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Wednesday 01 October 2008 RICHMOND: CANADIANS TO PRIVATIZE CHICAGO AIRPORT
Vancouver Airport Authority has announced a 99-year contract to privatize and to operate Chicago's second-biggest airport, Midway Airport. The Canadian airport is a partner in the project with subsidiaries of U.S. banking giant Citigroup Inc. and Canadian insurance firm Manulife Financial Corp. Midway will be the first U.S. airport to be privatized. Chicago Midway and O'Hare Airport serve the third-biggest urban area in the U.S. The transaction requires the approval of Chicago's City Council
Friday 12 September 2008 WINNIPEG: PM WOULD CUT TAX ON DIESEL, AVIATION FUEL
On the third day of Canada's national election campaign, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised to cut the federal excise tax on diesel and aviation fuel by two cents a litre. Mr. Harper says it's important "keeping goods moving; it is the lifeblood of the economy." The prime minister said in Winnipeg, MA, that his party's economic plan is based on tax relief, paying off the national debt, maintaining a budget surplus, and making "responsible and targeted investments." The prime minister excise tax reduction is presumably intended to contrast with the "Green Shift" plan by the Liberals of Stéphane Dion, which proposes carbon taxes as the best way to fight climate change. Mr. Harper's announcements were somewhat overshadowed by a vulgar cartoon of Mr. Dion which the Conservatives posted on the Internet and were later forced to withdraw.
Wednesday 03 September 2008 OTTAWA: MAGELLAN INVESTING MILLIONS IN WINNIPEG PLANT
The Magellan Aerospace company is investing as much as $120 million in its Winnipeg-based Britsol Aerospace plant as part of the US-led Joint Fighter program. The Canadian government is putting up $43.4 million of the funds. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 supersonic stealth fighter plane with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. The F-35 will replace at least 13 types of aircraft in 11 countries. Magellan estimates it could reap as much as $3 billion in profits from the project over 25-to-30 years.
Friday 29 August 2008 MONTREAL: SMALL AIRLINE THROWS IN THE TOWEL
Ottawa-based Zoom Airlines has suspended its operations, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded in Canada and Britain. Zoom says the economic downturn and the high price of fuel had made it impossible to continue, and that it has begun bankruptcy proceedings in both countries. The airline employed 250 people in Canada and 260 in Britain. It operated five aircraft.
Tuesday 24 June 2008 OTTAWA: AIRPORT DROPS FEES
Ottawa International Airport says it will reduce its terminal fees by five per cent starting July 1. The non-profit airport's directorship says it made the decision because the airline industry is in a state of crisis because of the cost of fuel. Both Air Canada and its rival WestJet expressed gratitude for the decision.
Friday 20 June 2008 TORONTO: AIRPORT FEES TO DROP
Greater Toronto Airports Authority says that cargo landing fees at Pearson International Airport will be cut by 25 per cent starting Jan. 1, a move aimed at keeping the facility competitive as a cargo-shipping hub. GTAA says it hopes the decision will encourage additional cargo business and impel airlines to modernize their fleets by using more fuel-efficient aircraft. The airports authority says the reduction of cargo landing fees could remove as many as 40,000 trucks a year from Ontario's highways.
Articles-by-subject alert: Airline industry and defence
From Economist.com, Friday May 30th 2008
The following have been newly published on Economist.com:
Friday 09 May 2008 SWITZERLAND
New statistics show that about half of the world's airline accidents last year took place during landing. The International Air Transport Association or IATA examined 100 accidents in all. It says that many of them could have been avoided if pilots had made a second attempt to land, or if runways were properly cleared of obstacles. Other frequent causes of crashes were poor flight crew training, errors in flight control, and maintenance problems. Last year, almost 700 people were killed in air crashes, fewer than in 2006, when 855 people died. IATA says that Africa remains by far the most dangerous region for air travel.
Highlights of the past week’s postings on our business-travel blog
Tuesday April 15th 2008
When two become one
After a spate of bankruptcies, chaos at Heathrow and problems for American Airlines, it’s strange to find some happy airline bosses. But that’s what happened this week when Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines announced plans to merge. Already two of the world’s biggest carriers, their new operation will have 75,000 employees and fly to 390 destinations. What does that mean for passengers? read more»
OTTAWA: MODEST SUCCESS SEEN FOR AIRLINES
The Conference Board of Canada forecasts "modest profits" of $150 million for the country's airline industry this year. The private research group explain that despite good growth in revenue and lower maintenance costs, record fuel prices and labour shortages will cut into earnings over the next five years. However, the researchers predict that fuel prices and labour costs will abate somewhat starting later in the year.
