Air Canada Starting CYTZ May 1

[dcabrown]

So it begins,

Arch rival as your landlord vs. Haven't made (much) money for 4 years as a monopoly.

Interesting and yet depressing at the same time.

Wonder if Porter's brand loyalty will survive against break neck fares and FF points...

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Air Canada (AC.B-T2.83-0.03-1.05%) will start flying from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on May 1, a move that will put the carrier in direct competition with Porter Airlines Inc.

Air Canada signed a leasing deal with the airport facility’s landlord, City Centre Terminal Corp., which is headed by Porter chief executive officer Robert Deluce.

tickets will go on sale starting Monday for Air Canada’s flights beginning in May at the Toronto island airport, featuring 15 round-trips daily on the Toronto-Montreal route.

Porter has enjoyed a monopoly on commercial flights at Billy Bishop since it launched service in October, 2006.

The Toronto Port Authority oversees the airport, but City Centre Terminal owns the recently expanded buildings. “Opening the airport to new carriers is a key element of our long-term business plan, and can only serve the best interests of the passengers who love the easy access of our downtown airport,” TPA chief executive officer Geoffrey Wilson said in a statement Friday.

Air Canada will be deploying Bombardier Q400 turboprops operated by Sky Regional Airlines Inc. – the same type of aircraft in Porter’s fleet.

“Air Canada is extremely pleased to return to Toronto island and expand the range of travel options for our customers,” Air Canada chief commercial officer Ben Smith said in a statement.

[Cough Syrup]

May 1 ?? ....yeah....2012.

[winds_in_flight_wtf]

Great! Can't wait to see them pull out! (Sky Regional ) I honestly find it comical. I cannot wait until the peak season when they somehow load 74 pax + all their excess(not going to happen). The whole "we can't help you call this # " routine will get old very quick. Look at the good side...Porter has them by the balls (they own everything). The suspense is unbearable

[teacher]

Actually Deluce's parent company REGCO has them by the balls, Porter on the other hand does not. RD is a smart man, he knows that there's no money in airline, only the infrastructure that they require. Keep in mind as well that he can't charge AC more than his own airline, that is against basic trade rules.

[ChallengerDan]

I cannot wait until the peak season when they somehow load 74 pax + all their excess

With some 30 roundtrips combined in between CYTZ and CYUL, I would be surprised if there is EVER 74 bums in there for either airlines.


And.... pretty sure Jazz' DH4 are going to be configured with 74 seats, but I expected SkyReg operation to go with less.

[Squid]

They aren't there to make money. Aeroplan will be available at bonus levels. The bid was won on cost plus ten percent with revenue guarantees. So do you really think they are going there because it's viable?

[3=47]

If you are a Porter Pilot it is time to Update your resume!

[Localizer]

Since Deluce owns Porter and REGCO .. what's to stop him from charging Porter outrageous fee's to match what he'll be charging Air Canada? All the money is going to end up in the same pocket at the end of the day.

If he charges enough .. it will be tough for AC/SkyR to break even, let alone make a profit.

[Squid]

It will never equal what they are going to lose on the revenue for the lost pax. That's a pipe dream. The damage will begin. They are simply existing with advanced ticket sales.

[midwingcrisis]

With the world such a perfect place as it is about to be, this will be a thesis on what or not what to do. Radio and Print media shall be "winners" of revenue, my estimate to the tune of 40MIL for the 1st 12 months, locally..........if it lasts. Via Rail is kicking it up a notch as well as others at YYZ not to forget. It looks like an ALL IN game coming up.

[LisaS]

If you are a Porter Pilot it is time to Update your resume!

Or an AME.

[Jack Klumpus]

ha ha, porter will go under, let's all cheer!

hip hip!

over 230 pilots will be out of work, over 2,000 employees will also be out of work!

yaaaaay! this is like so much fun!

This is what you all sound like, those who are cheering for porter's demise.

[winds_in_flight_wtf]

I cannot wait until the peak season when they somehow load 74 pax + all their excess

With some 30 roundtrips combined in between CYTZ and CYUL, I would be surprised if there is EVER 74 bums in there for either airlines.


And.... pretty sure Jazz' DH4 are going to be configured with 74 seats, but I expected SkyReg operation to go with less.

