YYC Route Suspensions

[Rowdy]

Some misinformation in these posts.

YYC-YCG hasn't happened in a WHILE. Basically since the departure of the Classic. Its been YVR-YCG on the Q.

YCD and YYJ-YYC are rarely operated with less than half a load. Pretty easy to nix.

The oil patch took a huge hit and as such, alberta sees a fraction of the flying it used to.

YYC and YEG -YZF come and go with AC.

Jazz is short staffed. AC is short staffed and both are struggling to keep machines in the air..

Pilots scare easily and both Jazz and AC are demanding concessions from their pilot groups outside of contract negotiations without bringing money to the table. Pretty easy to make the now senior YYC based pilots nervous...

[kiaszceski]

While I understand AC cutting unprofitable routes, it feels weird to cut Regina and Saskatoon as well, those flights were pretty busy.
Maybe AC made a deal with WJ to leave YYC alone if they leave the regional flying out east, who knows…

[maverick12]

Air Canada Calgary Schedule Changes

On Wednesday several news outlets began reporting that Air Canada would be cancelling flights from Saskatoon and Regina to Calgary starting mid-January. There are also other cancelled and reduced routes through Calgary that were not reported in the news. It is our understanding that this reduction in flying is directly related to the block hours Jazz can provide Air Canada, due in large part to Pilot staffing. This raises concern for all Jazz pilots, but in particular for Calgary based pilots as this change to route structure directly impacts Calgary flying.

The growing operational problem of maintaining block hours was not unforeseen. As said in the July 15 Chairman’s Message, Air Canada has many options to relieve operational pressure without negotiating changes to our wages and working conditions. Reducing block hours and cancelling flights is the option they have taken. In our opinion, this strategy cannot be a long-term solution unless Air Canada is committed to forfeiting substantial market share and revenue.

We would like to assure members that the upcoming January equipment bid will not contain any downgrades or displacements from the Calgary base. The MEC and Company both agree that 2023 could see significant change. There are viable solutions that can both support Air Canada’s commercial objectives and improve our working conditions.

In solidarity,

JAZ MEC

[PostmasterGeneral]

That MEC message doesn’t really hold much water. AC may be forefitting some market share in Calgary, but if they can re-allocate those resources to the east, where profit margins are higher, it makes a strong business case for doing so.

[Inverted2]

They’ve slashed flying to the other bases in the past. YVR lost the RJ about 12 years ago, was only DH8-300 for a couple years. YYZ lost it’s RJ flying to Georgian and was only Dash 8’s for a few years. It’s a game they play. In the past it was a way to get rid of the senior pilots but this time I do think it’s because of a lack of qualified pilots and the lousy wages.

[PostmasterGeneral]

So, what does the contract say would happen if Jazz decided to close the YYC base? Would all of the pilots and FAs get paid moves to other bases? What if they didn’t want to move? Would they get confirmed flights to start their pairings?

Didn’t the YHZ base get shut down? How was that handled?

[kiaszceski]

I guess there wouldn't be any stability any time soon.

[Inverted2]

So, what does the contract say would happen if Jazz decided to close the YYC base? Would all of the pilots and FAs get paid moves to other bases? What if they didn’t want to move? Would they get confirmed flights to start their pairings?

Didn’t the YHZ base get shut down? How was that handled?

Yes if your base was closed you could bump into another base with whatever your seniority could hold and get a paid move. Some of the YHZ pilots did the move. Some have been commuting to YYZ/YUL for a decade and a half.
And no, they would not put you on confirmed flights to your new base.
Paid move or commute on your own dime on standby.

[Fanblade]

AC seems to be responding to the pilot shortage by backstopping YUL, YVR and YYZ.

I see mainline flying has also stopped YYC - PHX. And picking up YVR-SAN and other former Jazz routes.

They simply don’t have enough pilots. Well the correct statement is probably not enough applicants that are quickly upgradable at both places.

Why because they don’t want to pay enough. And when they do want to pay, only to those they want to attract. Not everyone. They figured they could get that out of Jazz. Nope. Then out of ACPA. Nope.

