Jet Blue Gets Go-ahead To Fly In Canada

[binwinbinwin]

It's true. Jet Blue received permission Dec 18, 2007 to start flights to Canada (READ FULL STORY BELOW). Only a few minor hiccups:
1) Jet Blue has no immediate plans to start flights from Canada
2) Jet Blue hasn't identified which airport they will fly out of from Canada (Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo, Halifax, Calgary???) or their destination (Orlando, New York, Tampa???)
3) If Jet Blue does start a flight out of Canada, unfortunately, passengers will be stuck paying the high Canadian flight taxes on all airline tickets. In other words, it will still be cheaper to drive to Buffalo to fly out on Jet Blue than to fly Jet Blue directly out of say Toronto or Hamilton.

JetBlue cleared to fly to Canada
Posted: December 19, 2007, 10:04 AM by Scott Deveau, National Post
JetBlue Airways was granted a license to fly to Canada late yesterday, but the low-cost carrier says it has no immediate plans to do so. The Canadian Transportation Agency awarded JetBlue licenses for both scheduled and non-scheduled service to Canada late Tuesday. Initially, the New York-based airline intends to use the licenses for chartered service, but is keeping its options open for scheduled service on routes that are in need of a low-cost alternative, such as Toronto-New York. "We're pleased that Ottawa recognizes the public value of our company and bringing our low fares into the transborder market," said Sebastian White, a spokesman for the airline. "We still have no plans, but we're sort of keeping options open." The New York-based airline offers chartered service for several organizations from sport teams like the Phoenix Coyotes to the White House Press Corps. Prior to being granted a Canadian license, JetBlue was unable to bring these organizations to Canada on their planes. The licenses permit unlimited scheduled service between the countries due to Canada's Open Skies agreement with the U.S. However, each charter flight needs to be granted approval from the agency in advance and must meet certain requirements, such as providing information on who is chartering the flight and how many passengers will be on board. Mr. White said there were no immediate plans for any scheduled service, but if any markets become attractive in the near future they would not hesitate to begin service.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Very cool -- Thanks for posting this!

Knox

 

[damo]

Aren't many of the surcharges that we get as Canadian fliers imposed by the US? It looked like 3 or 4 or them were on my last flight down.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I can't answer that..

But I can say that on a direct flight from Portland Maine to MCO, the taxes & surcharges identified on the ticket are about 18$ each way..

Compare that to Canada. Or even compare that to the intra-Canada flight surcharges & taxes - which are usually over 80$ each way.

There was a carrier from Toronto selling tickets for 9$ each way. The taxes & surcharges on the 9$ were 83$!!

Knox

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Aren't many of the surcharges that we get as Canadian fliers imposed by the US? It looked like 3 or 4 or them were on my last flight down.

Yes, many of them are. Since it's an international ticket, U.S. Customs and U.S. Immigration have their fees as well as Canada Customs and Canada Immigration. When you fly on a U.S. domestic flight (such as those out of Buffalo or Detroit) you don't have all those international fees. In addition, both Buffalo and Detroit are extremely competitive markets and thus low fares. So a domestic competitive route will be much cheaper than an international uncompetitive route.

BobK/Orlando

 

[pjpoohbear]

Actually, it is not an international flight. It is a transboarder flight in airline ticket terms.

There is a transboarder set fee (U.S. Arrival/Departure Tax), that is the same weither your ticket is $9 or $4500, everyone gets charged this, $29., then you have US Security Fee $2.50 (each time you enter a plane,) US immingration fee $7

Then you have GST, Passenger Facility Charge for each airport you take off from ($5-$15 in Canada), then the Air Travellers Security Charge $10-17.

Airlines can charge another two fees; insurance and or fuel surcharge, depending on the aircraft there can be a Air Navigation fee as well.

So set fees on Jet Blue from YYZ to MCO could be;
29.00 ~ Arrival/Departure Tax
7.00 ~ US IM
2.50 ~ US Sec
4.50 ~ MCO Pax Fac
$8-12 ~ YYZ Pax Fac
$10-17 ~ Air Travellers Security Charge
$? ~ Insurance Fee
$? ~ Fuel surcharge
A320 (Jetblue's 3x3 aircraft) $10.00 ~ Can Air Nav fee (approx)
+GST

Before the GST that is about $78.00+ in set government regulated fees.

Flying from BUF the most I have paid in fees in about $25.00 (that is with a plane change at JFK) for the $53.00extra, I could pay for gas there and back and parking is cheaper. As a family of 4 you could drive there and back and do an over night hotel that includes parking and breakfast. Extra benefits, customs is at the boarder, and easier time leaving MCO you only have to be there 2 hours ahead rather then 3 hours. I could do the drive to BUF in my sleep, I think I did for part of it a couple of weeks ago, lol, I think I would still drive to BUF.

I know that Jetblue has looked at all this and will wait until to would make sense for clients to buy in Canada, rather then drive to BUF or other US boarder Airport.

Pj