Why Alberta's Busiest Air Route Exists

Calgary and Edmonton are the two largest cities in Alberta, located about 300 kilometres apart, and 3 hours by car. Yet, there are a substantial number of flights between the two.
So why are there so many flights between these two relatively close cities?
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Calgary/Edmonton Populations:
www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-re...
www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-re...
Passenger statistics:
www.yyc.com/Portals/0/MEDIA/M...
flyeia.com/corporate/wp-conte...
WestJet hub:
westjet.mediaroom.com/2019-06...
westjet.mediaroom.com/2018-08...
“Stop The Calgary Habit”:
flyeia.com/corporate/media/ne...
www.metro.us/edmonton-tries-t...
flyeia.com/corporate/media/ne...
Edmonton’s International Connections:
flyeia.com/corporate/media/ne...
edmontonjournal.com/business/...
flyeia.com/corporate/media/ne...
Alberta High Speed Rail:
www.alberta.ca/high-speed-rai...
open.alberta.ca/publications/...
www.ponokanews.com/community/...
www.forthjunction.ca/passenger...
tracksidetreasure.blogspot.com...
www.assembly.ab.ca/docs/defau...
Alberta Hyperloop:
calgaryherald.com/news/local-...
www.transpod.com/calgary-to-e...
canada.constructconnect.com/j...
Prairie Link:
calgaryherald.com/news/local-...
www.globalconstructionreview....
canada.constructconnect.com/j...
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Outro song - "Take Flight" by Nyhtian: • Nyhtian - Take Flight ...
© Alex Praglowski Aviation 2021
This video is the property of Alex Praglowski Aviation and may not be used for any purpose without prior permission. Contact me at the email in the "About" section of my channel for usage.

[@carsondupont5517]

"if it means less time on the QE2 I'm all for it" I think this is a message all Albertans can get behind.

[@TheNorthernAlex]

You’d think so. 😂

[@kevinkarbonik2928]

I hate that drive...it's soooo boring.

[@kimghanson]

There are alternate routes parallel to QE2. The road less traveled is often less boring.

[@misomalu]

Lol, fuck that. I don’t want it to be easier for people from Edmonton *spits on ground* to come to Calgary.

[@VexChoccyMilk]

@@misomalu From Edmonton, I agree.

[@roundandroundmyworld]

Surprised you didn't mention the key role of the old Edmonton Industrial (city centre) Airport in developing the fly-through-Calgary habit. Flights were only allowed from that smaller airport to other airports in Alberta, but Edmontonians loved it because it saved them the looooong drive out to the international airport, so their fastest option was a quick flight from Industrial to Calgary, and then connect on to wherever. Even after that smaller airport closed, the habit has remained strongly ingrained.

[@thearsenalmisfit2414]

Your statement about gaving only flights with in alberta is not correct. CP Air and later Canaiadian use to fly from there to Fort St John B.C. to connet with thier flight to Whitehorse Yukon. The flights yse to arrive at Fort St. John at roughly the same time. So connecting time was minimal. Aircraft usedcwere B737-200 or the Fokker F 70. Flew on bith on that route

[@davidbalcon8726]

Loved flying from YXD and yes, flights were restricted to within Alberta and nonstop to the adjacent provinces/territories (though some one-stops went on to YWG). During the boom years, the second most flown route ex-YXD was to Ft McMurray. PWA flew it as a shuttle, flight just long enough for a comp lager and bologna with zapped melted cheese on a bun!

[@CarusKyle]

Tbh the route is really Calgary to Leduc, when you land you still need to spend $70 on a cab to downtown Edmonton. Just take a red arrow bus and you don't have to deal with all the extra of dealing with airports.

[@ellieblunden1463]

And it's significantly cheaper

[@andrewcao4521]

You can take the 747 to century park it’s pretty cheqo

[@jennyniemi2141]

It's around 8.50 to take the bus from the airport to downtown Edmonton. It's about an hour. I wish we had a train running though!

[@gworfish]

A high speed rail link was a hot topic when I first moved to Calgary. In 1997 😂. I really do hope it come together some day, but I don't think I'll live to see it.

