Even if you did have a bunch on the shelf now, it would still not be an obviously good idea to use them all. (especially if its the faulty version you have on the shelf). The bladders (or any other randomly selected problematic aircraft part) might have a failure rate of some fixed % chance per use, or a bathtub curve of failure or something else not directly related to time. So you could replace X units 98% of them who would never have failed with a bunch of units who haven't been burned in, and then on the first flight you blow out more then you have on the shelf. Doesn't really help.


Or just the regular reality of aircraft going mechanical. Not rescuing people from China.

Apologies, I'll try to be more clear in future. I can see how my post could have been ambiguous.


Fair point. The term 'rescue flight', given the current events in the news, led me towards a Wuhanian conclusion. I gotcha now.

Guess one may end up being used for the bird that just blew the engine in Madrid....

so with the frames freed up, they could re-start the repaint job for the new livery (suspended with the MAX grounding), or give some of the dream liners a decent clean. The MAX debacle has really stretched the fleet to the limits with both E190s and 767's staying on beyond the scheduled retirement and all aircraft types really showing the internal dirt, lack of operable charging sockets etc etc
Bizarrely today, an aircraft swap in London resulted in a 787-9 flying into Ottawa (which has been a 767 route since the day dot) and the 767 which arrived into London from Ottawa heading to Calgary. I wonder if it was the best way to position a 767 to Calgary at quick notice for a shortfall

I’ve seen 3 789s parked at YVR. One by the south hangar, one by deicing field, and one near the new remote stands where one of the Omni planes overnights.

Just noticed that AC 739 today (YYZ-SFO) has been switched from a Lion to a 787-9.

May be an indication that we are going to see the A330 refurbishment accelerated. Many carriers have extended their China cancellations to the end of March and I would expect AC to do the same. There will likely continue to be wide body slack in the system. The Madrid 767 has gone out of service - I had a YHZ-YEG flight in June changed where a mainline 767 has been replaced by a Rouge 767 on YYZ-YEG - not sure what that is reflective of. At the rate the Coronavirus seems to be increasing in numbers of infected in China (past 30000 cases), it would seem unlikely that China service will return any time soon.

the Yyz lhr route is crazy especially in J class. And not just with AC. BA also. Is it LHR that’s the issue ? Because a return flight YYZ LHR originating in YYZ is pushing $7000. Same on BA in J: YYZ to Paris same dates is like $4000.

The YYZ-RSW 10:00 return 14:30 was switched from Rouge to a 788. Then in the last 24 hours switched back. Perhaps this is related?

You've seen normal overnight parking for various airplanes. Having three AC widebodies - even three Dreamliners - parked overnight is a regular occurrence at YVR.

PS: semantics, I apologize, but the east remote stands where Omni park aren't new; they're just renumbered. The new remote stands are further east, where JetSet Parking used to be, and are not suitable for any widebody aircraft.

789 showing on some random days end of February on YUL-RSW, MIA & MCO
As well a few upgauged YUL-YVR other then the usual 789 on AC309.

LHR is a high demand destination, especially from YYZ. At the moment, AC is only flying 7 daily departures from Canada to LHR. The two eastern Canada routes are suspended and there is no day-tripper from YYZ. There is also only the one flight per day from YVR, which increases to two in the summer high season. With smaller aircraft on the routes (ie. 788 from YYZ and 767 from YYC as well as the commonly used A330 from YUL) there are definitely less J seats. They are also using the low J 777 on 848 to LHR (I am on it on Monday). You sometimes see 2 high J 777 from YYZ in the summer.

AC is good about yield management so I suspect the reduction in J seats corresponds with demand. It is going to be really interesting to see the 4th quarter results. I suspect the Max imposed capacity discipline will result in a fairly good 4th quarter from a profit perspective.

Two of YYZ-YEG-YYZ today are 787’s. AC168 was always a 788 but AC170 has been upgauged to a 789 (was originally a Rouge 767).

lol. The first thing that popped into my head was this:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2532c05b38.jpg

AC142 yesterday was scheduled on a LION and I was really hoping for 787/777 as I was in J and NOPE.....stayed as a LION. :(