster to reach YQQ (vs YYJ) from virtually every point on the island excepting Victoria and Duncan.


  • How about this question FGII: Why do you keep on asking these types of questions? Surely someone with a PhD in a medical subject area is able to figure this stuff out quite quickly -- especially after asked similiar questions in the past.

    But I have been wrong before and likely to be wrong again.

    Any questions I ask are relevant to my or my family's situation. I will continue asking these questions in the future. Obviously, my type of questions irritate you - please tell me why they do so (the style and content of the my questions will continue, without change). You claim that you are an expert on the rules and regulations of Air Canada and Aeroplan, so why don't you respond to my questions, rather than implying that the responses to the questions are common sense/obvious, and/or repetitious.

    PS-You have erroneously assessed my degree (actually degrees) which I have. Just because someone may have one or more of the highest postgraduate degrees in one field, it is NOT logical for you to assume that one can come to such answers through logical deduction, without outside help (including FlyerTalk). The analogy is that with your expertise in the area of travel, I should therefore presume that you should be able to self-respond to any questions in the medical field, without the need for outside help!


  • The heading says it all.

    We may be interested in flying from Vancouver to Comox on AC - why are there no options from Vancouver (or Victoria) - one has to fly from Vancouver to Calgary to Comox and back?


    1) Because WS also flies the route, and AC have to be made to look like they're competing on YYC YQQ.

    2) YQQ is somewhat important to have AC staff at as it is one of only 2 airports (after YVR as your primary) that an international flight can file as an alternate on international (non US) flights inbound (YXX/Abbotsford is the other) and the only other airport in BC with a 24hr/day control tower. YYJ/Victoria is not a full international alternate, and has a shortish runway for really large aircraft.

    3) They don't fly YYJ YQQ because it's a shortish drive (under 3 hours on mostly brand new highway).

    4) They don't fly YVR YQQ because there's competition on the route from a number of small carriers that they can't compete with


  • Alaska, WestJet and Skyservice fly to Kelowna and Kamloops from US and Mexico.

    AS service is all through SEA. Hub & spoke concept so that expands how far you can fly from those 2 airports with one stop. WS and SkyService's service is direct but much more limited.


  • TC's air reg for 'international' is for services other than US services. As for those services; AS do not operate into BC with the exception of YVR, with QX operating services into YLW,YKA,YXS & YYJ on behalf of the AAG. The US exemption also covers flights like KEH-CXH.

    I'm sure all of the NON-SCHED (charter) Sunwing/WS/SkyService etc to YLW and YYJ comes under a special exemption.

    If you go back, you can see the TC reg I linked to, and the list of airports that are, in transport canada's own regs, considered "International", there are four listed for BC, and YYJ is for non-sched operations only, leaving YVR, YXX and YQQ.


  • As we all know, mistakes can happen. A human had to enter content onto the web site; who is to say that the stand alone flights can not be booked on a AC codeshared basis; just because the statement suggests that "connecting flights only", does not necessarily mean that is correct.

    Except those arrangements have been in place for a number of years. So is it a mistake? You tell me.

    If it is correct, then I want a rationale for why the AC-Central Mountain air agreement does not allow for such codeshares on stand-alone flights, but does do so on connecting flights.

    You want a rationale? Who do you think you are? Robert Milton?

    Why would CMA pay someone else to market a flight for them in their own backyard when the YVRYQQ market knows that CMA is operating that route? On the other hand, those in YOW, YUL etc. will not know about CMA's YVRYQQ flt. So then it makes sense for CMA to pay someone else to help them market their flt.


  • Except those arrangements have been in place for a number of years. So is it a mistake? You tell me.



    You want a rationale? Who do you think you are? Robert Milton?

    Why would CMA pay someone else to market a flight for them in their own backyard when the YVRYQQ market knows that CMA is operating that route? On the other hand, those in YOW, YUL etc. will not know about CMA's YVRYQQ flt. So then it makes sense for CMA to pay someone else to help them market their flt.

    Your argument makes sense. However, let me give you a potential counterargument as to why CMA should codeshare with AC on all intraBC flights, even when they are stand-alone.

    CMA is well known in YVR and surrounding area, so it is stating it is maximizing its business with local residents. You would say that with codesharing, those revenues would be diverted to AC, so CMA does not gain much from that potential arrangement, and might even lose from that arrangement.

    I would say that perhaps we use the AC/LH model between Canada and Germany - perhaps AC and CMA code share on each others regional BC routes (whether they are connecting flights, or stand-alone flights), so each accrues more revenues than it does now.

    People like me whereby status miles, and other AC perks and benefits are important, may wish to go on that YVR-YQQ flight if AC was codesharing it, but may not wish to go on it if it was a CMA stand-alone flight. As an alternative, I might wish to go to Nanaimo, on that AC Jazz flight. You might say that very few people might make more inconvenient travel arrangements (in our case, to see friends on Denman Island) by flying to Nanaimo rather than Comox; I would argue that there are enough other people besides us who might make the more inconvenient travel arrangements, just to get a AC ticket, with all the benefits it might accrue.