[@danwardlaw2160]

High Speed rail link has been a hot topic since the 70's (I was around then), they were talking about replacing via Rail with a Maglev at the time but, nothing came out of it. Since then every 10 yrs or so the subject pops up like a timer and get popular then someone decides it's not worth it and shuts it down.

[@nadz109]

I moved here in 95 and I remember hearing that too

[@Len_M.]

I miss VIA-RAIL. In Cubs we drove down to Great Falls and then came back on the Train to Calgary. I remember coming out near Calgary Tower, but I can’t remember there being a Train Station around there the 1000’s of times I’ve been to Calgary after that.

[@omegasupream8701]

High speed trains would make more sence and be 100% more efficient. Exspecaly if u know anything about how trains work. 570 top speed and the reverse electrical breaks send energy back to the main line. So it creates energy as it breaks. Like the Honda NSXs ingenious breaking design it charges its electric motors as it breaks.

[@brianw3111]

There talks about it again but not sure if it actually happen.

[@airdaddy1706]

its honestly surprising that there arent many international flights from Edmonton, the klm and icelandair flights are always packed

[@viscount757]

It's not that surprising. Packed flights don't necessarily mean profitable flights. Calgary has much more business traffic due to the many head offices located in Calgary, and it's the high-fare business class passengers that generate a high pecentage of the profits.

[@afcgeo882]

It’s simple: if you’re flying to Amsterdam and Reykjavik and not New York and London then you’re not a business city and you aren’t going to attract major airline routes.

[@asiaworldcity]

​@@viscount757 Agree. Calgary is a well-established hub, well-established demands including transfer from YEG, why airlines want risk losing money and move to Edmonton. Unless Edmonton Gov wants to subsidize the airlines, I would def go to Edmonton to catch a flight if it is 30% cheaper lol.

[@bother9732]

I saw this title and immediately just thought Money.

[@theyalesubrailfan1849]

Your not alone

[@tannerdowney2802]

I thought, "Berta!"

[@Christerbob]

@@theyalesubrailfan1849 yyyyrttrtrttrtttytryryryyyyyryyryyst st st start ryrttrtrtrtrtrtttrttrttrtsysy ry you e eyy

[@ThePowerofJames]

Would love to hear more about the Montréal-Ottawa-Toronto trips too man! These Sunday info videos are awesome!

[@bearcubdaycare]

Edmonton actually has good air service for a metropolis of 1.3 million. My nearest airport serves a bit more than half that, and has quite modest service. People drive two hours to the bigger city airport up the way, not that much closer than YYC, on the north side of Calgary, is from Edmonton. What's astonishing is the level of service that WestJet built up at Calgary. When I moved there, Air Canada flew a lot of routes there with regional jets or propeller aircraft. WestJet came in and flew those routes with 737s, successfully and profitably, and just kept expanding. That's what's bizarre. As for Calgary-Edmonton air traffic, there's a lot too between, say, Boston and New York. Flying gives most of a day in the other city. Driving gives a few hours. The train between Boston and New York is liked by some, but still not as fast, only comparable for city center to city center, not if one end of the trip is in the burbs, or anywhere outside the very center.

[@Ben_Kimber]

It's kind of interesting to me. I heard of a difference in how distances are described in Canada versus the United States, where if you ask a Canadian how far away a certain location is, we'll give an answer in units of time in terms of how long it would take to drive there. I have never thought of the distance to Edmonton as anything other than 3 hours. The place where I work is 10 minutes away, my family's cabin is 7 hours away, and the place I went to school is 30-45 minutes away, depending on traffic. In the States, they're apparently more likely to answer in actual units of distance. I've noticed this in storm chasing videos, which I watch quite a lot. They'll look at a tornado in the distance, and make fairly specific estimates about how many miles it is from the nearest city or town.

[@ellieblunden1463]

It's honestly just more intuitive to use time and it can be understood by people who don't drive, people who aren't familiar with the metric system, and it's easily understood. I don't drive so if someone said something was 700 kilometers away I'd have to google it to get a good sense of where it is. If someone described something as a 6 hour drive, I think it helps me to visualize the distance. That could just be me though!

