Ok...this one I really don't get. Nobody has every been able to make Brussels work as a destination. There is no beyond flow as it is not really a hub for anyone, other than LCC operators like SN Brussels and Virgin Express. Canada to Croatia? Serbia? Is there enough traffic to justify 1-2 flights per week with an A330? That's what, 600 seats per week. Match that against Skyteam, oneworld and Star offering multple daily connections over PAR, LON, FRA, ZRH and their frequent flyer programs. I just don't get it.



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Skyservice Airlines to fly to Belgium, Croatia, France, Serbia

Skyservice Airlines Inc., a Canadian charter carrier, has been granted designation to operate scheduled flights to Belgium, Croatia, France and Serbia. Transport Canada said yesterday that Skyservice has expressed interest in flying to both Serbia and Croatia. "We are pleased that under our air agreements, Skyservice has decided to expand its services to Europe," said Lawrence Cannon, the federal transport minister. Russell Payson, Skyservice's chief executive, said last year that the airline had "aggressive" growth plans and was considering an IPO to fund them. Based in Toronto, Skyservice employs 1,200 people and operates more than 24 commercial aircraft to destinations in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe. A spokesperson for Skyservice could not be reached for comment.

I know Skyservice is going to be offering a weekly flight YQB-YQM-Paris (Not sure which airport) on behalf of Maestro travel.

Which is interesting because Corsair does YUL-YQM-ORY each week in the summer too, so obivously one of them is going to lose money on that one.

Seasonal charter ops do well. Air Transat runs a summer program into Lyon down the road from us. A scheduled operation suggests year round for the air services agreement unless otherwise specified.

why would they lose money????
if you are from the maritimes, to get to Paris you have to go via YUL,
YYZ or LHR...
so YQM sounds like a good plan.
and if you are from Yul...sure you lose a litle time in YQM, but it is on the way.
for the average traveller, first they look at the price and second at the length...

my 2 cts.

You're not seeing the picture.


There will be a 330 and a 757 going twice a week to Paris from Moncton.

While I can't discuss load factors,hopefully there's something new or significantly different by Maestro

It doesn't matter if it originates from YUL or YQB, I'm talking about the YQM-Paris sector, of which there will be two flights per week.

I had been told, don't know if its true, that the Corsair stop in Moncton every week in the summer is due to a provincial subsidy to provide a link for the francophones here to get to France...

I'm quite sure Corsair could fly YUL-Paris without a stop in YQM and make more than enough money. It's great for the Moncton airport, just funny why someone doesn't offer a seasonal flight to say, London from Moncton.

This summer we'll have two flights to Paris, one to Hannover (Condor-Thomas Cook) the latter which has been running for a few years.

popo wrote:why would they lose money????
if you are from the maritimes, to get to Paris you have to go via YUL,
YYZ or LHR...
so YQM sounds like a good plan.
and if you are from Yul...sure you lose a litle time in YQM, but it is on the way.
for the average traveller, first they look at the price and second at the length...

my 2 cts.

From a passenger perspective, I fully agree with you. From an airline perspective, it seems like a lot of capacity placed on a thin route that may work in the summer time, but could be challenging in the winter.

Keep in mind that Canadian carriers are challenged to make domestic services to/from the Maritimes work on a year round basis. Making France work will be interesting to watch.

I couldn't agree more with your statements.

bmc wrote:

popo wrote:why would they lose money????
if you are from the maritimes, to get to Paris you have to go via YUL,
YYZ or LHR...
so YQM sounds like a good plan.
and if you are from Yul...sure you lose a litle time in YQM, but it is on the way.
for the average traveller, first they look at the price and second at the length...

my 2 cts.

From a passenger perspective, I fully agree with you. From an airline perspective, it seems like a lot of capacity placed on a thin route that may work in the summer time, but could be challenging in the winter.

This is Seasonal only.

There ya go

There ya go

the Corsair stop in Moncton every week in the summer is due to a provincial subsidy to provide a link for the francophones here to get to France...

Wow... where's the subsidy for me to get back to Ireland Ontario??

More then half milion from Serbia and Croatia are in GTA. They are using Lufthansa, CSA, Air France, KLM....Who is talking on subsidy flights?

bmc wrote:Ok...this one I really don't get. Nobody has every been able to make Brussels work as a destination.

Hummmm!!

Been flying there twice a week, every summer for at least the last ten years, always 95% full!!!!

Don't know where you've been getting your info...

I should have added "on a scheduled year round basis". I wasn't thinking of charter flying. I understood this to be a year round scheduled operation. Point to point charter to Europe in the summer is easy to fill and and make money.

I remember the sabena days, I used to do YYZ-BRU during the summer, and that puppy was always overbooked. Summer + Holidays always worked on that route, don't recall the winter times.