Turboprops at Pearson.
Yes, Jazz uses turboprops at Pearson but remember they are a feeder for Air Canada so many of their customers are connections to/from Air Canada flights. Also, the routes the Jazz Dash 8s fly are almost exclusively turboprop with no competition from another carrier so the equipment type doesn't factor in to the customers options.
I have flown on Q400s on a few occasions and would characterize their comfort and speed as exceptional. I personally wouldn't hesitate to book a flight on a turboprop if I had a choice of aircraft types but there are still many people that prefer jets to props.
When you analyze the Porter operation at the TCCA, they are catering to a very specific segment of customer and anyone booking with them is already over the fact that they are flying on a prop or they would have taken the 45++ minute drive to Pearson and waited in a long check in and security line to fly on a jet.
Many carriers are RE-introducing prop service where regional jets were previously used because of their superior fuel efficiency on short flights.
I think if enough people flew on Q400s rather than older technology props like Beech 1900s or older Dash 8s they would likely change their opinions about flying on props.
As an aside, to illustrate the competitive nature of operations at Pearson, when JETSGO used to fly from Pearson to Timmins, they would use a jet (Fokker100). Jazz operated the route with a Dash 8 and changed to a regional jet only because Jetsgo joined the route. Jazz previously had no competition on the route so the Dash 8 was not a factor in a passengers decision. Before Jetsgo, if you were flying to Timmins, it was going to be on a prop. As I stated, today, many Jazz routes are exclusively prop since there is no competition on those routes.
If Porter moves to Pearson, their rival will not be Jazz, but rather Westjet and Air Canada based on the routes they will compete on and not the equipment they operate.
Take Care!
Joe
I have flown on Q400s on a few occasions and would characterize their comfort and speed as exceptional. I personally wouldn't hesitate to book a flight on a turboprop if I had a choice of aircraft types but there are still many people that prefer jets to props.
When you analyze the Porter operation at the TCCA, they are catering to a very specific segment of customer and anyone booking with them is already over the fact that they are flying on a prop or they would have taken the 45++ minute drive to Pearson and waited in a long check in and security line to fly on a jet.
Many carriers are RE-introducing prop service where regional jets were previously used because of their superior fuel efficiency on short flights.
I think if enough people flew on Q400s rather than older technology props like Beech 1900s or older Dash 8s they would likely change their opinions about flying on props.
As an aside, to illustrate the competitive nature of operations at Pearson, when JETSGO used to fly from Pearson to Timmins, they would use a jet (Fokker100). Jazz operated the route with a Dash 8 and changed to a regional jet only because Jetsgo joined the route. Jazz previously had no competition on the route so the Dash 8 was not a factor in a passengers decision. Before Jetsgo, if you were flying to Timmins, it was going to be on a prop. As I stated, today, many Jazz routes are exclusively prop since there is no competition on those routes.
If Porter moves to Pearson, their rival will not be Jazz, but rather Westjet and Air Canada based on the routes they will compete on and not the equipment they operate.
Take Care!
Joe
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