[@Ben_Kimber]

@@ellieblunden1463 I think it helps me to visualise the distance as well. I also use time to decide when I have to leave to be somewhere on time.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

I think it's a western Canada trend. In Ontario I do usually hear kilometres because there are numerous travel options (train, bus, car) and each one varies a lot anyway (express trains, traffic jams)

[@matthewhall5571]

We Californians get garbage from other Americans for being more likely to use times than mileages. We do this because we have some highly congested areas where mileages are useless guides for your trip.

[@Ben_Kimber]

@@OntarioTrafficMan I mean, we have all those options, too, and they have their own variables. There are some express bus routes, regular bus routes, the C-Train system, and travel times in cars and buses vary depending on the time of the day. Here, we're just used to looking at the travel method, time of the day, and the route we're taking to judge when we have to leave to get somewhere on time by knowing how long it will take to get there. I can't do that if I think of distances in actual units of distance.

[@StarTheAvgeek]

The last time I flew on this busy route was back in August of 2019, when I was connecting to Edmonton via Calgary after arriving from Toronto onboard an Air Canada Rouge 767. My flight to YEG was an Air Canada DHC Dash 8 Q400, I enjoyed every second of that flight.

[@Surrey360]

Great information! Love this!

[@ianschiller9612]

I learn something new every time you do an informative video , thanks.

[@speedbirdgaming1515]

Always really well done thanks great video

[@jessemillington5988]

very informative, imagine the days gone by when we had so many smaller air lines to chose from to do the route, especially with all the cool old prop liners.

[@MrPsychomonkey]

Public rail, really makes sense for major cities close together. Build it with regular reliable services and they will come

[@TheNorthernAlex]

Hey Alex, greetings from the North. I just found your channel and I love what you are doing. Keep up the good work! Also, I am curious if we'll ever see the Hyperloop between YEG and YYC becoming reality. Cheers, Alex

[@FlightATC]

OMG, The Northern legend himself...

[@my3dviews]

I certainly hope not. Hyperloop is about the stupidest mode of transportation. You need a airlock at each end. It takes lots of time to pump the air out of the airlock and repressurize. Can only send pods that fit in the airlock. Unlike a highspeed train that can have several cars, which can be loaded and unloaded quickly. You can't have any leaks, but you need expansion joints for the tube, due to temperature changes. Not to mention that a leak in a pod could result in all the passengers dying. It is basically a spacecraft surrounded by a vacuum. Would be the biggest waste of money ever.

[@JesusFriedChrist]

Five PD everybody

[@brendancarroll8940]

hyperloop is a pipe dream. Why would maglev in a tunnel be cheaper than maglev or traditional rail? Let us think realistically and actually have a chance at High Speed Rail

[@WhooptyDoo]

Isn't it always

[@jcbaily5559]

An interesting video and a treat to hear your ending music....thanks!

[@JustARegularPigeon]

Great video. Great editing and audio.

[@Young_rich_king]

nice video! as always!

[@MattCook206]

interesting facts! thanks for the video!

[@haweater1555]

The last rail service between the two cities used Budd RDCs, little better than riding an old school bus.

[@joncalon7508]

The RDC’s had to run flat out to maintain the schedule, and unfortunately the CP corridor between the two cities has way too many unprotected grade crossings and even to this day is dark territory, though that’s rapidly coming to an end. After a VIA train veered into a spur and collided with standing equipment, the call was made to end the service.

[@petervonkanel4963]

I like the old budd cars

[@haweater1555]

@@petervonkanel4963 I've only had the opportunity to ride an RDC once, on Vancouver Island, as part of my 12 day CanRailPass marathon in 1994. Starting in Toronto, I made a loop to Halifax on the Atlantic and Ocean, round trips to Ottawa, Niagara Falls, and Windsor, one-way on the Canadian to Vancouver; all within three weeks.

