At the present moment, AC is the only airline offering HKG/YYZ direct non stop service on both directions. Any one heard any "rumours" as to CX may divert one of its A346's to open similar service on this route? In the past, the HKG/YYZ segment was direct non stop service during the winter months but it appeared to have discontinued and flights are now making technical stops at either YVR or ANC both ways. Any one know why?

As discussed many times, YYZ is not the most profitable destination for CX so that is why they took out F Class and use the 34D instead.

Highly unlikely will they reinstate no-stop to YYZ as the demand is not as great as JFK and CX have better use of their limited 346 at present.

Maybe when they get some new LR/ER aircrafts then YYZ non-stop might be back on the agenda.

the demand is very high at the back , but not at the up front of the aricraft i.e. F CL specially for the Reveune Bookings..... too bad...

J is always full on AC015/016 and in fact, AC is charging a C$500 premium RT for J class on those two direct non stop flights ($7,700) while CX is selling its J class on this route at $7,200 (with tech. stop at ANC both ways), could be cheaper through a consolidator (on a fare code that is not eligible for mileage accrual). I can fly AC007/008 connecting via YVR also for $7,200, the same as CX regular J.

I think that there is an air fare imbalance here. I used to fly J. I recall the fare was only about $3,000 for a YYZ/HKG RT in the early 1990's when Y at low season was around $1,300. The fare difference is about 2 to 2.5 times. But over time AC/CX (including the defunct CP) raised the J fare so much that it's like killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. I feel like J subsidising Y. In the meantime, the consolidator Y fare remains at about $1,500 or so. (There is a YYZ/HKG seat sale at www.aircanada.com for April 5 and 6 departure for $1,049 (+ taxes, etc., total=$1,193, an excellent value including the YYZ/HKG segment on AC015.) Many travellers are probably like myself pondering whether if it's worth the premium to fly J at 5 times the price of Y. If you make several trips a year, it really adds up.

I am not trying to sell AC here. I like CX but shaving 3 hours of travel time on the AC YYZ/HKG non stop is simply a competitive advantage in AC's favour, especially AC configured its new A345 on this run to 33" seat pitch in Y, a whole inch roomier than CX's 32" and both have AVOD PTV. The Y consolidator fare of CX and AC is about the same.

The other issue I see is CX is a 1 World partner and there is no 1 World Canadian airline after the demise of CP. My ability to use the Asia Miles is somewhat restrictive in Canada - I can claim a reward to the U.S. and Europe but not a domestic Canadian trip.

CX used to fly non stop HKG/YYZ (eastbound) during the winter season using A340/B744. Any one know why it has been discontinued and now all flights make technical stops at ANC?

I think decreasing demand for F is a trend that many airlines have found.

One version of the story I heard is cargo. There are times when you have full passenger load, and depending on the wind, you might actually have to offload cargo to make the flight nonstop. CX doesn't want to play that risk... especially given that cargo kept the airline alive during SARS.