YVR & Sea Island Developments Discussion II

[JonToms]

YVR Asia Flight Increases for 2026 Article

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouve...seoul-south-korea-ana-all-nippon-airways

[nname]

AC schedule update for W26

YVR-CTS now scheduled with 789 instead of 788, 3x weekly

YVR-YZF reduced to 1x daily mainline 223 instead of 2x daily CR9
YVR-YXY 1x daily 223 with flight number change (now fly "west" from YVR with odd flight number instead of "east" with even number)

Some of YVR-US sun routes have operation day changed, fully Rouged, but no frequency reduction.

So with the CTS change now using the equipment already available at YVR, is AC still planning something else from YVR or going to take away 3x weekly frequency from other routes?

Also, for S26, two one-way flights to HKG added with AC15 flight number.

[ninjakafi_81]

Originally Posted by nname

AC schedule update for W26

YVR-CTS now scheduled with 789 instead of 788, 3x weekly

So with the CTS change now using the equipment already available at YVR, is AC still planning something else from YVR or going to take away 3x weekly frequency from other routes?

I kinda figured that would happen as it doesn't make sense to have a 788 out here when their all based out east.

Also knowing AC ... Probably nothing else will added out here lol.

[Johnny Aussie]

Pretty decent April stats for YVR

https://www.yvr.ca/-/media/yvr/documents/facts-sheets/2026/04---april/april-traffic-update.pdf

Total pax 2,238,787
Domestic 1,069,827
Intl 1,168,960


Overall up 9%
Domestic up 6.1%
Intl up 11.8%

Intl breakdown:
Transborder down 6.5%
Asia Pacific up 16.3%
Europe up 50.6%
Misc Intl 34.1%

[nname]

Europe up 50%... how??

Are they sure they're not accidentally putting May's Europe number into April? Even 177k for May would be a record high for the month...

Do we even get that much increase in seats that could warrant a 50% increase in passengers?

So.. if the numbers are right, seems like everything except transborder beats or shatters the previous record achieved in 2018/19/24/25. Europe beats previous record by 50%, Misc 30%, APAC 10%, domestic 6%.

[EDIT]
Still can't figure out the 50% compared to last April.. or 80% increase compared to March this year with one less day.

What's new for April compared to March? Seems to only have 3x weekly increase for AMS from KL, 3x weekly increase for LHR from BA, and 4x weekly increase for MUC from LH? LGW and ZRH starts May, all AC seasonal Europe flights starts in May, AF and TK increase starts in June.. what would cause the Europe passenger to almost double, unless March flights are pretty empty??

[nname]

TK increase YVR-IST to 5x weekly from Dec 2026. Days 125 operated with 789 and 46 operated with 77W. Further change remains possible.

Also, the 4th weekly flight now extended until the end of summer season. For now Nov remains 3x weekly 77W.

==============================

AC schedule is updated for full winter season until end of March, and CTS is now fully 789.

KIX operating days had been changed so a single aircraft will rotate between KIX/CTS for March. Still not sure where they will use the 4x weekly from Dec to Feb...

[Johnny Aussie]

Good to see Turkish ramping up flights. Recently flew them again return from MEL to DUB. Also a 5 night stopover in IST on the way back. Their J class service is top notch and has become our preferred choice. Even better than SQ.
A fantastic Star Alliance option. Their extensive European network from IST is certainly more beneficial coming in from the East than the West.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by nname

TK increase YVR-IST to 5x weekly from Dec 2026. Days 125 operated with 789 and 46 operated with 77W. Further change remains possible.

Also, the 4th weekly flight now extended until the end of summer season. For now Nov remains 3x weekly 77W.

YVR is showing 5x weekly only for Feb 2027. Nov, Dec, Jan and March 2027 is all showing 3x weekly. So are the first 3 months of S27, for now.

https://www.flightsfrom.com/IST-YVR

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by nname

TK increase YVR-IST to 5x weekly from Dec 2026. Days 125 operated with 789 and 46 operated with 77W. Further change remains possible.

Also, the 4th weekly flight now extended until the end of summer season. For now Nov remains 3x weekly 77W.

==============================

AC schedule is updated for full winter season until end of March, and CTS is now fully 789.

CTS seems to be the new Japanese destination du jour

As you mentioned IST increases to 4 weekly this week right through the end of October. 3 weekly in NOV and then 5 weekly starting 7 December. It would be fantastic if this increases sticks to year round

[nname]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

YVR is showing 5x weekly only for Feb 2027. Nov, Dec, Jan and March 2027 is all showing 3x weekly. So are the first 3 months of S27, for now.

https://www.flightsfrom.com/IST-YVR

5x weekly from Dec 7 to end of W26 according to TK website or google flights.

789 on days 125
77W on days 46

So likely still room for further increase. Maybe the route could eventually end up with daily 789.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by nname

5x weekly from Dec 7 to end of W26 according to TK website or google flights.