[@wolfgangbing2497]

Thank you for this Video.👍❤️🇩🇪

[@dmfraser1444]

I remember in the 1960s, my mother and I would take the Budd RDC Dayliner from Edmonton to Calgary and back on some long weekends as much of our relatives were in Calgary. In 1968 I made my first car trip driving on Highway 2 to Calgary. long before it got named the QE2. Many trips afterward until I moved to Vancouver in 1981. Made more than one day trip by road to Calgary and back to Edmonton for customer calls. Got my last speeding ticket on that highway in 1979. I took the plane just once on a very short turnaround trip to repair something for a customer in Calgary. Flew on the Airbus from Edmonton Municipal to Calgary and back the same day on Piggly Wiggly. That was the nickname for Pacific Western. The takeoff out of Calgary was the hottest takeoff I have ever experienced and the pilot stood that 737 on its tail after giving us a short warning. Back in the days when jet fuel was cheap. The PW 737s were flying hourly on some days.

[@AustinSersen]

High speed passenger rail makes too much sense. Not only could it help the airports reduce the redundant travel between Edmonton and Calgary, but it could also open up Red Deer to Air Canada and Westjet as another destination. Additionally, imagine all of the sports travel that could be absorbed by a train. Every time the Flames or Stampeders play in Edmonton, they could take the train there and have their own private train car. Same thing for the Hitmen when they play in Edmonton or Red Deer, and likewise at the minor and university levels: plenty of inner-provincial travel by the likes of the University of Calgary, University of Alberta, MacEwan, Mount Royal, Red Deer, NAIT, SAIT, etc. As a fan, I would love to be able to travel up to Edmonton to see the Stampeders play at Commonwealth and return same-day without the hassle and cost of driving. I even rode my bicycle up to Edmonton to see an Elks game a couple weeks ago, and that was a memorable experience!

[@cleverusername6233]

Are you going to pay for that?

[@AustinSersen]

@@cleverusername6233 Absolutely! Just like I'm paying for the QE2 (through property taxes) that I never use.

[@patreilly6826]

When CP ran a Dayliner passenger service it would make the run from downtown Edmonton to downtown Calgary in 3.5 to 4 hours. That was if it did not have an accident at one of the 200 level crossings on that track. There were at least 5 to 6 accidents a month because a lot of these level crossings had no crossing arms or warning lights. At 70 MPH you could not see the dayliner coming and there a lot of collisions with farm equipment at these crossings. There was a major accident when the dayliner was sent onto a siding due to a work crew not resetting the switch on the main line after they parked their equipment on siding to let the dayliner pass. It ran into a parked grain car on one of the sidings and there was a loss of life in that one.

[@cleverusername6233]

@@AustinSersen Maybe consider not being poor like normal people?

[@greenstill58]

@@cleverusername6233 did you think this was a smart response?

[@gcorriveau6864]

It'd be a cool solution to use the QR2 itself as a route for hi-speed rail. I've seen train systems elsewhere that are built above highways - straddling the car lanes. I wonder if that's feasible. I guess it's tough to gain traction for any new rail-link when the highway and air routes are already so successfully installed.

[@EgilWar]

Actually driving is about the same travel time when you factor in the time from your home or business to your final destination.

[@gteixeira]

Some people like to fly.

[@gs98999]

Connections probably huge part of it. If I’m Going on vacation there is no way I’m starting or ending it with a 3hr drive (assumes can’t get to vacation from city I’m in). Other reason maybe is weather. Half the year that highway can see awful driving conditions.

[@AlbertaGengar]

Great video

[@TheLunacyofOurTimes]

A terminus at either end that stopped close to downtown Calgary and Edmonton would definitely help. The QE2 is close to capacity at many time of the day near either city, and an accident can result in a shut down and long detours. I flew from YEG to YYC a couple of weeks ago and getting through security was efficient but the time for the entire flight including traveling to the airport and disembarking in Calgary was still over 3.5 hours. I really don't think it would take much to justify a high speed corridor here if it properly links with established infrastructure.

[@ATIMELINEOFAVIATION]

I’ve flown to Edmonton the tower is so cool!

[@douglasnorth4703]

It's a huge candidate for fast rail.

[@raddek99]

I’m flying AC tomorrow afternoon on this very route. Looking forward to riding the ol Q-400 again!

