Calgary International Airport - New Terminal, Runway, Control Tower

[getbak]

With the announcement being at the Zoo, you'd have to think it will be somewhere that is home to an animal at the Zoo. That's pretty much Asia, Africa, or Northern Canada.

I don't think they have any Australian animals currently at the Zoo (I remember they had kangaroos when I was a kid).

[btimbit]

It would be a very WestJet move for the whole zoo thing to just be where they're hosting the event and the destination has nothing to do with it whatsoever

[sa226]

I think a handful of people around here know that I work there, so please believe me when I say that I have zero inside knowledge.

But I think Westjet sponsors the Penguin walk, so I wonder if thats an angle worth musing about.

Chile? Argentina?

If that sort of things come to fruition, I will be sure to try and work "Penglings" into a PA

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I'm confused

WestJet is announcing a new route at the Calgary Zoo? Logically, they'd be flying somewhere that travellers would consider a zoo... but... like... they already fly to Edmonton!

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by sa226

I think a handful of people around here know that I work there, so please believe me when I say that I have zero inside knowledge.

But I think Westjet sponsors the Penguin walk, so I wonder if thats an angle worth musing about.

Chile? Argentina?

If that sort of things come to fruition, I will be sure to try and work "Penglings" into a PA

Would their 787's face payload restrictions operating either YYC-SCL or YYC-EZE due to our altitude?

[sa226]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Would their 787's face payload restrictions operating either YYC-SCL or YYC-EZE due to our altitude?

Not really my department, but probably a good chance of that yeah. Those two destinations are probably a good couple hours longer than the Seoul stage length. Which is getting close to as far as these things can go out of Calgary.

A couple of things working against WestJet's ability to really stretch the range of the 787s out of Calgary, is the altitude of the departure aerodrome and the zero fuel weight. I think Westjet packs more people in the 787 than most airlines by virtue of having the least amount of business pods.

[Bigtime]

Thanks for that, and I really don't see WS going with a 787-9 route that requires payload restrictions. I'm still leaning towards Morocco, or Columbia (if the elevation can be cancelled out by the shorter flight length versus others being discussed).

Or this is all daydreaming and we're getting a 737 route somewhere.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Or this is all daydreaming and we're getting a 737 route somewhere.

"We're here at the Destination Africa habitat of the Zoo because of our love of that continent. You ever hear of St. Louis, Senegal? Cool, right? We're going to fly...to the next best thing! St. Louis, Missouri!"

[marsplasticeraser]

After thinking about this I’m thinking Toronto to Nairobi could be the route.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by marsplasticeraser

After thinking about this I’m thinking Toronto to Nairobi could be the route.

Ugh, the event specifically mentions it will be for the announcement of the 100th destination from YYC.

[woob]

YYC to your arse, as they bend you over while confirming the new seat configs are are here too stay. Happy 100 routes!

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Ugh, the event specifically mentions it will be for the announcement of the 100th destination from YYC.

Can only be one place then. 100 Mile House. Terminal may need an upgrade.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Can only be one place then. 100 Mile House. Terminal may need an upgrade.

Or somewhere along the 100th Meridian?

[woob]

Where the great plains begin?

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by woob

Where the great plains begin?

Can’t land there, the weeds stand shoulder high.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by woob

Where the great plains begin?

Where the great planes begin...

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Ugh, the event specifically mentions it will be for the announcement of the 100th destination from YYC.

Does it say non-stop route?

Could be a direct to Nairobi with a stop in YYZ...

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

WestJet to announce their 100th destination from YYC on Monday at the zoo.

Wonder what it could be? They've never done this at the zoo before.

https://westjet.mediaroom.com/2026-0...algary-Airport

are they going to re-establish the airfield in Renfrew?

maybe Lincoln Park?

[vennegoor of hesselink]

Pandas are coming back and return of the Beijing flight is my guess if it is at the zoo

[Acey]

ZFW i.e. WestJet's relatively dense configuration is not a huge factor for the 787, it's simply Calgary's altitude. Anything over about 20 degrees and they're cooked on long haul. So you either depart at midnight which, at peak summer, doesn't even guarantee it'll be cool enough to not take a big hit... or you operate it in winter only.

Also with only 7 planes and an already absurdly tight 787 schedule that falls apart every day you have to cut or reduce something else to add a new 787 destination anyway.