Cathay 744s Farewell @ YVR

And so it left us with triumph as a few plane spotters witnessed the end of Cathay's 744s service to YVR.  The farewell flight was operated by B-HOS, the third oldest Cathay 744 fleet with 22.5 years of age.  

According to Routes Online's record, the first Cathay transatlantic HKG-YVR route dated back on 01 May 1983.  Initially started as a twice daily service by the 742 fleet, Cathay boosted operation to daily by the late 80s.  The 80s also marked the immigration trend in Hong Kong as the British annouced the return of Hong Kong back to China as the 100 years "land lease agreement" concludes, making Hong Kong no longer a British Colony by 1997.  Hong Kong became a British Colony due to political and "war" reasons as China signed a 100 years lease agreement to give Hong Kong away to the British government.  With a well-established economy and political structure, Hong Kong was in panic and fright of China's "communist" government.  A large number of Hong Kong residence tried to "escape" and immigrated all around the world, and Vancouver was one of the popular destinations.

Cathay currently operates twice daily flights from HKG-YVR, with CX837/838 as a pure HKG-YVR direct route while CX888/889 operates as a stopover connection to JFK (HKG-YVR-JFK).  The CX838/837 operation will be replaced by 773ERs (unless fleet replacement is required for operational or emergency purposes of course).  This will make a full 773ER operation for the twice daily operations to YVR.   

On the other side, the Cathay cargo stopovers at YVR still alters between the 744Fs and 748Fs.  But yes, looks like we won't be seeing Cathay's passenger 744s for a while.

Pictures carry a million words like an eternal hard drive that retains memorable moments ... please enjoy: 

CX 838 Approaching 08L - Foggy Low Vis

CX 838 Almost Touching Down on 08L

CX 838 Almost Touching Down on 08L

CX 838 Final Touch Down on 08L

CX 838 Final Touch Down on 08L
Iconic YVR ATC & Fairmont Hotel Backdrop

Last CX 744 at Gate accompanied by KLM 772 Asia Livery

CX 837 Take Off @ 08R
Marks the last Cathay 744 at YVR

CX 837 Take Off @ 08R
Marks the last Cathay 744 at YVR

CX 837 Take Off @ 08R
Immediately disappearing in the fog ...
Marks the last Cathay 744 at YVR

      



  

Live Update: CX 838/837 Final B744 - VS 095 Final 2012 YVR Ops

** Live Updates - 1220hr - 1652hr ** 

 Follow this live update for the final CX B747-400 operations to YVR, and Virgin's final flight to YVR for 2012.  This will be updated continuously between 1220hr - 1652hr.  

-- @ 1652 End of Live Updates --

Actual Photo to be posted by tomorrow night - please stay tune! 
-- @1650 --

Temp photo of CX 744 last take off from YVR

 





















-- @ 1545 --

CX 837 departed a few mins ago 

-- @ 1537 --

CX 837 taxing to 08L (although YvR website indicated departed 1525 - that is obviously incorrect, it could mean it was pushed back)

-- @ 1532 --

VS 95 just landed on 08L, last landing at YVR this year, didn't catch a shot as I m still waiting for CX by 08R

-- @ 1518 --

CX 837 displayed as delay to 1510, but still no sign of taxing 

-- @ 1425 --

CX 837 displayed as pn schedule for departure at 1500.
Current main departing rwy, 08R, low ceiling & visibility 

-- @ 1402 --

Temp photo for now ...

-- @ 1337 --

CX838 landed 1330 @ 08L
Picutres uploaded shortly ...

---------------

-- @1223hr --

CX 838 delayed - est. arr. 1330
VS 095 delayed - est. arr. 1448 

Current wind E, main approaching rwy 08L 

-------------

Route Launch: MUC-YVR

Looks like according to Routes Online, Lufthansa (LH) is launching the Munich-Vancouver route next Summer.  Flying daily, LH plans to operate with its A333 fleet. 