[@yarkobroda]

This irritates me to no end. People commute NY, Toronto, Montreal daily but there is no commuter solution between YEG and YYC. I live deep south Edmonton, I would love to work in Calgary and would gladly fly if there was a commuter terminal and a true commuter airline. If curb to curb was 80 minutes or less it would be great for Calgary's disproportionate unemployment and open up jobs in industries which are based in each city.

[@zhaohanxu7969]

For a Calgarian I prefer the vibe of EIA, I flown there couple times, the airport maintained fairly well and has its own features

[@HavokR505]

High speed rail could be interesting. including security and boarding. the calgary edmonton flight is still pushing a 3 hour ordeal all in. a drive point to point is about the same. so even if the trains were like 200km/h it would be faster. issue is getting rid of the VIA rails still train boarding and treating it like public transportation rather than like a flight.

[@nowamajormotionpictureeven3797]

Currently the cheapest return trip ticket I can find between Edmonton and Calgary is $230 in the off season. Alternatively, I can get a round trip from Edmonton to Vancouver for $96 or Edmonton to Toronto for $114. I would love to go to Calgary more but that round trip ticket needs to be below $70 to tempt me.

[@BaguetteBread1]

lived in Grande prairie and the first flight i did was on a dash 8 to yyc i fell in love with aviation after that lol

[@owenpatal]

From Slave Lake we just drive on both, takes 3 hours to Edmonton (with a quick break in Westlock) and another 3 hours if we were going to Calgary, and yes another quick break in Edmonton, its crazy for us to think that there’s a flight between the two 😂

[@kurohone]

There used to be scheduled passenger flights between Edmonton Municipal and Edmonton International! Even my 10 year old self thought that was a bit much....

[@owenpatal]

@@kurohone - Lol really? Haha sucks it closed almost 10 years ago

[@andyjay729]

@@kurohone For that matter there used to be helicopter flights between Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports.

[@jeycalc6877]

An express Bus would be the best way. Why would you want to take a plane, which is bad experience and exposes you to radiation, when you can take a Bus or a train. A high speed train between Edmonton to Calgary would end this. Roads are not profitable but we still continue to make those, the cost of that highway is insane, and extremely costly to maintain

[@anthonyholroyd5359]

Much as I love air transport . . . If ever there was a route ripe for higher-speed rail corridor development this is it. Electrified multiple units, 100-125 mph? Doesn't need to be a massively expensive, dedicated high-speed rail corridor. Just higher speeds, that will easily outstrip road competitors whilst linking downtown to downtown without having to travel between downtown & airports.

[@RoseCityRebel]

Do a video explaining vacation airlines!

[@mikehudon8864]

Also lots of people in central Alberta catch flights through Calgary.

[@calvinduchaine5501]

I can make it driving in 2.5 hrs its quicker, by the time you drive to airport, clear security land and deplane its quicker to drive.

[@wolphin732]

And you don't have the expense of a rental vehicle or needing someone to drive you...

[@johnbee7729]

And the distance from airport to airport is even less as YYC is on the far north of Calgary (adjacent to #2) and YEG is on the far south of Edmonton (and adjacent to #2).

[@biggerandbetterthings7222]

'hyperloop' oohh, just HSR PLZ... we don't need absolute deathtraps especially since it's not even viable $ wise!

[@QuarioQuario54321]

Unless a Calgary Edmonton HSR comes into existence

[@mfvieira89]

This reminds me of Lisbon and Porto in Portugal. But they also have rail

[@VapesForBabies]

The train to Edmonton is my white whale. I want it so bad. Plus, a 30 minute ride to visit family in Red Deer is pretty nice as well. I have to imagine it would be more energy efficient to take the train, no? That many planes between the two cities can't be environmentally friendly.

[@imperiumcommentingnetwork4677]

I've flown out of both airports, I like the convenience of being an hour drive from YYC bur i like the flow of EIA better.

[@ndenise3460]

30-45 mins + 1 hr before, get felt up by security wait at gate for a delayed fligh(30mins late is the new ontime), then wait for baggage, line up for a rental car, and then do it all over again when finished work. When they closed city center, they killed the charter market. I drive 7 hours to get to work to avoid having to go through an airport!

[@AdamBhay]

It exists because building an efficient cleaner mode of transport like a high speed rail between dense populations centers in Canada would just be too dang hard! Can't think that far into the future.

