2023 schedule updates - new/cancelled routes, frequency/equipment changes, etc
Jan 1, 2023 | 11:10 am
#1
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2023 schedule updates - new/cancelled routes, frequency/equipment changes, etc
Moderator note: this thread has been supplanted by the 2024 version.
Please use this thread to discuss changes to AC’s schedule in 2023. This includes:
If you have a question about how your travel plans are impacted by an AC schedule change and what your options are, there is a different thread for that.
Please use this thread to discuss changes to AC’s schedule in 2023. This includes:
- New or resumed routes
- Cancelled or suspended routes
- Changes in scheduled time of flights
- Frequency changes, e.g. reduction in service
- Equipment changes, e.g. scheduled upgauge from narrowbody to widebody
If you have a question about how your travel plans are impacted by an AC schedule change and what your options are, there is a different thread for that.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Jan 1, 2024 at 9:41 am Reason: New year
Jan 5, 2023 | 2:15 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2021
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YOW -> Europe routes returning early 2024 on long-haul narrowbody (with pods!)
Had a chat with the Concierge agents at YOW today and learned a bit about the status of direct flights to Europe.
Pre-COVID, they had YOW->FRA and YOW->LHR, both of which are now gone. AC does intend to bring them back, but they're waiting for delivery of the A321neo, which will be late 2023 / early 2024, as that aircraft will now be servicing the YOW->Europe routes. They also might be switching from FRA to CDG.
Yes, they're going to do a long-haul narrowbody, and they're going to have lie-flat pods on it (unclear on what type of configuration that will be). A first for AC? I know Copa does something similar on their 737 MAX, but I've never actually flown in a narrowbody pod before.
Pre-COVID, they had YOW->FRA and YOW->LHR, both of which are now gone. AC does intend to bring them back, but they're waiting for delivery of the A321neo, which will be late 2023 / early 2024, as that aircraft will now be servicing the YOW->Europe routes. They also might be switching from FRA to CDG.
Yes, they're going to do a long-haul narrowbody, and they're going to have lie-flat pods on it (unclear on what type of configuration that will be). A first for AC? I know Copa does something similar on their 737 MAX, but I've never actually flown in a narrowbody pod before.
Jan 5, 2023 | 2:22 pm
#3
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I'll be shocked if they're in the AC fleet by early 2024, given when they originally ordered them deliveries were to start in 2024 but the certification timeline for the XLR has slipped since.
It'll be a 14J168Y configuration...likely a new seat, but details are still TBC.
It'll be a 14J168Y configuration...likely a new seat, but details are still TBC.
Jan 5, 2023 | 2:35 pm
#4
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A single conversation with a concierge is not trustworthy.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Jan 5, 2023 at 2:44 pm Reason: Edit to reflect thread move
Jan 5, 2023 | 2:54 pm
#6
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Jan 5, 2023 | 3:04 pm
#8
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Yeah I thought 2024 was the earliest they were supposed to see these. I'm kind of surprised they're willing to hold off that long before bringing back YOW-LHR and YOW-FRA. I guess they have other routes that are just more profitable.
I can't see them dropping FRA with all the *A connections unless there's something about how the JV works that makes it make sense. Like, maybe they would rather those customers be on LH through MUC anyways.
CDG is interesting because there's a fairly large and growing population in St-Jerome and north of there who would think nothing of spending an extra hour on the highway to go to an alternate airport and avoid dealing with city traffic or whatever else they don't like about the city. And last I heard Air France ran a bus to Ottawa and it's miserable, but there's obviously some demand for them to bother doing that.
I can't see them dropping FRA with all the *A connections unless there's something about how the JV works that makes it make sense. Like, maybe they would rather those customers be on LH through MUC anyways.
CDG is interesting because there's a fairly large and growing population in St-Jerome and north of there who would think nothing of spending an extra hour on the highway to go to an alternate airport and avoid dealing with city traffic or whatever else they don't like about the city. And last I heard Air France ran a bus to Ottawa and it's miserable, but there's obviously some demand for them to bother doing that.
Jan 5, 2023 | 3:15 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2021
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Yeah I thought 2024 was the earliest they were supposed to see these. I'm kind of surprised they're willing to hold off that long before bringing back YOW-LHR and YOW-FRA. I guess they have other routes that are just more profitable.
I can't see them dropping FRA with all the *A connections unless there's something about how the JV works that makes it make sense. Like, maybe they would rather those customers be on LH through MUC anyways.
CDG is interesting because there's a fairly large and growing population in St-Jerome and north of there who would think nothing of spending an extra hour on the highway to go to an alternate airport and avoid dealing with city traffic or whatever else they don't like about the city. And last I heard Air France ran a bus to Ottawa and it's miserable, but there's obviously some demand for them to bother doing that.
