Quote:
Originally Posted by habsfan
Good article...too bad Air Canada gives Pearson Preferential treatment at the expense of Dorval international.
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Habsfan, I used to agree with you on that one, but after doing some reasearch and getting a better understanding of the aviation industry, I now know that this simply isn't true. Air Canada serves routes that it feels are profitable. Looking at the numbers for Montreal-Pheonix, there is little to indicate that such a route will be profitable in the short term. Even if we attract connecting pax from Ottawa and Halifax, it still isn't enough because of their much smaller markets. Trudeau Airport is adequately served, IMO.
Toronto is Air Canada's main hub for a very good reason: It is centrally in Canada/North America, it has an enourmous catchment area, it has a strong economy, it has a much larger population, and its citizens fly a lot more often than Montrealers. Apparently, Quebecers fly the least out of all Canadian...only 1/4 as much! That number needs to improve.
Don't forget, Phoenix is a US Airways hub, so if the route really is profitable, why isn't US Airways serving it? Same with WestJet?
We will see a Montreal-Phoenix route in the future, but not within the next few years.
I do find it pathetic, however, that it is the people in Pheonix fighting for a YUL-PHX route and not Montrealers.