Monday 17 March 2008 The Italian airline, Alitalia, has accepted a bid by Air France-KLM to buy the company. The offer was US$1.1 billion. The offer involves an exchange of shares. The offer still needs approval by Air France's labour unions and by Italy's government, which holds 50 per cent of Alitalia. The Italina airline has faced serious financial difficulty for the past few years.
Saturday 09 February 2008 MONTREAL: PRATT & WHITNEY WINS BIGGEST CONTRACT
Pratt & Whitney Canada says it has won the biggest contract in the company's history. The company will build a new generation of lower-emission, more powerful jet engines for use in Cessna's new Citation Columbus business aircraft. Financial terms weren't revealed but the Canadian firm described the agreement as "a multibillion-dollar opportunity" over the quarter-century of the program's existence. Pratt & Whitney says the engine greatly exceeds international standards for nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide emissions. The company says hundreds of jobs will be created at its facilities at Longueuil, QC, and Mississauga, ON, during the project's developmental phase. Manufacturing of the engines will take place at Longueuil and Halifax, NS
Thursday Feb 7, 2008 Liftoff for new family of engines
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. is counting on the booming business-jet market to lift sales of its new 10,000-pound-thrust... Yesterday, Bellemare announced Cessna Aircraft Co.'s new Citation Columbus business jet as the launch customer for the first engine in Pratt's PW800 family.
Wednesday 30 January 2008 TORONTO: PILOT BREAKDOWN DIVERTS AIRPLANE
An Air Canada flight from Toronto to London with 146 passengers on board was diverted to Shannon Airport in Dublin on Monday after the co-pilot suffered a breakdown. The Irish Independent newspaper reported that he was forcibly removed from the flight and taken to hospital for acute psychiatric care. In Toronto, a spokesman for Air Canada said that the co-pilot fell ill during the flight. The captain elected to divert the Boeing 767 to Shannon, where it landed without incident. The passengers were taken to hotels to wait while another crew was brought in to resume the flight.
Wednesday 23 January 2008 The owner of Nova Scotia's largest aviation firm (IMP Aerospace Ltd. of Halifax) warned Tuesday that Canadian aerospace firms will be stuck with "menial" jobs unless Ottawa persuades two U.S. aircraft companies to sell the technical know-how on maintaining a fleet of 21 new cargo aircraft. Canada's aerospace industry has been raising concerns about the government's fast-track purchase of 17 Super Hercules aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, and four Boeing C-17 Globemaster III planes. Mr. Rowe said he fears that U.S. State Department rules that restrict the sale of military secrets - known as International Traffic in Arms Regulations - could be used to prevent the licensing of Canadian-owned companies.
Saturday 12 January 2008 GATINEAU: AGENCY ORDERS NO MORE DOUBLE-SEAT AIR FARES
Canadian airline passengers with disabilities, including those in wheelchairs and the severely obese will no longer have to pay double fares for an extra seat on domestic flights. The Canadian Transportation Agency has ordered Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz and WestJet to adopt a one-person, one-fare policy. The airlines have one year to implement the new policy for face fines. The agency says the airlines failed to demonstrate that a one-person, one-fare policy would impose undue hardship on them. The decision results from a complaint launched five years ago by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities.
Tuesday 08 January 2008 HONG KONG : The shape of China's aviation industry could be remade in the coming months, with the possible emergence of one dominant Chinese airline, after Singapore Airlines was rebuffed Tuesday in an attempt to gain a foothold in the booming market.
2007
Thursday 13 December 2007 TORONTO: CANADIAN AIRPORTS NEED LONGER RUNWAYS
The Canadian Transportation Safety Board has released its final report on the near disaster involving an Air France airliner at Pearson International Airport on Aug. 2, 2005. The aircraft with 309 passengers and crew on board landed in a severe storm, skidded off the runway and burst into fire in a ravine. All on board survived, although several people were severely injured. The Safety Board's report says that the pilots brought the plane in too high and too fast, with the result that it touched down halfway down the runway and couldn't stop in time. The report suggests that Canada conform to international standards by expanding the safety zone at the end of runway from 90 metres to 300 metres. It also recommends that crews be obliged to establish a margin of error between available landing distance and landing distance required in bad weather.
