Originally Posted by
ACYYZ/SD
Subject to flying conditions, payload, etc. it was an "ad-hoc" stopover in ARN (westbound) - I would call it occasionally, not frequently.
The original YYZ-LHR-BOM-SIN started with the L-1011-500 (L15) & later switched to the 747-200C (74M). There were large numbers of Iranian migrant workers that flew on the BOM-SIN-BOM sectors. The flight number also changed because of a numerology superstition. Certain the flight ultimately operated as AC888. Originally the crew had ultra long layovers in SIN, but it later changed to an all day 10/11 hour layover (aircraft remained at SIN with crew).
I may be drawing the wrong assumption from your name and in-depth knowledge, but would it be fair for me to assume you work for AC?
In which case, I must ask - why is AC so keen on opening up India (again)? I understand the whole India/China hype that seems to be doing the round these days, but India represents a wholly different market to China. I find it all a bit strange because:
1) Although India has a large number of rich people (statistically, not proportionately), the Canada-India market consists mostly of Canada-based Indians and Indo-Canadians going to India. Unlike their American counterparts, who count many a millionaire and billionaire among them, the Canadian group is not particularly affluent - its very middle-class. Its almost cliched to say this - but this lot focuses more on fares than anything else. And low fares at that. They're not going to regularly fill the premium cabin. And the Indian rich crowd don't see Canada as a tourist destination for many reasons - more expensive airfares than to the US, visa hassles and, most importantly, Europe is much closer. I really can't see AC tapping into the rich end of the Indian market.
2) Indo-Canadian trade relations aren't particularly strong. Canadian companies have generally missed the initial boat because of neglect in the 1990s by the then-Canadian government. India is now a very competitive market for foreign businesses, and Canadian businesses have generally had a very hard time breaking in. After working there, I don't see that changing, not least because it is going to take a while before many of these companies figure out how to get things done in India (which is a lot more difficult than it sounds). Unless there are miracles in the next few years, I really don't think theres going to be a major upswing in premium traffic between the two countries.
3) Competition is pretty strong.Air India - with its spotty safety record (really?!) can - and probably - will undercut AC on prices. Their product isn't half bad either. I know they've got a bad rap on safety and I m not exactly sure why, since I flew them around India quite a bit - and even between YYZ and LHR. Air India's pilots are generally a well-respected lot in India, and I should add that on my flights on their 777s - all between YYZ and LHR, the captains were British and Canadian. Granted, I can't blame the reporter for being a bit rough on Air India, because Indians have turned AI-hating into a national pastime. That doesnt mean that they don't fly it - mind. Theres just a very large chattering class that insists that it would rather not. And then theres 9W, who enjoy a stellar reputation with the Indian diaspora. I was blown away by 9W's J service. Everything about it, from Pyjamas, to excellent catering to a Bulgari amenity kit - reeked of pure class.
4) The US market - this frankly is the only explanation for me. Perhaps AC is keen on picking up a share of the US India market. There is a lot of premium traffic on those routes, but again, given the number of non-stops that already exist from the major Indian hubs in the US, it doesnt look like a cakewalk. New York, New Jersey and Chicago (?) all have direct flights, and San Fran/Cali are a little too far away - and the one-stop options from there - on the likes of SQ and CX via HKG and SIN are probably going to win over YYZ.
5) Is all of this really smart for fleet utilization. Each return flight means taking the plane out for 30 hrs, give or take. Will it be able to spin enough money to justify the route? To top it off, theres all kinds of one-stop competition in the middle - including QR, EK and EY, with EK probably rearing at the chance to take AC on, especially on fares.
I guess, what I am saying is that from AC's perspective, India is not quite China. The Chinese diaspora in Canada is richer and larger. Why not dedicate the aircraft there instead? Or LAT AM? Whats the obsession with India? Its far away, and the market for the route is markedly frugal.