Originally Posted by Transpacificflyer

The claim is not backed up by actual facts. On the contrary, the comparison data printed in the article highlights significant differences in the operating characteristics of the two distinct airlines. Perhaps they are similar on domestic operations, but when it comes to the key source of profits for AC, its long haul foreign routes, they are very different airlines.

Those in the industry say differences between the two carriers are essentially non-existent.
And this ladies and gentlemen may explain why so many Canadian airlines have failed. The so called experts are unable to grasp the key characteristics. Duh, hey Charlie, let's show some flare and lease us some planes and we can be just like the big Guys. We can call it Jet-Stop, and have FAs in cool lime green outfits that are really tight, yuck, yuck.

i. AC has 73 widebody aircraft vs. West Jet's 4 - On this characteristic alone there is little to compare.
ii. AC has 2.3X the personnel that encompasses multiple jurisdictions and social benefit environments. The workforce is very different from West Jet. Hiring and retaining foreign language personnel is no easy task. Hiring, training and retaining widebodypilots is more expensive and difficult than it is with the B737/AB 319/20/21. (At least that's what the industry journals say.)
iii. AC is a worldwide operation that must comply with regulations that vary from country to country. It is expensive to maintain a presence in multiple foreign locations.
iv. AC is more of a full service airline offering meals , lounges and complex partner connections.

I get it, West Jet says it is changing. Let me know when it does, because it is still West Jet the domestic bus service of the sky until its wide bodies arrive and it actually provides the lie flats, full service and multiple long haul foreign routes. An airline can't just show up in HKG, PVG, PEK, NRT etc. and in its best Gomer Pyle voice say surprise, surprise we are flying here now. These airports have no more slots to award. They are at capacity. Until West Jet is in a strategic alliance, it will be at a disadvantage. The assumption that Delta will welcome West Jet with open arms assumes a lot of things, especially that DL and its Asian partners will want another competitor on their routes and that AC and the Chinese carriers will cede market share. AC has a death grip on some of the best slots to and from Asia and premium class pax look at schedules. I know I do. The profit on these long haul routes is generated from the premium class, especially the paid business class cabin.