  • If you want to go to Comox, you go to Comox. I can't think of a single person in the entire sphere of people I know who would say "I wanted to go to Comox but AC didn't fly there so I didn't go".

    :D^^


  • Here's an alternative...Fly to Nanaimo and drive north to Comox, Courtenay. It's a nice drive and not too long.


  • I found out from an Air Canada agent that AC codeshares on Pacific Coastal Airlines. This option is not evident on the aircanada.com web site, nor by using the KVS tool.

    The Codeshare agreement is with Central Mountain Air, and only applies to connecting flights

    From http://www.flycma.ca/about.html

    CMA / Air Canada Code-Share Services:
    Central Mountain Air in-conjunction with Air Canada offers Air Canada connecting customers the ability to make convenient same airport-terminal flight connections with Air Canada to regional, national and International destinations, which Air Canada sells and markets directly.

    Air Canada connecting customers traveling to or from Campbell River, Comox, Quesnel & Williams Lake, BC through Vancouver’s International airport will be provided with onward boarding passes and through checked baggage.


  • I did not realize that Comox was considered to be such an important alternate international airport to YVR in BC.

    I wonder what other "small" cities in other provinces have airports with a status similar to that of Comox in BC?


  • Comox has surpassed Nanaimo among Island airports with more flights and a wider choice of airlines. It has already outgrown its relatively new terminal and is now designing an expansion that will make it "international", with an ability to accept even 747's. Comox benefits from the long runway and approach facilities used by the military; the SAR squadron is the largest in Canada, Auroras do long-range patrols, even the Snowbirds visit for 3 weeks in the spring to practice over terrain that's more challenging than Moose Jaw.


  • Likely competition - a couple of smaller airlines fly from YVR (one goes from the south terminal) to Comox with small planes (33 paxs down to 9 ). The one airline (central mountain air) that you can see aircraft info uses a beechcraft - 18 pax. Difficult to compete if you have 37 pax Dash 8s and pointless to compete if you can fly them to other places full.

    WJ also does the same thing - they fly to Calgary and Edmonton but not YVR.


  • I would argue that there are enough other people besides us who might make the more inconvenient travel arrangements, just to get a AC ticket, with all the benefits it might accrue.

    I would argue that people with your thought process about going to Comox are an extremely small minority. If you want to go to Comox, you go to Comox. I can't think of a single person in the entire sphere of people I know who would say "I wanted to go to Comox but AC didn't fly there so I didn't go".


  • The heading says it all.

    We may be interested in flying from Vancouver to Comox on AC - why are there no options from Vancouver (or Victoria) - one has to fly from Vancouver to Calgary to Comox and back?

    You can, but not on AC or Jazz metal. You may earn or redeem miles using Central Mountain Air. Don't expect a lie-flat suite however.


  • [QUOTE=seanthepilot;9846445]I'd like to ask the above posters to edit and remove the personal comments from thier posts. And ask people to stick to the topic of flights to Comox, BC.



    If you want a bulletin board where you can insult people without the fear of the posts being edited, then please feel free to join the "junior board"... or take it to PM. Frankly, it's getting a bit tiresome.[/QUOTE

    I concur, answer the question or don't, even better ignore it. Don't waste everone's time with negative comments


  • I did not realize that Comox was considered to be such an important alternate international airport to YVR in BC.

    I wonder what other "small" cities in other provinces have airports with a status similar to that of Comox in BC?

    Comox's airport is a former cold war air base, as is Abbotsford (occasional fog diversion alternative for YVR). Certainly Goose Bay and Gander have come into occasional use as airports which can handle relatively-large amounts of large a/c. Take your pick of any airport or airfield which has runways, aprons and taxiways to handle bombers and you'll have your potential alternate international airports.


  • I'd like to ask the above posters to edit and remove the personal comments from thier posts. And ask people to stick to the topic of flights to Comox, BC.



    If you want a bulletin board where you can insult people without the fear of the posts being edited, then please feel free to join the "junior board"... or take it to PM. Frankly, it's getting a bit tiresome.


  • I've heard there's a lot of vacation RE buying by Calgarians in Comox hence the traffic. Not sure if WS's entry into the market developed that or was the result of that.


  • The Codeshare agreement is with Central Mountain Air, and only applies to connecting flights

    From http://www.flycma.ca/about.html

    Thank you for your information. I will go to my AC contact, with this piece of information. I will also try to get an explicit answer as to that one can not book this YVR-YQQ flight as a AC codeshare, without using such onward connections.


  • I found out from an Air Canada agent that AC codeshares on Pacific Coastal Airlines. This option is not evident on the aircanada.com web site, nor by using the KVS tool.

    Aeroplan does not offer award travel on Pacific Coastal Airlines.

    I wonder if the code share is only applicable when there is a connecting flight. When I entered YVR-YQQ no non-stops showed up (only options via YYC), but when I entered YYC-YQQ, connections via YVR showed up with an AC codeshare.


  • If you go back, you can see the TC reg I linked to...