I can't see them dropping FRA with all the *A connections unless there's something about how the JV works that makes it make sense. Like, maybe they would rather those customers be on LH through MUC anyways.
CDG is interesting because there's a fairly large and growing population in St-Jerome and north of there who would think nothing of spending an extra hour on the highway to go to an alternate airport and avoid dealing with city traffic or whatever else they don't like about the city. And last I heard Air France ran a bus to Ottawa and it's miserable, but there's obviously some demand for them to bother doing that.
Jan 5, 2023 | 3:15 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,157
It makes sense. Right now they really don't have the right aircraft to fly transatlantic routes from YOW outside of the summer months (the A330s are too large, the 788s are also too large and really designed for longer distances, and there's demand for a proper J cabin so thankfully the 737MAX is out).
It's too bad that we'll have to go another 1+ years without transatlantic service.
I don't think LH has the right aircraft to make FRA work, either, but maybe they could as a seasonal route. They were going to give that route to LH pre-covid, so they must have thought about it.
It's too bad that we'll have to go another 1+ years without transatlantic service.
I don't think LH has the right aircraft to make FRA work, either, but maybe they could as a seasonal route. They were going to give that route to LH pre-covid, so they must have thought about it.
Jan 5, 2023 | 3:16 pm
#11
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From memory, I do believe that LH was supposed to be taking over YOW-FRA in 2020...
Jan 5, 2023 | 3:28 pm
#12
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Yes, they're going to do a long-haul narrowbody, and they're going to have lie-flat pods on it (unclear on what type of configuration that will be). A first for AC? I know Copa does something similar on their 737 MAX, but I've never actually flown in a narrowbody pod before.
Jan 6, 2023 | 7:56 pm
#13
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Jan 7, 2023 | 9:39 am
#14
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I am curious as to why they dropped YYZ-DOH? It seemed like it should be a successful ME route alongside DXB.
https://www.routesonline.com/news/29...ds-doha-route/
https://www.routesonline.com/news/29...ds-doha-route/
By David Casey
Posted6 January 2023 16:56
It also signed a codeshare agreement with oneworld member Qatar Airways in November 2020 ahead of the launch.
Frequencies increased to 4X-weekly in July 2021 and remained at that level until this week when the 10,898-km (5,884-nm) route was scaled back to three round trips per week.
However, flights will now be suspended indefinitely from early February 2023. In a short statement, the Star Alliance member said: “Air Canada has taken the decision to indefinitely suspend its Toronto to Doha service effective February 1, 2023, for commercial reasons.”
The suspension of the route will leave Dubai (DXB) and Tel Aviv (TLV) as the only two points in the Middle East to be served nonstop by Air Canada. OAG data shows that the carrier flies to both destinations six times per week at the present time.
A total of 49,422 passengers flew from Toronto to Doha during the 2021 calendar year, Sabre Market Intelligence figures reveal. Looking at the traffic mix, about 59% of passengers traveled to destinations beyond Doha, 33% was bridge traffic, 5.5% was point-to-point, and 2.5% of passengers flew to Doha from destinations behind Toronto.
The largest airport market beyond Doha was Iran’s capital Tehran, followed by Colombo in Sri Lanka and Dhaka in Bangladesh.
Posted6 January 2023 16:56
Air Canada is ending scheduled flights to Qatar in early February after two years of operation.
The airline began passenger service between its Toronto Pearson (YYZ) hub and Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) in December 2020, initially operating three times per week using Boeing 787-9 aircraft.It also signed a codeshare agreement with oneworld member Qatar Airways in November 2020 ahead of the launch.
Frequencies increased to 4X-weekly in July 2021 and remained at that level until this week when the 10,898-km (5,884-nm) route was scaled back to three round trips per week.
However, flights will now be suspended indefinitely from early February 2023. In a short statement, the Star Alliance member said: “Air Canada has taken the decision to indefinitely suspend its Toronto to Doha service effective February 1, 2023, for commercial reasons.”
The suspension of the route will leave Dubai (DXB) and Tel Aviv (TLV) as the only two points in the Middle East to be served nonstop by Air Canada. OAG data shows that the carrier flies to both destinations six times per week at the present time.
A total of 49,422 passengers flew from Toronto to Doha during the 2021 calendar year, Sabre Market Intelligence figures reveal. Looking at the traffic mix, about 59% of passengers traveled to destinations beyond Doha, 33% was bridge traffic, 5.5% was point-to-point, and 2.5% of passengers flew to Doha from destinations behind Toronto.
The largest airport market beyond Doha was Iran’s capital Tehran, followed by Colombo in Sri Lanka and Dhaka in Bangladesh.
Jan 7, 2023 | 10:36 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 61
Any idea if AC15/16 will return? I saw it came back for a few days in December 2022 then disappeared from the winter/summer/fall schedule all together for the rest of 2023!