Originally Posted by
jaysona
Full article below:
It's always disappointing when you click on a professional industry article and read typographical omissions, incomplete sentences and the like. In the age of cut n' paste, authors and their editors seem not to find the time to adequately proof-read prior to releasing the story.
I agree that the A220 - like the 787 - is a game-changer in terms of new routes and added flexibility. The Max was and always will be a derivative airplane, although it was certainly a game changer in its own, unintended, right. Pretty hard to argue against the 787 having more of a dramatic effect on AC's fortunes and expansion, but the A220 will offer some new revenue markets for certain. I wonder how long-term the (siphoning US international transit passengers) strategy might be valid in regards to competing for market share in places like Seattle. SEA and DL have been very aggressive in recent years in building their own capacity, at the direct expense of Canadian airlines & airports. It would have to be a very compelling case to persuade many US travellers to fly a small airplane to connect through YYZ or YUL on their way to Europe, instead of wide body nonstop service to AMS or other Euro-hubs. Many travellers (anecdotal evidence alert!) seem to prefer their connections near the beginning or end of their trips instead of in the middle, as would be the case in a transcontinental followed by a transatlantic hop via central Canada. Perhaps we will see AC focus on less-served US airports that don't boast the equivalent numbers of international destinations.
Air Canada placed its order for 45 A220s (while it was still the CSeries) in February 2016, breaking a sales drought and handing Bombardier a prestige order it so badly needed.
This speaks more to taking advantage of a desperate manufacturer, rather than being wowed by the plane's economics. Safe to assume that AC received a helluva deal almost four years ago.
Nothing about the following sentence is relevant in any way to Air Canada. Strange that it was included:
The versatility of the aircraft provides tremendous flexibility for Air Canada. (The A220-100 can operate from London City to New York JFK in a 40-seat all premium configuration).
I doubt we'll see a YYZ-YVR all-premium offering; maybe the A220 will eventually replace the A319 in Jetz configuration, equipped to ferry NHL teams and touring bands around the continent.