(Aired on May 28, 2010)
Having cancelled the Edmonton run, it's hard to imagine that Westjet will be increasing service out of Kamloops again any time soon. A spokesman for the company said the passenger numbers just weren't there for the Edmonton route, and the seasonal Vancouver flight wasn't doing well either before it ended.
Airport Society John O'Fee mentioned in passing that it would have been nice if the airline would have given the city a fighting chance instead of cancelling the run just a few weeks after it first took off. O'Fee is not in a position to raise a stink about it, but really, that deserves more attention. The airline said with pre-bookings happening since December, it had plenty of time to gauge customer interest. But the initial decision to start the flight in the spring and summer was probably flawed. Enough people who want to travel to Edmonton will decide to drive in the nice weather. It's the winter when the roads are treacherous that people would more likely make the decision to fly. Now, they won't get a chance.
And while some people may book as far in advance as December for flights in May, that's not nearly the entire market. There are a lot who wait for the smokin' deals that come from those rare seat sales. That's when the bookings start to pile up.
I'm not saying I can read the market better than Westjet, but what I am saying is that it's clear that there is little margin for failure in this industry right now. Westjet needs something as close to certain as it can get. Sometimes you need to spend money to make money, but Westjet likely can't afford the first part of that equation. And that's why I wouldn't expect a whole lot of expanded service in the near future.
Showing posts with label Westjet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Westjet. Show all posts
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Westjet Changes
(Aired on January 25, 2010)
Who would have thought that WestJet, the airline people love to love, would be pulling its Kamloops to Vancouver flights later this spring, on the guise that they were only seasonal to begin with. And who would have thought that Air Canada, the airline people love to hate, would still be the one pulling the load and providing service.
WestJet's announcement is surprising, especially considering that Kamloops is one of the few airports in the country where air traffic has continued to increase. It doesn't make sense, although one can only assume that passenger numbers are such that the airline can't justify the flights. Maybe seat sales between the two competitors had something to do with it, I don't know. But Air Canada will once again have a monopoly on the Vancouver to Kamloops market. What that will do to fares and flights remains to be seen. WestJet says it will bring the Vancouver flights back in the fall to capitalize on the ski season. I guess we'll see.
WestJet will be flying to Edmonton from Kamloops later this spring. It is now telling us that is only a seasonal venture too. It's unfortunate, because many seasoned travellers like to book their holidays well in advance, and it's hard when you don't know if an airline will be flying or not. If I were making reservations for something into the future, I personally would take the more secure option, not knowing if WestJet will be there or not.
While I understand the business case involved here, and let's face it, if the traffic isn't there, you can't make the case for the flights, it still makes me wonder. Reliability of service is important, whether it's airline flights or anything else. WestJet's move flies in the face of all the figures we keep hearing about traffic in and out of Kamloops. It only makes it more difficult for air travellers to get from one place to another. And ultimately, that's bad for the city of Kamloops.
Who would have thought that WestJet, the airline people love to love, would be pulling its Kamloops to Vancouver flights later this spring, on the guise that they were only seasonal to begin with. And who would have thought that Air Canada, the airline people love to hate, would still be the one pulling the load and providing service.
WestJet's announcement is surprising, especially considering that Kamloops is one of the few airports in the country where air traffic has continued to increase. It doesn't make sense, although one can only assume that passenger numbers are such that the airline can't justify the flights. Maybe seat sales between the two competitors had something to do with it, I don't know. But Air Canada will once again have a monopoly on the Vancouver to Kamloops market. What that will do to fares and flights remains to be seen. WestJet says it will bring the Vancouver flights back in the fall to capitalize on the ski season. I guess we'll see.
WestJet will be flying to Edmonton from Kamloops later this spring. It is now telling us that is only a seasonal venture too. It's unfortunate, because many seasoned travellers like to book their holidays well in advance, and it's hard when you don't know if an airline will be flying or not. If I were making reservations for something into the future, I personally would take the more secure option, not knowing if WestJet will be there or not.
While I understand the business case involved here, and let's face it, if the traffic isn't there, you can't make the case for the flights, it still makes me wonder. Reliability of service is important, whether it's airline flights or anything else. WestJet's move flies in the face of all the figures we keep hearing about traffic in and out of Kamloops. It only makes it more difficult for air travellers to get from one place to another. And ultimately, that's bad for the city of Kamloops.
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