ACYYZ/SD

BRU originates and terminates @ YUL flights 832/833. I think this was done largely to support OTP (on-time performance). Convenient A330 connections to/from YYZ are provided by flights 418/415.

tracon

Not on 100 mile segments with little traffic.

Stranger

Originally 832/833 was indeed scheduled as YYZ-YUL-BRU, but later, they switched to the two different flights, as ACYYZ/SD pointed out. I was on the former flight a number of times. In May my daughter and family flew from YYZ to BRU via YUL. Already was 418+832. Same plane too, actually.

So makes no difference, except you get more miles.

I suspect in addition to OTP stuff that ACYYZ/SD mentioned, they had to switch way too often the YUL-YYZ leg to a different type because of delays on the transatlantic leg. Which must have piss*ed off some folks.

ac-YUL

Thru flights are difficult to manage due to systems limitations, both on the operations and commercial systems side. In the case of BRU, the benefit of having the thru was outweighed by the negative impacts and manual workarounds required at the airport. In the case of other thru flights (GVA, SYD etc) there is a commercial benefit to AC to keep it, even if from a customer standpoint either way you need to get on/off the plane at the connection point.

ACYYZ/SD

IIRC, 832 as a thru flight (YYZ-YUL-BRU) departed @ 1700, undoubtedly one of the busiest times of the day at Pearson. I would suspect it was (and remains) a priority flight given the number of Africa-bound SN connections @ BRU. Often the Crew works the 418/832 - 833/415 combination, and as Stranger pointed out, it's generally the same aircraft. The 1600 departure of 418 provides an extra hour buffer in the event of traffic congestion, allows for the aircraft to be properly groomed and catered, and allows the Crew to welcome guests in a more relaxed fashion. On the return, there were often "line-breaks" (change of aircraft/equipment) for delayed inbounds. As Customers have to disembark in YUL on the outbound and go through customs on the inbound, this is a much more sane operation. ^

CloudsBelow

Remember going to YOW as a kid to see AC 747-400 inbound from YMX. Can't imagine there's ever been regularly scheduled B747 service on a sector shorter than that on any airline.

PlanetYYZ

On a 100 mile segments you still have TS and Sunwing combining some but not all of it's sun destinations on YEG-YYC-South and YYC-YEG-South during the winter months.

AA_EXP09

Why would any of those carriers backtrack?
(unless people like one very prominent poster from that city are booking the flight...)

PlanetYYZ

I believe its all about where the aircraft terminates on its prior flight as many may operate CUN-YYC one day then be scheduled to operate YYC-YEG-MBJ the following day as shown in the carriers schedules particularly with the A330 (TS) that requires more than just one cities lift to fill the aircraft. However this winter seems to show Sunwing will have more fights (and destinations) from YEG than YYC or YVR albeit with most being NS.

PLeblond

Didn't KLM operate AMS-AUA-CUR-AMS with a 747 Combi for a while?

Had to look it up, but AUA-CUR is 11 miles shorter.

Brwnshark

I think this was the flight that I took at the end of August that continued on from YOW to YVR? I also read somewhere on here that AC would be increasing the number of widebody aircraft flying domestically? The pod was quite nice on a 4.5 hour flight.

YoYUL

Hi Ben, is there any chance you can work with the YOW Airport Authority to try and get a break on airport/terminal fees on your YOW transatlantic routes during the slower winter months to try and make YOW-FRA viable year-round again for winter 2015-16? Have the recent government cutbacks hurt YOW-FRA as what prompts AC to go from 5x/week to 0x/week? I agree that the Canadian Gov't does nothing to support local carriers. While I as a civil servant always choose YOW first, I have heard countless times of people willingly go to YUL via the AF or KL bus (and nobody ever drives from here to fly AC at YUL). As an Ottawan, it drives me nuts to hear people do that and not support their local nonstop transatlantic air service.

I hate to say it, but like YEG-LHR, you're leaving yourself very vulnerable to FI launching YOW within the next couple of years, especially when FI start taking delivery of the 737MAX.

PlanetYYZ

Agreed, YOW is a likely candidate for FI in the next couple of years.

And I do believe the YEG-LHR route isn't viable in the winter months as YYC-LHR traffic also drops off and having the feed from YEG to YYC-LHR becomes seasonably important to maintain YYC-LHR profitably.

Traffic has already begun dropping on the route and the 763 has now taken over YYC-LHR as the 77W becomes slightly too large during the winter months.

Admiral Ackbar

Used to fly CDG-AMS on the Varig 777 back in the early 2000's regularly, was a great way to get there! Between 40 and 90 euros round trip and even sandwich and a drink! Not 747 but still fun.


http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/1450633/
http://www.flightforum.ch/board/inde...p-vrb-cdg-ams/

upgradesecret

Free landing fees would not make more of a saving than less than 1% of the costs on the route.