Is WestJet heading for Europe?

flystraightin · Post by **flystraightin** » Tue May 30, 2006 7:17 pm

I heard that Westjet would only fly across the pond if they flew a widebody a/c and they were looking to at least try the Europe routes by leasing a couple 762s instead of using their 737s. I also heard that WS contacted EasyJet for a possible alliance in Europe. Of course this all could have just been a rumor.

Machiavelli · Post by **Machiavelli** » Tue May 30, 2006 10:22 pm

767 or A310. One or the other. Soon. 2007. Until 787 in 2010.

I love a good rumour...

gulfan · Post by **gulfan** » Tue May 30, 2006 11:12 pm

I heard that Air Canada and WestJet were proposing a merger and were going to venture into the fashion market ... Is this true? Can anyone confirm? Should Holts Renfrew be scared?

tonysoprano · Post by **tonysoprano** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:31 am

Ya but personally I think the Gucci shoes would be in conflict with the cowboy boots. It's a never ending story.

YVR Dude · Post by **YVR Dude** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 11:59 pm

If you guys go to Europe with your 700's...who will be taking your luggage? Fed Ex?

EyeOh · Post by **EyeOh** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:24 pm

Yes, the new company will be called WESTCANADAAIRJET (WCAJ, pronouce wacaage by the french). Catchy.

invertedattitude · Post by **invertedattitude** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 8:48 am

YVR Dude wrote:If you guys go to Europe with your 700's...who will be taking your luggage? Fed Ex?

There is already airlines that fly the Atlantic with 737's.

tonysoprano · Post by **tonysoprano** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:39 am

AC will be using A319s to Europe very soon. Lots a room. The 700 should have just as much. It would depend on the configuration.

bmc · Post by **bmc** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:07 pm

tonysoprano wrote:AC will be using A319s to Europe very soon. Lots a room. The 700 should have just as much. It would depend on the configuration.

It might be a 700. Aircraft owned by a European operator and quite possibly operated by Ac if AC union wants it. Jan 2007 possible start. Montreal-Geneva in a two class config.

W5 · Post by W5 » Wed Aug 16, 2006 11:03 am

Actually 319 to fly YYT-LHR:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/arch ... c0959.html

bmc · Post by **bmc** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:09 pm

And YMQ-GVA. Not publicly released yet. Could be a 319 or a BBJ. Can't say anymore.

EI-EIO · Post by **EI-EIO** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:09 am

that would be what, 9 hr in a 319? - westbound especially fun. Eep. I thought 5.5hr YYZ-UVF was my limit.

bmc · Post by **bmc** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:13 am

EI-EIO wrote:that would be what, 9 hr in a 319? - westbound especially fun. Eep. I thought 5.5hr YYZ-UVF was my limit.

Exactly. Curious market as well. The only transatlantic out of GVA is JFK with Swiss and Newark on Continental. Geneva is a small city at 189,000. Good catchment area but enough to sustain a regular service. Certainly not when you have AF offering 3xdaily from YUL and the connections over CDG.

tonysoprano · Post by **tonysoprano** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:22 pm

RELAX boys. I heard it's an all business config. Lots of room. Lots of booze. Probably lots of dough.

bmc · Post by **bmc** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:41 am

It's sitting with AC pilots to decide who flies it, AC or operator. The owner has no particular preference.

EI-EIO · Post by **EI-EIO** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:50 am

tony

are the Jetz aircraft in that sort of config?

tonysoprano · Post by **tonysoprano** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:16 am

EI.
They were. Not sure if they still are. Easily reconfigured though. They were leather seats as well. Executair out of Geneva has been very successfull with the A319 across the Atlantic. AC has been talking about for years. It's finally going to happen next month.

bmc.
I must be missing something. None of us pilots are aware of contracting this out. And seeing how it's a go next month, I would be suspicious of your rumor. Not to say it can't happen down the line, but that would be just another nail in AC's coffin me thinks. Pilots are not in the mood for more givaways these days.

bmc · Post by **bmc** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:36 pm

Tony...probably a mixed up rumour. Not that it ever happens in our industry.

tonysoprano · Post by **tonysoprano** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 6:33 pm

Well, they say every rumor holds some truth. Ya just never know. Our boys at ACPA don't always tell us everything. But this time I think the rumor is only that. I think, er hope , er something....

invertedattitude · Post by **invertedattitude** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:31 pm

DLH(Lufthansa) operates a EDDM-KEWR with a 737-700, so obviously WestJet would have the legs to get from YYZ-EGLL or other spots not quite so crowded.

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:04 pm

av8rpei wrote:DLH(Lufthansa) operates a EDDM-KEWR with a 737-700, so obviously WestJet would have the legs to get from YYZ-EGLL or other spots not quite so crowded.

Lufthansa operates EDDM-KEWR with a high end business class only 737. If I recall correctly they are configured for only approximately 45 seats. The question is can any of the light twins operate across the pond in an all economy configuration and make money doing it. Not likely or everyone would be doing it..

WJ700 · Post by **WJ700** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 8:16 pm

Not that I think the 737 is the right aircraft anyway but there is another operator doing Stanstead - Deerlake NFLD. As for range on the B737; the Hawaii route its making 6.5 hours and landing with over of two hours fuel from the ETOPS build up. If WestJet ever does put that route in its sked hopefully it will be a codeshare that we feed; similar to what Southwest does with ATA.

bmc · Post by **bmc** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 12:20 pm

Privatair operates a B737 for KLM on AMS-HOU. They also operate A319's for LH and LX in business configurations. Privatair has other transatlantic deals in the making. Stay tuned.

YVR Dude · Post by **YVR Dude** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:01 am

WJ700 wrote:Not that I think the 737 is the right aircraft anyway but there is another operator doing Stanstead - Deerlake NFLD. As for range on the B737; the Hawaii route its making 6.5 hours and landing with over of two hours fuel from the ETOPS build up. If WestJet ever does put that route in its sked hopefully it will be a codeshare that we feed; similar to what Southwest does with ATA.

So why then was Westjet making tech stops for fuel last year in Portland and San francisco through the winter?...as well as getting Fed Ex to deliver their pax luggage? Landing with 2.0 hours fuel works well during the summer but wait for winter again...the winds will not be as favourable...

WJ700 · Post by **WJ700** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 7:26 am

Because they were carrying too much equipment on board and about 3000 pounds more fuel than they do now.

Not saying they won't ever tech stop this winter, but they had many teething pains that had to be worked out for this route that lowered the possibility.

It's the same thing as YYC-HNL for Skyservice or Harmony, they've had to Tech stop on that sector because the 757 is only a good enough aircraft 97% of the time on that route.