There is a training pipeline issue at AC. But it is more than that. They need to compete for the experience side of the applicants and can’t. The unions aren’t letting them unless we all get raises. AC was completely caught off guard that the MOA was voted down.

The result? In the near term AC has no choice but to retreat in 2023. Beyond 2023 it will be up to them if they are willing to give up revenue and market share simply because they don’t want to pay their pilots.

Up to them.

I think this statement by your MEC is spot on.

The growing operational problem of maintaining block hours was not unforeseen. As said in the July 15 Chairman’s Message, Air Canada has many options to relieve operational pressure without negotiating changes to our wages and working conditions. Reducing block hours and cancelling flights is the option they have taken. In our opinion, this strategy cannot be a long-term solution unless Air Canada is committed to forfeiting substantial market share and revenue.

[rudder]

AC seems to be responding to the pilot shortage by backstopping YUL, YVR and YYZ.

I see mainline flying has also stopped YYC - PHX. And picking up YVR-SAN and other former Jazz routes.

They simply don’t have enough pilots. Well the correct statement is probably not enough applicants that are quickly upgradable at both places.

Why because they don’t want to pay enough. And when they do want to pay, only to those they want to attract. Not everyone. They figured they could get that out of Jazz. Nope. Then out of ACPA. Nope.

There is a training pipeline issue at AC. But it is more than that. They need to compete for the experience side of the applicants and can’t. The unions aren’t letting them unless we all get raises. AC was completely caught off guard that the MOA was voted down.

The result? In the near term AC has no choice but to retreat in 2023. Beyond 2023 it will be up to them if they are willing to give up revenue and market share simply because they don’t want to pay their pilots.

Up to them.

I think this statement by your MEC is spot on.

The growing operational problem of maintaining block hours was not unforeseen. As said in the July 15 Chairman’s Message, Air Canada has many options to relieve operational pressure without negotiating changes to our wages and working conditions. Reducing block hours and cancelling flights is the option they have taken. In our opinion, this strategy cannot be a long-term solution unless Air Canada is committed to forfeiting substantial market share and revenue.

My guess is that AC Commercial is also looking at upguaging and subcontracting.

AC may upguage to mainline/Rouge some Express operated city pairs (with corresponding decreased frequency). AC will also look at mainline upguage substitutions (where practicable).

AC may increase Tier III and non-codeshare domestic arrangements. AC may also consider increasing codeshare capacity with other STAR carriers (subject to ACPA scope limitations).

This may or may not be a longer term solution to lack of Pilot resources. Time will tell.

[hithere]

In the failed AC MOS There was a reference to subcontracting out 55 seat flying to some un-named tier 2 carrier. So this is on their radar.

[Fanblade]

In the failed AC MOS There was a reference to subcontracting out 55 seat flying to some un-named tier 2 carrier. So this is on their radar.

They wanted to do tier 2 domestic code share. So yes they were likely looking to subcontract. The ACPA CBA does not permit domestic codeshare and why they wanted a let.

The MOA failed. So domestic codeshare is not an option.

It was perceived, right or wrong, as an attempt by AC to deleverage Jazz pilots and didn’t go over well. That and the frozen numbers.

[truedude]

They wanted to do tier 2 domestic code share. So yes they were likely looking to subcontract. The ACPA CBA does not permit domestic codeshare and why they wanted a let.

The MOA failed. So domestic codeshare is not an option.

It was perceived, right or wrong, as an attempt by AC to deleverage Jazz pilots and didn’t go over well. That and the frozen numbers.

We are all stronger when we stick together. It is high time pilots in this country are fairly compensated. I don't blame management for their trying to find creative solutions, but it is time they understand this only gets solved one way, with more money to all pilots! If not, they can keep giving up market share if they feel that is a good long term strategy. I imagine 40 years of ingrained thinking about how pilots should be compensated in this country is hard to shake, but it is time that management everywhere wake up to this reality.