Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > WestJet | WestJet Rewards
Reload this Page >

Article: Encore Q400s could take over these Delta routes

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Article: Encore Q400s could take over these Delta routes

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 3, 2019, 10:39 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The World
Programs: WS Platinum, Marriott Titanium, DL Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 1,478
Article: Encore Q400s could take over these Delta routes

Here’s the full article:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/westje...tes-to-canada/

The important bits:

Delta Air Lines regional jets could soon step aside on some routes to Canada if the carrier’s proposed partnership with WestJet gets a green light.
“On certain other transborder routes, particularly in smaller short-haul markets, the partners could replace Delta’s regional jets with WestJet’s more efficient Q400 aircraft, which would maintain sustainable service in otherwise unprofitable markets,” they say in a joint filing with the US Department of Transportation on July 2.
And the author’s speculation:

Potential routes that Delta could shift to WestJet-operated Dash 8s are:
  • Cincinnati (CVG) – Toronto, 413 miles
  • Detroit (DTW) – Montreal (YUL), 529 miles
  • Detroit – Ottawa (YOW), 439 miles
  • Detroit – Toronto, 214 miles
  • Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) – Toronto, 679 miles
  • Minneapolis/St. Paul – Winnipeg (YWG), 394 miles
  • New York JFK – Montreal, 333 miles
  • New York JFK – Toronto, 366 miles
  • New York LaGuardia (LGA) – Halifax (YHZ), 597 miles
  • New York LaGuardia – Montreal, 323 miles
  • New York LaGuardia – Ottawa, 326 miles
  • Seattle (SEA) – Calgary (YYC), 452 miles
  • Seattle – Vancouver (YVR), 127 miles
FlyerJ is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2019, 2:38 pm
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: YOW
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 583
Not too surprised by this, especially YVR-SEA. Always seemed like overkill to use an E170/75 on a 30 minute flight. Wonder if the JV could see WS start YYJ-SEA? Since DL is dropping it after the summer.
WesternCDN is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2019, 5:14 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 125
Sounds great but where is Westjet going to find the aircrafts for these routes? I believe that the existing fleet is already at a pretty high utilization and expansion isn't really a possibility without reductions to existing routes.
calgaryhhr is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2019, 5:43 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 980
How many Qs are currently in WR’s fleet and are there more deliveries coming?
YYCguy is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2019, 6:04 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: WS Nothing, AC Something, AS Gold. Too big for 737Max washrooms
Posts: 893
Originally Posted by YYCguy
How many Qs are currently in WR’s fleet and are there more deliveries coming?
My understanding is 47 and no but I may well be wrong.
Frequentlander is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2019, 7:59 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 231
Originally Posted by Frequentlander
47 and no
Wikipedia agrees with you.
mxqisit is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2019, 10:30 pm
  #7  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 980
Originally Posted by Frequentlander
My understanding is 47 and no but I may well be wrong.
I’m surprised that, with growth opportunities on the horizon, fleet expansion is not being contemplated!
YYCguy is offline  
Old Jul 4, 2019, 12:35 am
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: WS Nothing, AC Something, AS Gold. Too big for 737Max washrooms
Posts: 893
Originally Posted by YYCguy

I’m surprised that, with growth opportunities on the horizon, fleet expansion is not being contemplated!
Maybe it is. There is no way of telling what being contemplated.
Frequentlander is offline  
Old Jul 4, 2019, 7:39 am
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
Originally Posted by Frequentlander
My understanding is 47 and no but I may well be wrong.
The Q400 fleet is fully deployed. I don't see any jet service being taken over by WestJet's DH4s unless the route is more profitable than their current operations. That's a downgauge. And we most certainly won't see anything until the MAX flies again.
YXUFlyboy is offline  
Old Jul 4, 2019, 7:40 am
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
Originally Posted by calgaryhhr
Sounds great but where is Westjet going to find the aircrafts for these routes? I believe that the existing fleet is already at a pretty high utilization and expansion isn't really a possibility without reductions to existing routes.
Yup. This is speculation, WS doesn't have the frames. And why would DL operate these routes if their were unprofitable? And why would WS expand in YUL when they don't even have a year round service between YUL and YVR (their smallest hub)?
YXUFlyboy is offline  
Old Jul 4, 2019, 12:19 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 297
Onex does own an aircraft lessor. Maybe they’re expecting a big return/delivery of aircraft and figure they’re better off if they can use them internally?
tecate55 is offline  
Old Jul 4, 2019, 1:49 pm
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The World
Programs: WS Platinum, Marriott Titanium, DL Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 1,478
Originally Posted by YXUFlyboy
Yup. This is speculation, WS doesn't have the frames. And why would DL operate these routes if their were unprofitable?
100% true ... but the quote about DL shorthaul cross- border potentially moving to WS Q400s came from (according to the article) the joint DL/WS filing that they made with the US DOT on Tuesday.

Still, that doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen. More like they’ve asked permission in case they want it to happen.

Regardless, the list of potential routes that the author included in the article is unfeasible. One or two of those routes could flip over with the current fleet — but certainly not all.
FlyerJ is offline  
Old Jul 5, 2019, 12:20 am
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: No single airline or hotel chain is of much use to me anymore.
Posts: 3,279
Is a lack of planes or pilots a greater impediment to Encores growth?
Error 601 is offline  
Old Jul 5, 2019, 6:14 pm
  #14  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,655
There isn't a big backlog of orders for new Q400's, so WS could get them from Bombardier/Viking relatively quickly. I supsect thy'd also be able to pick some up on the used/lease market.
The Lev is offline  
Old Jul 5, 2019, 7:57 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
Originally Posted by The Lev
There isn't a big backlog of orders for new Q400's, so WS could get them from Bombardier/Viking relatively quickly. I supsect thy'd also be able to pick some up on the used/lease market.
There's a lot of used ones, but WS has all NextGen and may not want to muck with their fleet. I would much prefer them to invest in 70-90 seat jet, though.
YXUFlyboy is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.