 === Route Launch === 

 16 May 2013 - 05 Oct 2013

 LH 476      MUC-YVR      Dep: 1530      Arr: 1705      A333D 
 LH 477      YVR-MUC      Dep: 1845      Arr: 1400      A333D 

 =================

As far as I recall, there is currently no MUC-YVR direct flight by other carriers, making this a competitive advantage for LH.  With LH's current FRA-YVR schedule, LH 476/477 will not get the chance to give a warm "family salute" to the existing FRA-YVR flight, LH 492/493 (unless either one's schedule alters next year, or, if LH492/493 delays for over 3 hrs).  

 It is pretty rare for a foreign carrier to have more than one fleet member appearing at the same time in YVR.  These occasions ususally happen during the summer such as BA's duol 744s, and Thomas Cook's summer operation.  And of course, rare emergencies when a fleet has to be brought in in replacement of a damaged plane.  As of now, we won't be seeing two Lufthansa planes at the same time in YVR.  

LH492 A346 Approaching 26R - Aug 2012
No longer to be lonley next summer ;)
Backdrop of the new Canada Post site

       

Shouting Out, ENCORE!

Last week's announcement of WestJet Encore has once again impressed me!  With an artistic trait, I should have known!  Derived from a French word meaning "again", "and more", encore is to invite the artist back on stage.  Whether it was planned, or improvised, artists would appear and performance once again as the audiences appluad and "yell" for more. 

It would be quite obvious that the selected name through a WestJet owners (a.k.a. all employees) vote is to mark another great success of its operation, an operation that brought surprises, cheers and true quality services to Canadians and foreign travellers.  You know, cheer and surprise us "again".  It may also imply that passengers are asking for more, and so WestJet Encore was established for "more" services, reaching regional destinations.  

Following the WestJet Owner vote, a FaceBook posting on WestJet's wall asked for the general public's suggeston for a new name without exposing the choices of their vote (couldn't find the posting now but pretty sure it was a FB posting cause I commented it).  What I commented was to retain the name WestJet, regardless if another name is attached to it.  I believe that it is very important to present the well-recognized name "WestJet", a name that was well-built over the past 16 years of success.  I'm glad that the name was kept, and I'm impressed with the attachment of "Encore"!  

What I'm really looking forward to now, is the livery on the Q400s.  Despite the purpose of the extension to the regional market, the destination part of this whole thing ain't really of my greatest interest.  To continue on in preserving the great name of WestJet, the WestJet logo shall not be forgotten and still be presented as the main dish.  Or, at least if Encore is to be printed on the left and right of the fuseluge, a large WestJet logo should still be printed at the rear end, along with the original WestJet tail livery.  If a new tail livery is to be presented, which makes sense too, then the WestJet logo should be presented no smaller than the Encore print.

My preferred prime colour of the fuseluge remains white, or polished silver.  Yes, I know, polished silver increases weight, leading to higher fuel cost, and so on ..., but artistically, in terms of being a hot looking plane, I think that the traditional polished silver is just HOT!  White is a good replacement now as it looks pure and simple.  If there is a new tail logo, the original colours of blue, green and white should be retained; adding an extra colour to diversify the tone can be artistically right, as long as it doesn't take away too much attention of the "WestJet colours".  I also quite like the Care-antee livery (or, in French, la garantie qui tient), so one of the Q400 fleets can wear that paint to make it a little special.  Oh, and finally, last but not least, the Canadian Flag will make the best finishing touch! 

Screenshot of WestJet's FB annoucement
The Q400 photo is just a render sample from Bombardier;
I'm pretty sure the actual livery will at least contain an "Encore" print.

