What YEG had before Icelandair showed up:
non-stop service to LHR
one stop services to Europe via YYZ
-13 destinations AC (some seasonal)
-5 destinations rouge (starting next year for some of them)
-17 destinations AT (most seasonal)
-pretty much all the big European airlines offer service out of pearson all the time
one stop services out of YUL
-5 destinations AC all the time
-3 destinations rouge (starting next year)
-20 destinations AT (most seasonal)
-pretty much all the big European airlines offer service out of dorval all the time
Now you lost one direct service to LHR but gained an additional
one stop service to Europe via KEF to ~ 30 destinations.
Did I mention SEA? I notice Horizon does a service to SEA-TAC from YEG. More European destinations if you are price shopping and don't mind a stop.
My point is YEG already had one stop service to Europe. What Icelandair is offering is not new or significant. There is more frequency and competition on the North Atlantic routes out of YUL and YYZ... I am doubtful Icelandair will make much of a splash.
It reminds me of the
"Target" retail launch in Canada. The media says "prices will drop!" but did they? Target ended up pricing close to what other similar retailers were charging. Is Icelandair going to be any different?