exmontrealer

OK, so here's my conspiracy theory for today:

Last week, Air Canada cancelled the 9am flight from LGA-YUL, citing "mechanical problems".

When I told friends in Montreal about it, a few of them told me their recent AC flights had also been cancelled for "mechanical problems".

So here's the conspiracy part: If a flight's not full enough, would Air Canada cancel that flight - citing "mechanical problems" - and just dump everyone on the following flight?

Or is this just air-travel-induced paranoia?

Thanks.

Bondiboy

If true, what would Air Canada tell the flight crew. What would the flight crew tell their family? How would they contain "the conspiracy".

Think staff schedules, unions, etc.

CPRich

Believe it or not, airplanes really do experience mechanical problems.

Airline systems are complex webs of interconnecting operations and schedules. That plane was supposed to be in YUL to fly the next flight. The airline had to find a replacement aircraft and crew. Then backfill for that one. Then... Then figure out what to do with an extra aircraft at LGA (it's not like LGA is a hub for AC).

The pain of rescheduling is likely much more painful than saving, what, 324 flight miles of fuel?

Ocn Vw 1K

Please follow the thread as it moves to our Air Canada forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

TMOliver

Having long ago watched while an aircraft carrier flight and hangar decks had to be "respotted" for a down a/c, a complex evolution involving many and no little planning, I don't put much credit in your conspiracy theory (or most others for at matter). Can you imagine the complexity of "respotting" an entire fleet of a/c to accommodate a down bird sitting not where it was supposed to fly, but back where it was supposed to have long departed?

The complexities of moving a/c around to fill a hole are much greater than any savings from a cancellation. Even at DFW, AA's hub, spare a/c are fewer than hen's teeth, and even when available, often the wrong bird to be hurled into the breach (although I've seen an old MD80 or two serve as "Forlorn Hope", when there were no other alternatives and over water not required)

ChrisA330

Yes it is.

Do a search around the AC forum...lots of postings and multiplie confirmations from an AC lurker, that they do not ever cancel flights due to low loads.

zorn

The conspiracy theory can only possibly be true if an airline has a substantial surplus of planes (and staff to operate them).

In fact, airlines have entire departments dedicated to figuring out how to keep the planes in the air as much as possible with a goal of not having a single surplus plane in the fleet and not a single employee out of place on the company's dime.

Golden Toque

Maybe not, but into busy airports like LGA when they are experiencing long ground holds at far-flung airports while waiting for slots, it is common for airlines to combine flights when appropriate.

Golden Toque

And if you are looking for a conspiracy, I think weather is often a better excuse for the airline, as their responsibilities to the passenger are less ie compensation & food & hotel coverage, than when there is a mechanical problem

exmontrealer

This is why I love Flyertalk - I learned more from the replies to this post than from most of my flying experiences. Thanks.

cur

Of course AC would cancel a light flight. WestJet, United, all the carriers do it. They're a business, not a public service.

hjohnson

Only problem is that the theory doesn't hold water. Air Canada has a limited number of aircraft. After that LGA->YUL flight, that same aircraft will then be scheduled on YUL->YYZ, then from there to who knows where.

So, as you say, they are a business. By calling a cancellation due to mechanical failures, the airline is then responsible for hotels and/or making alternate arrangements for the pax and they have to locate a replacement aircraft to fill in the hole left by the stranded aircraft. Furthermore, they will eventually have to ferry that aircraft out of LGA in order to rejoin the fleet, undoubtedly flying it without pax, costing them almost the same as flying it with some pax, but obtaining zero revenue.

If they see that a given route has low load factors, the only thing they will do is reduce the frequency of the route and/or downsize the equipment used on that flight. End of story.

ACYYZ/SD

But not sitting idle at a foreign city (New York-LGA) at 9 am in the morning. The aircraft is required at home base (YYZ or YUL) for a full days rotation of flying. Mechanical.

Ken hAAmer

But they have lots of extra planes. They just keep them hidden. Some government compound in New Mexico I think.

Don't you know anything about conspiracies?

airbus320

They are parked in Area 51 !!!!!