Originally Posted by
lsquare
Why do you think YVR is a strategic destination for TK?
YVR is slot limited because the Canadian government wants to protect Air Canada. That's why none of the ME3 is able to fly to Vancouver. TK would have strategic importance carrying the Central Asian population from/to their native country. There is a huge YVR <-> Central Asia market and TK is now part of it.
Also, someone in airliners.net was mentioning that Turkish had spent a lot of effort getting those slots. Initially, the Canadian government rejected TK's slot request, then they provided 2 slots for arrival/departure and after another set of negotiations, they have agreed that they will have 3 slots for arrival/departure.