Merger and bases

[garfield]

Hello,

With the merger do you think all the actual bases of Sunwing will stay open?

[nohojob]

The only few persons who can answer this question are not supposed to answer it.

[dontcallmeshirley]

Hello,

With the merger do you think all the actual bases of Sunwing will stay open?

Once the merger is complete, I highly doubt it.

Guaranteed bases for post-merger WestJet will be YVR, YYC, YEG, YWG, YYZ. There is a fair chance for YUL.

Any other bases are unlikely.

Don't trust me, this is only based on current WestJet mentality.

[daedalusx]

Hello,

With the merger do you think all the actual bases of Sunwing will stay open?

Once the merger is complete, I highly doubt it.

Guaranteed bases for post-merger WestJet will be YVR, YYC, YEG, YWG, YYZ. There is a fair chance for YUL.

Any other bases are unlikely.

Don't trust me, this is only based on current WestJet mentality.

If I was a betting man, I’d bet on YUL staying open. Plenty of flying there to justify a small base, plus it would be a pilot retention/recruitment move against AC and finally the politics of shutting down a YUL base after closing YQB base would be tarnishing the Sunwing vacation brand and enticing the Quebecers to book their 700$ Cuban all inclusive with Transat or AC. WJ has already left a bit of a sour taste with Easterners with the removal of a lot of Eastern routes last year…
AVH has also publicly stated that he liked the idea of multiple smaller bases like in Europe.
That being said, just because it makes sense to me doesn’t mean it makes sense to Onex.

[MaxAuto]

In order for the deal to go through, yul must stay open. Also there is a large customer base there and French qualified crew. Quebec customer are loyal to Sunwing.ca and selloffvacations.com, not Sunwing Airlines. That's where they purchase and will most likely continue to purchase vacation packages.

Abandoning YUL by making them commute or quit would be a terrible decision by management.

[pilot4life]

YUL is staying open. It’s been confirmed

[dontcallmeshirley]

Abandoning YUL by making them commute or quit would be a terrible decision by management.

You must have forgotten that WestJet pulled the Qs out of Toronto and stopped flying YYZ to YUL, YOW, NYC, ORD, BOS, YQT.

[Airbrake]

YUL is staying open. It’s been confirmed

Confirmed by ?
Was there an official release from management?

[nohojob]

I am very curious as well to know your source.

[pilot4life]

YUL is staying open. It’s been confirmed

Confirmed by ?
Was there an official release from management?

Unofficial. I know…hard to believe someone on a forum. I would have the same suspicions. Believe what you want but it’s happening .

[Bede]

YUL is staying open. It’s been confirmed

Confirmed by ?
Was there an official release from management?

WJ management or SWG management? SWG management has a habit of telling their pilots whatever it takes to get them off their back. Remember, "there will be no changes with the sale", "there won't be any merger", and "we'll be doing Hawaii flying for WestJet"?

It's not just SWG management. Any management will tell you something to reassure you today knowing full well they'll be doing damage control tomorrow.

[cdnavater]

YUL is staying open. It’s been confirmed

Confirmed by ?
Was there an official release from management?

WJ management or SWG management? SWG management has a habit of telling their pilots whatever it takes to get them off their back. Remember, "there will be no changes with the sale", "there won't be any merger", and "we'll be doing Hawaii flying for WestJet"?

It's not just SWG management. Any management will tell you something to reassure you today knowing full well they'll be doing damage control tomorrow.

I suppose a lot depends on how much market share Sunwing has in YUL and whether or not they keep operating under the brand. Other factors would be how many crews would be in hotels which is really where the base vs no base comes in to play and the only people that know the answers are not likely sharing that information.

[boeingboy]

YUL is staying open. It’s been confirmed

Confirmed by ?
Was there an official release from management?

WJ management or SWG management? SWG management has a habit of telling their pilots whatever it takes to get them off their back. Remember, "there will be no changes with the sale", "there won't be any merger", and "we'll be doing Hawaii flying for WestJet"?

It's not just SWG management. Any management will tell you something to reassure you today knowing full well they'll be doing damage control tomorrow.

Kinda hard to pin that one on SWG management. It was to be the plan - but the new Westjet CBA kicked that one to the can

[boeingboy]

I suppose a lot depends on how much market share Sunwing has in YUL and whether or not they keep operating under the brand. Other factors would be how many crews would be in hotels which is really where the base vs no base comes in to play and the only people that know the answers are not likely sharing that information.

I dont think YUL will go anywhere. Sunwing does more flights out of YUL than anywhere else. Just over 14,000 last year. There is a huge brand loyalty and they will not let that go.

[JBI]

The WJ COO has indicated that they are committed to a YUL crew base once the integration is complete. What that looks like remains to be seen.

[pilot4life]

There you have it.