My mistake. You are 100% correct. Air Canada also has the Q400 on their fleet page now - nearly identical to Porters layout. I think at this point it is to early to say what may happen. As stated recently by another member, Bob Deluce is by no means stupid, and I am pretty sure he will safeguard his airline at all costs. The fact that he owns practically everything at YTZ makes it that much better. I truthfully though cannot wait to see what AC's starting price will be. $2 roundtrip?

[DanWEC]

Since Deluce owns Porter and REGCO .. what's to stop him from charging Porter outrageous fee's to match what he'll be charging Air Canada? All the money is going to end up in the same pocket at the end of the day.

If he charges enough .. it will be tough for AC/SkyR to break even, let alone make a profit.

Apparently Porter is being guided by the TPA to be fair, as preventing AC from reasonable operations would be akin to having a monopoly.

I hope Porter stays viable... I like the operation a lot.

I have heard some funny things from the inside though.... we all know how Rob Deluce was able to buy the aiport terminal and evict the competition (questionable, but very smart and effective) but I've also heard that they made all the airport operations very difficult for AC to utilize because Porter intentionally developed a proprietary Mac based network, with the knowledge that AC is all PC based.....
Not 100% sure but it's what I heard from an employee recently.

[privateer]

This thread has to be one of the most dried up subjects on Avcanada. I am pretty sure the loads will be 50/50.

[ILS26_Steep]

I have heard some funny things from the inside though.... we all know how Rob Deluce was able to buy the aiport terminal and evict the competition (questionable, but very smart and effective) but I've also heard that they made all the airport operations very difficult for AC to utilize because Porter intentionally developed a proprietary Mac based network, with the knowledge that AC is all PC based.....
Not 100% sure but it's what I heard from an employee recently.

All the Mac computers are there for image. It's all marketing! Don't you get. Porter is a marketing company that has to run an airline to make it work.
Every Mac computer in that terminal is running windows, except for the stand alones used by passengers.
Every employee computer is a cheap HP desktop. Don't worry, AC will integrate well.

[YYZatcboy]

Has Sky Regional been granted the Ops Spec to do the steep approach? If not we may see lots of diversions to YYZ for them when the fog picks up or they get into the summer rain squalls.

[privateer]

Again. Beating it to death. I'm sure they have ops spec 99 or 410. Blaa blaa blaa. Zzzzzz

[YYZatcboy]

I was trying to ask a legitimate question. The sarcasm is not appreciated.

[winds_in_flight_wtf]

I really can't help but laugh when someone defends Air Canada by pulling the "Porter is a monopoly" card. Very ironic indeed.

[L1011]

Why are people wishing for Porter's demise?

They were the only airline steadily hiring during the worst of the recession. But who cares, now that AC, Jazz, etc are starting to hire again!

[midwingcrisis]

I am understanding that Continental is not far away either from operating at YTZ. If one has a good service, then it should remain a good service. Your customers will dictate if it a service is right, price or convenience or treatment. All is good for the industry. Good and healthy competition during difficult times. Have at 'er

[I WAS Birddog]

I'm all for niche-competition. However, I'm not for egos in competition.

Air Canada pretending to be all things to all people is all about ego, not niche-competition.

Don't get me started about the mess JAZZ (suits) made of the Thomas Cook contract. That's for another thread...but those in the know...know.

In the end, what the corporate suits do is beyond our control. We are just minions working in the trenches...Today the gold wings on your jacket may have had a Canada 3000 logo, tomorrow it will be SkyService Airlines and the day after GFY airlines. It doesn't matter. The only thing that remains a constant are crews. The same people that move from company to company.

I grow tired of the polarization of crews against each other in this industry. It's a too common a place to be.

I wish you folks would just realize this is beyond our control and stop bashing one another which 99% of the time you have no idea what you're all talking about anyway.

A pilot worse enemy isn't the competition...it's another pilot.
Stop it.

[avagator]

A pilot worse enemy isn't the competition...it's another pilot.
Stop it.

I don't agree with that. Competition is tough for any industry. I don't think we are eachothers worst enemies at all. The only bad thing about us is we would rather it not be us unemployed with a future in question. That isn't being an enemy pilot, but rather plain old human nature.

[midwingcrisis]

Considering 400+ flight segments (combined weekly) between YUL and YTZ.......all the cookie, wine and beer manufacturing co's should enjoy the Mandarin style menu ..all you can eat!! That being said Nav Can, Fuel co's, leasing co's and parts suppliers should benefit as well....now the TPA will gain their pound....so why won't flight crews and Stews, ground support folks not benefit. All should be happy campers!! Finally the place will be utilized.