    The document that you linked to is the Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM). It is a guidance document and not a regulatory document, although it does reference and refer to various regulatory requirements. The acutal Acts and Regulations may be found at this link:

    Aviation Acts and Regulations (http://www.tc.gc.ca/acts-regulations/air/menu.htm)


  • [QUOTE=CZBB;9852382]It is already in a position to accept wide-body aircraft, and as for international,
    YQQ is already one of the four 'international' airports in BC. YVR is a full international, YXX and YQQ are 'international alternates' and YYJ a restricted license allowing only non-sched operations. /QUOTE]

    YLW?


  • With the Calgary-Comox cutback, those like me who try to earn Aeroplan status miles on every flight we can, we would now be out of luck if we reside in Vancouver and start our flight(s) in Vancouver.


  • Typical professional comment from a moderator. :rolleyes: Why not just focus on your job instead of flaming other boards, really make's you no better than the members your scolding.

    Flaming other boards? :confused: Did the others board's feelings get hurt?


  • The Calgary-Comox route will be one of the routes that will be part of the cutbacks announced by Air Canada.

    Yes, as mentioned in this post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9974568&postcount=206) a while back.


  • [QUOTE=CZBB;9852382]It is already in a position to accept wide-body aircraft, and as for international,
    YQQ is already one of the four 'international' airports in BC. YVR is a full international, YXX and YQQ are 'international alternates' and YYJ a restricted license allowing only non-sched operations.

    YLW?

    Not according to the current Air Regs I can find. While they may permit it under special application, it's not listed as an 'INTERNATIONAL' in the regs.
    http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/publications/tp14371/FAL/2-0.htm


  • How about this question FGII: Why do you keep on asking these types of questions? Surely someone with a PhD in a medical subject area is able to figure this stuff out quite quickly -- especially after asked similiar questions in the past.

    But I have been wrong before and likely to be wrong again.


  • In the past Pacific Coastal was AC's partner for flights to YQQ and YBL from YVR. That changed a few years ago when CMA became AC's partner.

    For flights out of YQQ and YBL, be prepared for a very thorough search of your carry on baggage with strict enforcement of the rules.


  • Thank you for your information. I will go to my AC contact, with this piece of information. I will also try to get an explicit answer as to that one can not book this YVR-YQQ flight as a AC codeshare, without using such onward connections.
    Which part did you not get? The codeshare agreement allows for codesharing on connecting flights only, not as a standalone.

    If you want a YVRYQQ standalone, then you go to Central Mountain Air to buy the tkt.

    What's so hard to understand about this?


  • Flaming other boards? :confused: Did the others board's feelings get hurt?

    Not sure, I have not spoken to the other board directly. Was more commenting on the professionalism of an authority figure on FT and why he would bother sourcing another board. I'm curious.


  • Also note that West Coast Air has seaplane flights from downtown Vancouver to Comox. Depending where you are, it may be quicker than going through YVR.


  • I wonder if the code share is only applicable when there is a connecting flight. When I entered YVR-YQQ no non-stops showed up (only options via YYC), but when I entered YYC-YQQ, connections via YVR showed up with an AC codeshare.
    I think that's a safe conclusion.


  • Alaska, WestJet and Skyservice fly to Kelowna and Kamloops from US and Mexico.


  • Correct, Westjet pioneered the Calgary/Comox route but AC followed very quickly with a CRJ in a very close time slot.


  • Which part did you not get? The codeshare agreement allows for codesharing on connecting flights only, not as a standalone.

    If you want a YVRYQQ standalone, then you go to Central Mountain Air to buy the tkt.

    What's so hard to understand about this?

    As we all know, mistakes can happen. A human had to enter content onto the web site; who is to say that the stand alone flights can not be booked on a AC codeshared basis; just because the statement suggests that "connecting flights only", does not necessarily mean that is correct. If it is correct, then I want a rationale for why the AC-Central Mountain air agreement does not allow for such codeshares on stand-alone flights, but does do so on connecting flights.


  • Because there probably isn't enough demand, as Central Mountain Air operates that route from the main terminal of YVR and Pacific Coastal Airlines from the south terminal.


  • The Calgary-Comox route will be one of the routes that will be part of the cutbacks announced by Air Canada.


  • I found out from an Air Canada agent that AC codeshares on Pacific Coastal Airlines. This option is not evident on the aircanada.com web site, nor by using the KVS tool.

    Aeroplan does not offer award travel on Pacific Coastal Airlines.


  • IIRC, Westjet started the Calgary to Comox service several years ago. I don't remember a market between these two cities before that.
    Air Canada must have followed along after the route was proven.


  • Spot on! ACJazz flies nonstop YVR--Nanaimo!

    That would be an option!


  • If you want a bulletin board where you can insult people without the fear of the posts being edited, then please feel free to join the "junior board"... or take it to PM. Frankly, it's getting a bit tiresome.

    Typical professional comment from a moderator. :rolleyes: Why not just focus on your job instead of flaming other boards, really make's you no better than the members your scolding.


  • Here's an alternative...Fly to Nanaimo and drive north to Comox, Courtenay. It's a nice drive and not too long.


    Spot on! ACJazz flies nonstop YVR--Nanaimo!







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