Looks like CRJs on the YVR-YXY route, at least it means more frequency.

1D

Airlines firm up winter schedule plans

By Stephanie Waddell

Winter tourism operators are likely being faced with similar problems as they were last year when Air Canada changed its flight schedules.
It meant tourists from overseas had to spend the night in Vancouver before coming to the Yukon.
The airline has opted to go with a two-flights-per-day schedule on the Whitehorse-Vancouver route beginning Dec. 17.
However, June Hampton, the manager of Thomas Cook Travel in Whitehorse, noted brochures for the overseas markets were released in the spring for this winter tourism season, which makes the timing of winter scheduling late.
“That’s my concern,” Hampton said in an interview.
Air Canada officials have said they will offer twice-daily service this winter to and from Vancouver using a CRJ regional jet which seats 50, as Air Canada retires its Boeing 737 planes, which sit 117 passengers.
Every seat in the CRJ is either an aisle or window seat.
Air Canada is retiring the 737s as part of its restructuring program.
The smaller planes mean less cargo room and smaller overhead compartments. That will likely mean no room for live animals and other special goods on the flights, Hampton said.
She pointed out that Air North will continue to have more cargo capacity as it uses 737 planes for its Vancouver route and the Calgary/Edmonton route.
Hampton also said travel industry officials were consulted on what they would rather see from Air Canada – a larger plane, which could carry 100 passengers,with less frequency, or a smaller plane with more flights offered.
Ideally, Hampton said, there would be a larger plane with more frequent flights. However, realistically, with the current economic situation, it would have to be one of the two and it would be better to have two flights for tourists wanting to come to the Yukon and for same-day business travellers.
Air Canada can’t be expected to offer both a larger plane with more frequent service, she said.
“The smaller aircraft is something we’ll have to live with,” Hampton said.
The connection out of Vancouver into the Yukon will work well with both domestic and international flights, Air Canada spokeswoman Isabelle Arthur said from Montreal this morning.
“It gives very good connections,” she said.
The schedule will see the first flight leave Whitehorse for Vancouver at 7:30 a.m., arriving in Vancouver at 10:02 a.m. That flight will return from Vancouver to Whitehorse, leaving at 2:10 p.m., arriving at 4:49 p.m.
Air Canada will then leave the Whitehorse International Airport at 5:20 p.m., arriving in Vancouver at 7:52 p.m. The plane will then leave Vancouver at 8:25 p.m., arriving in Whitehorse at 11:04 p.m.
Air North is also offering more winter flights over last year as well, with a Saturday flight to Vancouver, and Sunday flights to Calgary and Edmonton. The schedule will take effect on Tuesday of next week.
Air North president Joe Sparling said yesterday the flight schedules won’t change in the winter.
Flights depart Whitehorse for Vancouver at 8:15 a.m., arriving at 10:30 a.m. The flight then leaves Vancouver for Whitehorse at 11:30 a.m., arriving at 1:45 p.m. During the winter, Air North will continue to operate its daily Vancouver route.
The four-times-a week service to Calgary/Edmonton provides an additional flight over last winter on Sunday, although it will mean the Tuesday and Thursday summer flights are dropped for the winter.
The times for those flights will remain the same though, leaving Whitehorse at 2:45 p.m. and arriving in Calgary at 6:15 p.m. and Edmonton at 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The flights back to the territory will depart Calgary at 7 p.m. and Edmonton at 8:30 p.m., arriving in Whitehorse at 9:45 p.m.
Sparling said fares will also remain the same, ranging from $195 to $650 economy one way depending on how far in advance the tickets are purchased.
Sparling said the increase in winter flights came from a response in the visitor industry, indicating that by not having the additional flights, it could be missing out on connecting passengers.
He believes the additional flights will help the local tourism and travel markets.
Hampton is also pleased that both airlines are offering additional winter flights this year.
“The greater frequency you have, the more choices people have,” she said.
Hampton is concerned about the issues that might arise with tourists who booked tours earlier in the year. She also noted her worry about the capacity needed for flights that will come into the territory for test events prior to the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
A requirement of hosting the Games is that a number of test events in sports, such as the Western Canadian Gymnastics Championships that were held earlier this year, are hosted in town.
Hampton noted that because there wasn’t enough room on the regularly-scheduled flights to Whitehorse, an Air North charter flight had to be arranged for some of the athletes.
She noted there will be several similar events, and wondered if there would be enough passenger space on regular flights to get all the athletes here.