[@cooltrainsinmontreal4883]

Even if there's not enough to justify high speed rail between Calgary and Edmonton Via Rail should at least look at building track an stations for the new trains that the Quebec Windsor corridor is getting

[@TDREXrx9]

problem with Edmonton's airport is it is so far. It takes me 45mins on a good day to get to the airport from central Edmonton, then you got to park or take a over priced taxi. if we every get the LRT out to the airport that will change a lot of things . but i really think a YEG to YYC highspeed trains would be cool.

[@amo_res9266]

I’m From Edmonton, and it’s pretty sad that whenever i travel somewhere far, i had make a few stop overs. meanwhile if you fly from Calgary, you get less stop overs or even better, a non stop flight

[@nadz109]

I think you would be happier if you lived in Calgary

[@amo_res9266]

@@nadz109 It’s a lot cheaper here in Edmonton and it’s basically the same as Calgary.

[@nadz109]

@@amo_res9266 not even close We have chinnoks and the mountains

[@amo_res9266]

@@nadz109 I’ll think about it, i’m too young to move out

[@nadz109]

@@amo_res9266 I moved out when I was 17

[@WhooptyDoo]

Or we could, say, make use of the land flatness and upgrade the qe2 to the standards of the Autobahn by simply copying its design. Would shorten travel time with a relatively small investment along with becoming a significant tourist attraction

[@eottoe2001]

We need to change our thinking about high speed rail. A passenger line just doing 160kph would be enough to put a dent into air and car travel in Alberta using upgraded existing rail lines. You'd need a suburban and a downtown stations for both cities. You'd need welded rail, quad-gates with sensors, and updated signalling. That stuff is off the shelf. People hate when I say this but the majority of intercity passenger rail in Europe is NOT going 300kph. North American standard passenger car being built are able to do 200kph without modification. For short run train like from Cleveland to Chicago or Calgary to Edmonton, you don't need 300kph. It would be nice but isn't required at first.

[@lost-prototype]

I connect via YVR to YEG when coming from YWG.

[@wellgeo223]

Yeah, I don't see that hyper loop happening.

[@jasminejohnston6393]

The same could be said about flights between cities within BC such as Vancouver to Kelowna

[@MaxHumphreysMaxHumphreys]

YYJ to YVR as well. 13 minute flight but there are like 40 per day.

[@e-curb]

@@MaxHumphreysMaxHumphreys Are you suggesting hi-speed rail for that route?

[@HuckThis1971]

Train connected east to west. Airplanes opened up the north. It would cost a fortune to install rails for high speed train. Canada is renown for avition.

[@the_shed1960]

Thanks for reminding me how hideous AB can be from the air. JK For real though, dear lord those cities are sprawling. I'm happy I got my license near the patchwork yellow-green farmland and gentle bends of the Red Deer river, with the mountains peaking over the horizon in the west. Those were some fine days :)

[@syncmonism]

It's really dumb that there's no train service between the two cities.

[@JJR93]

Even dumber that there used to be but was discontinued in 1985 due to "low ridership" and "not profitable enough"....so what, it's necessary--fund it anyway, Alberta.

[@ziauddin7948]

good flights operation between Calgary & Edmonton #

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

If you own a radar detector and a decent vehicle it's faster to just drive between the two when you consider airport wait times.

[@bobbucks]

Once a HSR is built, routes to Winnipeg or Denver could be looked at. Just have to start it before I die of old age in 2065!!

[@alexe1707]

I would think it would be faster to drive when you factor in time to get to the airport time at security and the gate, it would be faster to drive

[@Test121212121212]

Driving can be a tiny bit faster or slower depending on speeding and weather conditions; in my opinion that's not a key difference. More important to me are: driving doesn't require timing your day quite so precisely, driving costs less particularly if more than one person in the vehicle, and driving is more convenient as long as the vehicle is in good repair. The only reason to fly the route is to potentially reduce fatigue (since driving the return trip would require 4-6 hours, which can be tiring if you need to work that day as well).

[@tomstanton5710]

High speed rail city center to city center would be the answer. Far less air pollution per passenger and just as fast when you take the commute to the airport and back into consideration.