 
 

Last Flight Alert: CX's Final Jumbo Flight to YVR

 ** Updated on 15 October 2012 - Last flight is changed to 27 October 2012 **

Almost forgot about AirlineRoute's posting regarding CX's alteration to full 773ERs for HKG-YVR starting this Fall!  CX has officially annouced the final 744 flight for the HKG-YVR route.  Please mark your calendar for this upsetting, yet honourable event: 

=== 27 October 2012 === 

CX 838   HKG-YVR   Dep. 1635hr - Arr. 1320hr   744A (No Premium Econ)*
CX 837   YVR-HKG   Dep. 1500hr - Arr. 1900hr   744A (No Premium Econ)*   
 

Booking screenshot from cathaypacific.com

* Aircraft fleet/configuration may alter upon operational needs
** Note: The CX 888/889 HKG-YVR-JFK route remains in operation with the 773ERs 
====================

The 744s retirement plan for CX extends until 2017.  Two were annouced to have phased out last month in September, while one more is expected to receive a great "salute" this month.  Doing some "math" here, the 21 fleet of 744s will be down to 19 by end of 2012, 15 by end of 2013, 13 by end of 2014, 7 by end of 2015 and 2016, and a complete phase out by end of 2017.  The current 773ERs plus the newly ordered A350s will replace the used-to-be the greatest Jumbo in aviation history.  There are currently 48 firm orders of the A350s, 26 of the -900 series and 22 of the -1000 series, while configurations have yet to be annouced.  

What about the 748i and A380?  Looking briefly at the inventory, CX's upcoming A350s are expected to also replace the soon-to-retire A340s and B772s, which totals to 28.  With the 48 A350 orders, the remainings should make it out to balance the 21 soon-to-retire 744s, plus a few extras.  Of course, this is no straight accounting; the seating configuration and future route plan will make a difference.  As a general conclusion, and yes, I mean very brief and general, the chance of the 748i and A380 is not as high as expected.  In fact, when the A350 orders were initially annouced, my hope for the CX A380 and B748i had smudged up like rain dropping on a Mona Lisa.  

Yes, how can you compare the A350s to the A380s and 748is?  Well, true, all of them target different passenger capacity, and of course the range as well, but ordering 48 A350s and specifically replacing the 744s and the others is absolutely in no favour of greater capacity aircraft.  The current 3-class 773ERs, installed with 340 seats (at least for 838/837's 3-class configuration), in replacement of the 379 seater 744s, shows an intension to decrease capacity per flight.  The estimated capacity for the A350s ranges from 314 to 350 in a 3-class configuration (of course, this varies depending on the air carrier's cabin setup).  It is not surprising that CX will put aside the larger capacity aircraft for the time being.               

Meanwhile, looking on the bright side, there is a potential to see the newest Airbus generation, A350XWB (Extra Wide Body), at YVR (and of course, wearing one of my favourite liveries representing Hong Kong, ever!).  All ya YVR Plane Spotters out there, grab the best "runway" seats on 27 October 2012!  This is one less 744 Jumbo at YVR I'm talking about!

RSVP Your VIRGIN Spot Yet?

Thougght I'll release a friendly reminder that Virgin's last flight to/off YVR (at least within 2012) is on 27 October 2012.  Mark your calendar, pick a spot, and grab some great farewell pictures!  

 27 October 2012 (Saturday)
 
 VS095   LHR-YVR   Arrival.   1455hr    A343**
 VS096   YVR-LHR   Depart.   2025hr   A343**

(**Of course, fleet and time may alter according to Virgin's operational needs.  
Should there be any alterations, I'll try my best to provide updates as early as possible)    

As ususal, 26R-08L is generally used for landings, while 26L-08R is mainly for take-offs.  Don't forget to check the wind direction and potential runway closure (yes, the BIG "X" sign).  In the case of crosswind, 12-30 may be used; I've seen LH's A343 landed there before.  If crosswind did strike, take a seat at the Public Observation Area in the domestic terminal as it will give you the best 12-30 view ;)     
 

Have you mark your calendar yet?
(iPhone shot, effects via Instagram)