789 on days 125
77W on days 46

So likely still room for further increase. Maybe the route could eventually end up with daily 789.

Weird that flightsfrom isn’t showing that. It’s usually pretty accurate. Usually shows updates right away. I like using it because you can see a clear monthly calendar up to ~11 months out, something airline websites and google flights don’t have.

YYZ daily during W26 is already showing. Definately weird.

[Johnny Aussie]

Philippines is the latest to increase flights

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/260703-prnw26na

Philippine Airlines this week filed North America service expansion during Northern winter 2026/27 season.

Manila – Vancouver eff 17NOV26 Increase from 7 to 10 weekly, PR136/135 operated by A350-900, switching to 777-300ER for 01DEC26 – 30JAN27
PR136 MNL1105 – 0800YVR 350 246
PR116 MNL2105 – 1800YVR 773 D

[nname]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Philippines is the latest to increase flights

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/260703-prnw26na

Philippine Airlines this week filed North America service expansion during Northern winter 2026/27 season.

Manila – Vancouver eff 17NOV26 Increase from 7 to 10 weekly, PR136/135 operated by A350-900, switching to 777-300ER for 01DEC26 – 30JAN27
PR136 MNL1105 – 0800YVR 350 246
PR116 MNL2105 – 1800YVR 773 D

Seems like the increase is year-round, and the bilateral is now maxed out from the Philippines side.

The limitation is 14x weekly flight, now split into 10x YVR and 4x YYZ. Before the pandemic all 14x weekly used to go to YVR.

Not sure if there's going to be a bilateral talk soon to increase the limit, if PR wants to expand further.

[ninjakafi_81]

Originally Posted by nname

Seems like the increase is year-round, and the bilateral is now maxed out from the Philippines side.

The limitation is 14x weekly flight, now split into 10x YVR and 4x YYZ. Before the pandemic all 14x weekly used to go to YVR.

Not sure if there's going to be a bilateral talk soon to increase the limit, if PR wants to expand further.

With PR now increasing to 10x weekly, I wonder what this means for AC as their currently flying 4x weekly.

[xd_1771]

Originally Posted by nname

Not sure if there's going to be a bilateral talk soon to increase the limit, if PR wants to expand further.

The President and PM Carney were literally just at the Jollibee on Granville the other day, so they might have already made that agreement!

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by nname

Seems like the increase is year-round, and the bilateral is now maxed out from the Philippines side.

The limitation is 14x weekly flight, now split into 10x YVR and 4x YYZ. Before the pandemic all 14x weekly used to go to YVR.

Not sure if there's going to be a bilateral talk soon to increase the limit, if PR wants to expand further.

PR has had an interesting history at YVR. Tag ons to LAS and EWR for awhile. We flew them once to LAS from YVR on a side trip.
I think they also used to fly to YYZ via YVR.
Good to see the increase nevertheless - could have increased YYZ to daily I suppose

[hollywoodcory]

WS has cut several US destinations from YVR for the upcoming winter season including ATL, LAX, LIH, MCO, FLL.

[VancityAvgeek33]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

WS has cut several US destinations from YVR for the upcoming winter season including ATL, LAX, LIH, MCO, FLL.

I bet Delta will replace ATL - I feel like they made a statement with LAX so to me I think they will operate ATL year round replacing Westjet who seem to be focusing solely on Calgary.

[ninjakafi_81]

With Colombia losing to Switzerland the other day in the FIFA World Cup, Avianca is currently sending a 787 to YVR to pick up the Colombian team. Hopefully one day this can one day become a real route.

It was also cool to see Air Algerie at YVR the other week picking up the Algerian team.

[nname]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Pretty decent April stats for YVR

https://www.yvr.ca/-/media/yvr/documents/facts-sheets/2026/04---april/april-traffic-update.pdf

Total pax 2,238,787
Domestic 1,069,827
Intl 1,168,960


Overall up 9%
Domestic up 6.1%
Intl up 11.8%

Intl breakdown:
Transborder down 6.5%
Asia Pacific up 16.3%
Europe up 50.6%
Misc Intl 34.1%

So YVR fixed the number in the April stat, the actual numbers are:
Europe: down 1.5%
Misc: up 4.2%

All other numbers were correct.

Now the May stat:

Domestic: 1,069,827 (+6.1%)

-- Transborder: 518,285 (-2.4%)
-- Asia Pacific: 409,907 (+10.3%)
-- Europe: 189,097 (+10.0%)
-- Misc: 57,811 (-5.4%)
Total Intl: 1,175,100 (+3.5%)

Total: 2,372,297 (+3.8%)
YTD: 10,884,287 (+4.2%)

Domestic, APAC, Europe, Total Intl, Total, YTD are all-time high. Transborder are third-highest for the month behind 2025 and 2024.

https://www.yvr.ca/-/media/yvr/documents...--may/traffic-update-report-may-2026.pdf
https://www.yvr.ca/-/media/yvr/documents/facts-sheets/2026/05---may/may-passengers.pdf