Canadian airline industry (general discussion)

[gabe]

I'm certainly not going to defend any airline on that seat pitch, but I've watched that video a number of times and can't shake the feeling that their butts are forward in the seats.

Yes its possible. But people should know by now West Jet is awful. Why do people even fly with them? It's like going into a Tim Horton's and complaining about their food lol.

 

[Tim MacDonald]

Yes its possible. But people should know by now West Jet is awful. Why do people even fly with them? It's like going into a Tim Horton's and complaining about their food lol.

The ONEX effect. This truly is a textbook case of disenfranchising employees, alienating customers and effing up a once profitable and proud company.

 

[nfitz]

Yes its possible. But people should know by now West Jet is awful. Why do people even fly with them?

Ah, but they already know that Air Canada is awful. I've always had better experience on West Jet than Air Canada. Though I'm sticking to Porter these days.

 

[PL1]

Ah, but they already know that Air Canada is awful. I've always had better experience on West Jet than Air Canada. Though I'm sticking to Porter these days.

My recent experiences on AC were good. I haven't flown WJ in a couple of years... Employees (largely) no longer own them

 

[Admiral Beez]

My recent experiences on AC were good. I haven't flown WJ in a couple of years... Employees (largely) no longer own them

I’ve recently flown both Air Canada and EVA to Taipei. The latter was world’s above AC in service, food and comfort.

 

[SubHuman]

Any intel on whether AC will compress and dumb down the interiors to past Rouge standard ?..

The last mention I saw was that the intention was for the first AC Rouge flights with the Boeing 737 Max8 planes were to begin in Q1 of 2026.

Air Canada Rouge To Begin 1st Boeing 737 MAX 8 Flights In Q1 2026

A bold new chapter unfolds for Air Canada Rouge as it embarks on a transformative journey, set to redefine the skies.

simpleflying.com

Rouge will move from a Low-Cost Carrier to a hybrid leisure carrier that will undergo a cabin densification to see it move from a 169 mainline configuration to seating up to 177 passengers across three different classes

And it looks like the latest plan is for Airbus A321xlr planes to enter service in June, and the Boeing 787-10 some time in 2026.
https://simpleflying.com/air-canada-slashes-airbus-a321xlr-flights-on-this-9-hour-route/

What’s on the horizon for Canada’s airlines in 2026? A look ahead to next year – and a 2025 retrospective

A very strong year for Canada’s travel industry couldn’t have happened without Canada’s airlines. Travelweek connected with executives at Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Air Transat and Flair for this year-end wrap-up.

www.travelweek.ca

Global Horizons: Air Canada Further Strengthens Toronto Hub with Expanded International Network

New flights to Rio, Lima, Cartagena, Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadalajara, Puerto Escondido launching Winter 2025Shanghai and Budapest flights launching in Summer 2026More flights to Prague in Summer 2026New Boeing 787-10 fleet on order to be initially based in Toronto to support future growthMONTRÉAL...

www.aircanada.com

 

[gabe]

Well this brilliant idea didn't last long

WestJet will reverse cramped seat configuration after widespread backlash​

WestJet will reverse cramped seat configuration after widespread backlash | Globalnews.ca

The airline said select flights that were recently reconfigured with the new seating arrangement will be changed again to remove the extra row of seats.

globalnews.ca

WestJet said the reconfiguration, which was intended to roll out across all flights on its network, was intended to keep costs low.

“WestJet tried seat pitches that are popular with many airlines around the globe as they serve to provide affordable airfares,” WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said in a statement.

What a load of crap! It was all for profit.

 

[PL1]

Well this brilliant idea didn't last long
...
What a load of crap! It was all for profit.

I'm sure business decisions are. I guess they crunched the numbers and figured that the terrible press and public opinion was worse than the upside of cramming more bums onto their planes.