[@TheInsaneupsdriver]

i hope they build the hyperloop they're planning. faster greener and cheaper then flying.

[@kotechabhavesh]

Edmonton do not have enough international flights, you have to go through Calgary or Toronto, Railway will work only if you can bring your car in train just like a Victoria ferry, if Alberta is thinking of making new route, should consider ferry train to cross country traffic will very less and save the environment as well

[@philippegosselin7756]

just to make things worse, the travel difference between the 2 airports is actually 2.5 hours. not 3 since the Calgary airport is north of the city and the Edmonton one is south of the city

[@greendude96]

I wonder how easy it would be to restart passenger train service on the existing line? Or is the line full 'murican with it being owned by a freight company who has no interest in doing so themselves or letting anyone else start a service?

[@kenlindsey3169]

Parking used to be half the cost in edmonton,compared to calgary.Think 1 guy owned them all in Calgary.

[@Ticklestein]

1:20 - Someone photoshopped some trolling thing to that picture, that can't be the real control tower.

[@thompardoe8303]

You failed to mention the Edmonton downtown airport, which had passenger service up until about 2005. You could be in downtown Edmonton from Calgary in about an hour for about a hundred bucks. But the Edmonton Airport Authority decided people needed to drive to Nisku to catch a plan to Calgary.

[@andyjay729]

They really should consider extending Edmonton's light rail to the airport, considering how far out of town it is.

[@JJR93]

@@andyjay729 ^^This. Though the current connection with the 747 bus to the nearest Light Rail station isn't terrible.

[@cherylsemrau4375]

Because we don't have a high speed train service. There was a group that was going to do this but was turned down.

[@merc340sr]

Why is there no fast rail link?

[@floxy20]

Asking whether you support High Speed Rail is a litmus test for identifying those who inhabit Cloud Coocoo Land. What we need is a form of transportation that delivers people point to point, and as an added bonus leaves them with a form of transportation when they get to their destination. Can anyone think of one?

[@seamusmuldrew5623]

High speed rail with good public transit connections ☺️. Cars ruin cities

[@justinwhite2725]

Because Greyhound went out of business.

[@zackfromberta7375]

That highway is sketch on the holidays or when’s the average speed is 140 with bumper to bumper traffic.

[@chrisbrown2668]

problem with edmonton airport, so far away from the city. it needs a rail link 100%

[@jcampbell2481]

When I traveled in Europe, the rails connections (both high speed and regular) are so fast and convenient. Canada is so backward and likely to stay that way sadly.

[@elijahrobinson2362]

Why? Well, it’s more than just what was put forth here…and includes the fact that there used to be THREE airports in/just south of Edmonton. YED (CFB Namao), YXD Edmonton municipal, YEG ‘Leduc’ international. The fact that the lone surviving public airport is south of the city 20+ minutes means that not enough business wants to commit to building/using YEG if passengers are willing to connect in Calgary or to drive and fly out from YYC. I don’t see the route getting less used by passengers because it’s usually cheaper to fly from YEG to YYC and then elsewhere than it is to fly out from YEG to wherever on a direct flight. Until it’s attractive enough to airlines to out so much money into YEG, it won’t change (hint: it won’t, ever).

[@peterdnreynolds777]

What were the international routes that Edmonton had in the past? I'm sure there used to be a LHR route that was operated by air Canada or Canadian airlines if I remember

[@mattman6461]

CPAir did AMS back in the day.

[@viscount757]

Canadian Pacific Air Lines/CP Air (later Canadian Airlines) had direct service to Amsterdam for many years starting in 1955, as a stop on their route from Vancouver, initially with a fuel stop normally in Greenland on the DC-6B and Bristol Britannia. Nonstop service began when the DC-8 was introduced in 1961, followed by DC-8, 747, DC-10 and finally 767. AT some point Canadian Airlines dropped Amsterdam and served Frankfurt for some time. Air Canada also had nonstop service from Edmonton to both London and Frankfurt that started sometime in the mid to late 1960s. British Airways served Edmonton briefly from London in the late 1970s or early '80s, also a stop once or twice a week to/from Vancouver. I flew BA once Heathrow-Vancouver sometime around 1980 on an L-1011-500 that stopped at Edmonton in the middle of a raging blizzard shortly before Christmas. They Edmonton stop was quickly dropped when BA was in financial trouble and disposed of their long-range L-1011-500s which mostly went to the Royal Air Force for conversion to refuelling tankers and troop transports. Vancouver then became a nonstop route from LHR operated by the 747-200. Edmonton had nonstop service to Europe long before Calgary.

