Air Canada dropping Penticton

[bob vernon]

Air Canada says the pull out is because of a pilot shortage. How, then, can they continue to operate the service to Penticton until January? Are they suddenly going to have a bunch of pilots retire in January but they have plenty until that time? Something does not add up here whatsoever. I smell a rat.

Of course they could have several pilots inform Air Canada that they will be retiring in January. When I retired there were several of us who told our organization that we'd be going at the same time (the end of the fiscal year). In Air Canada's case, January is right after the big Christmas and New Year's rush. AND I think Penticton is a money losing operation for them. Two reasons to drop Penticton.

[BC Landlord]

Although WestJet is still flying to Penticton, I would really like to see better ground transportation between Kelowna's airport and Penticton/Summerland. It costs me about $45 to fly to Calgary with FlairAir, or back. But for me to get from YLW to Summerland it takes three transit lines, and minimum 3 hours. That sucks.

You could just drive and park in long term parking, I believe it's $15.75 per/day.

If you go for a few weeks, it adds up ($$$).

[nepal]

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A big issue is the South Okanagan losing covenant access to Air Canada’s world-wide network via YVR. For example being able to buy one ticket from Pentictton to almost anywhere in the world. If there is a delay anywhere along your world route, then AC will make sure you eventually complete the journey, If you buy a separate ticket to YVR on another airline, you’re on your own to get to your Air Canada flight at YVR (Also more expensive buying two separate airline tickets)

As for flying from YLW, that’s a terrible alternative, fighting continual single-route traffic snarls, countless traffic-lights, and single-bridge backups/closures, oh and reoccurring landslides along the route. Good luck with trying to get to your YLW flight, and getting a refund if you miss your YLW flight! The thing is that Air Canada planners in Montreal look at a flat map and think Kelowna and Penticton are minutes apart, not knowing of the extreme geography in this very long lake valley, and and how traffic is forced into only one very vulnerable route. I will not fly from YLW for fear of missing my flight.

Also, could this be another campaign of YLW trying to shut-down YYF airlines, to try to funnel the business their way? (wouldn’t be the first time). Is AC YYF now staffed from YLW and those staff sick of doing the commute along the sometimes impossible road route? There’s likely more to the story here. Also, the big Q400 AC aircraft reduced the former higher flight frequency, less-seat aircraft, that justified staffing by Penticton-based residents.

The South Okanagan population continues to grow, and if anything, Air Canada should be expanding YYF service.

YYF now has an approved RNAV GPS IFR approach that allows for lower cloud ceiling approaches/departures, that greatly improves flight reliably for equipped aircraft. YYF parking is more affordable, the terminal has expanded, and the YYF South Okanagan location is super-convenient.

Air Canada at YYF Penticton dates back to the early days of Trans Canada Airlines (Air Canada), when YYF was on the main route across Canada.

Perhaps most South-Okanagan Air Canada passengers will move to YYF WestJet, rather than attempt the drive to YLW. WJ now has the South Okanagan market monopoly. (The two smaller airlines basically don’t connect outside the province)
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[fluffy]

I'm not sure if things have changed recently, but for some time I was commuting to Alberta for work. The rule of thumb at Penticton was that Westjet was the only airline of the "big two" that flew east out of Penticton, you could get to points east with AC but they all connected through Vancouver, adding a couple of hours at least to your flying time. There have been a couple of smaller newcomers to Penticton, Pacific Coastal for one, and I think one other, but I never used them so can't say. If traffic out of Penticton can't fill the larger planes like Air Canada an Westjet run then there will be room for operators with smaller airplanes.

[BC Landlord]

If traffic out of Penticton can't fill the larger planes like Air Canada an Westjet run then there will be room for operators with smaller airplanes.

As far as I know, there have never been “larger planes” flying in and out of Penticton. Both Westjet and AC use their turboprops fleet. Well, not AC any longer.

[dreamon]

If traffic out of Penticton can't fill the larger planes like Air Canada an Westjet run then there will be room for operators with smaller airplanes.

As far as I know, there have never been “larger planes” flying in and out of Penticton. Both Westjet and AC use their turboprops fleet. Well, not AC any longer.

Pretty sure Fluffy refers to the Q400's currently operated by AC and WS.
Larger than that would mean looking back to CP days with 737's.

Higher frequency smaller aircraft would be ideal. Think back to Central Mountain Air days with the B1900's.
They code-shared with AC so as Nepal pointed out, protected you for misconnects as could be booked on one as one journey.

[XT225]

As far as I know, there have never been “larger planes” flying in and out of Penticton. Both Westjet and AC use their turboprops fleet. Well, not AC any longer.

Pretty sure Fluffy refers to the Q400's currently operated by AC and WS.
Larger than that would mean looking back to CP days with 737's.

Higher frequency smaller aircraft would be ideal. Think back to Central Mountain Air days with the B1900's.
They code-shared with AC so as Nepal pointed out, protected you for misconnects as could be booked on one as one journey.

Pacific Western Airlines used to fly 737's into Penticton from YVR; then to Cranbrook (I believe) and back to Penticton and YVR.

Unless planes smaller than a Q400 that may be brought into Penticton can utilize the main terminal at YVR (not the south terminal) they would be useless for many folks. Its a pain to get between terminals and have to re-do check ins/security, etc. if flying to another destination that utilizes the main terminal.

The answer is really for WJ to take over the route to YVR; either using Q400's or the SAAB 340.

[fluffy]

Pacific Western Airlines used to fly 737's into Penticton from YVR; then to Cranbrook (I believe) and back to Penticton and YVR.

Yes. First it was CP Air 737s until PWA bought them out, then they ran 737s until they morphed into Canadian Air, finally stopping that service in the late eighties.

[Gone_Fishin]

Why isn't the local NDP MP speaking out about this?

Ah, right, checked out and riding trouble-free for the next two years...

[XT225]

Why isn't the local NDP MP speaking out about this?

He has been; so has Dan Ashton, the MLA. You only need to watch the news/read the papers/online media.