[@rflats771]

I can't see a HSR link anytime in the future, as others here have pointed out, it's been proposed several times in the past 50 years and nothing has come out of it, the current economics here in Alberta don't favour it without a lot of private funding and with the basic economics up in the air it's unlikely.

[@agcons]

If there isn't sufficient population for high-speed rail, why would anyone think that a hyperloop would be viable?

[@RubenThomas]

Icelandair still fly to Edmonton? I thought they terminated the route.

[@joncalon7508]

Covid caused a lot of disruption. That said, I’m hopeful they will continue. All my flights to Iceland and Europe have been aboard Icelandair. I’m one of those people who drive to Edmonton to take an international flight!

[@Staymare]

Highway 2 is a special road. Only place I ever see nearly every single driver pushing 130. Any other road you'll have a crowd of sightseers insisting on going 90 in the fastlane.

[@jdmotoYT]

and thus why RCMP love it. They make banks from anyone who dares push past 120

[@Edfiki86]

Calgary is the reason why edmonton is on the map

[@gr-612a9]

Calgary is more of a business centre, as well as a tourist destination to access Banff and Lake Louise. It has formed into a natural hub for Alberta, Saskatchewan, and part of BC. Edmonton should be a domestic airport, but in my opinion should not try and compete with Calgary for international routes. Hopefully in the future we will have a rail link between the two cities, and passengers can board a train in downtown Edmonton and arrive at YYC for their international flight.

[@seamusmuldrew5623]

Just completely ignoring the idea that maybe we want to become a place where tourists go as well? That might also affect Jasper

[@FlightATC]

Didn't Canadian North merge with First Air? Or am I thinking of a different airline?

[@joncalon7508]

They did, but I believe the merged airline is being called Canadian North.

[@FlightATC]

@@joncalon7508 Oh, OK... Got it.

[@gwendolynlathe5415]

Edm to cal train for sure. Look at the book alberta 75th. High school one stident talked about. Calgary edm train s

[@WilhelmvonFahrvergnugen]

How did you calculate travel time for "Hyperloop?" Think and research carefully.

[@SBBurzmali]

Same as you calculate the travel time of unicorns traveling by ley line, I'd imagine.

[@ezraredgwell]

Edmonton to Calgary

[@liizs2863]

It's a stupidly expensive flight to take too. It cost me more to fly from Edmonton to Calgary to fly from Toronto to Edmonton Edit: yes, I know it still takes the same cost to make the plane fly whether it's a short or a long flight. Less fuel but still the same effort.

[@oscassey]

Will the high-speed-train be electric or fossile fuel powered?

[@missmayflower]

That QE2 manages to be both boring and terrifying at the same time.

[@hassansajid83]

They are keep saying 🙄 we are making fast rail service to connect both cities from long time.

[@veroniquebellamy4741]

Because taking the bus to Edmonton from Calgary blows.

[@Jam_MG]

Man I would love a passenger train like system to go from Edmonton to Lethbridge. I think the government underestimates the youths desire for alternative forms of public transport. I do think it is a matter of time before we get a passenger railway between Calgary and Edmonton and hopefully Lethbridge. I grew up in Lethbridge. I don't think Lethbridge and Calgary will be linked via passenger train in my lifetime. Considering the only reason for a train to go to Lethbridge would mostly be for people from Lethbridge. Since Calgary and Edmonton are competing cities they each have reasons to go to one or the other. P.S. Calgary is the true capital of Alberta

[@nalm3371]

Giving Edmontonians a way to leave Edmonton faster! I dig it.

[@RoyalMela]

Just demolish both airports and make a huge new international one in Red Deer, half way between both cities! (just kidding)