Saturday 27 October 2007 TORONTO: LITIGATION BETWEEN REGIONAL CARRIERS WORSENS
Toronto-based one-year-old Porter Airlines Inc. is seeking a court order to force Air Canada and regional carrier Jazz Air to separate their business relationship. Porter contends in Ontario Superior Court that although the country's biggest airline and the local carrier were spun off as independent entities and ultimately became publicly traded firms, they connive to lessen competition by co-ordinating fares, avoiding competition with each other and impeding new competitors like Porter in violation of the Competition Act. Both Jazz and Air Canada respond by calling the accusations "without merit," Air Canada maintaining that its relationship with Jazz is similar to that between many mainline and regional carriers in North America. Porter is already embroiled in a lawsuit brought by Jazz over the former's monopoly over the use of the Toronto Island airport. Porter flies Bombardier Q400 flights between Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.
Wednesday 17 October 2007 TORONTO: PEARSON CUTS AIRLINE FEES
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority has announced it will reduce landing fees and terminal charges for airlines using Pearson International Airport starting Jan. 1. Pearson is Canada's busiest airport, as well as one of the world's most expensive. The GTAA says it will cut landing fees by 3.1 per cent and terminal charges by 4.7. The president and CEO of the GTAA says the reductions will make Pearson more competitive and therefore a good thing for both airlines and passengers. Travel and airport groups have long campaigned for lower fees at Canadian airports to make them more competitive.
Wednesday 03 October 2007 MONTREAL: EUROPEAN EMISSION PLAN REJECTED
Non-European airlines have voted down a proposal by the European Commission to require pollution permits for airlines flying into Europe at the 36th assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization. The Association of European Airlines called the decision "disappointing but not unexpected." Its secretary general, Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, says the vote puts European airlines in a bind because while wishing to take a leading role in the control of emissions, they cannot allow themselves alone to assume burdens that would make them less competitive. On Friday, the ICAO, a UN body, voted not to impose emissions targets but rather to reduce pollution through technology and better fuel efficiency and traffic management.
LUXEMBOURG: CANADA, EU TO NEGOTIATE 'OPEN SKIES' ACCORD
The EU has announced it will start negotiations with Canada to reach an "open skies" agreement to end restrictions on air travel. The announcement came at the end of a meeting of EU transport ministers. The EU's transport commissioner, Jacques Barrot, describes Canada as an "excellent partner" with which the community can make important advances, including in security. At present, air traffic between the two sides is limited to 17 of the 27 EU members that have bilateral landing agreements. About 8.5 million passengers travel back and forth annually, 42 per cent between Canada and Britain, and 18 per cent between the former country and Germany and France. The European Commission estimates that there could be another five million passengers if European and Canadian airlines acquire the freedom to take off and land at any airport on either continent.
Wednesday 19 September 2007 MONTREAL: HIGH DOLLAR HELPS CANADIAN AIRLINES
Aerospace analyst Cam Doerksen has told the Canadian Press that the high Canadian dollar is a boost to Canadian airlines by lower their costs manly of which are based on the U.S. dollar, particularly fuel. Mr. Doerksen also says the high Canadian dollar encourages Canadians to venture abroad, a good thing for airlines. The analyst spoke in Montreal, where the 180 member nations of the International Civil Aviation Organization are meeting. The head of the International Air Transport Association also is in attendance. Giovanni Bisignani, its director-general, predicts the airlines worldwide will earn a net profit of US$5.6 billion in 2007, an increase of only one percent, and put the figure for next year at $7.8 billion. Mr. Bisignani says the biggest problems airlines face at present are oil prices and the credit crisis, but says on the positive side that North America's airlines have restructured themselves and are starting to turn profits.
Friday 07 September 2007 Airlines gird for Central Canadian battle Airfare wars are heating up in Central Canada, producing ticket prices that are at least 38 per cent cheaper for consumers but creating headaches for upstart Porter Airlines Inc.
Robert Deluce, president of Toronto-based Porter, lashed out Thursday at WestJet Airlines Ltd. [WJA-T] and Air Canada [AC.A-T], accusing them of unfairly slashing ticket prices in the busy Eastern Triangle of Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.
Wednesday 05 September 2007 'Montreal's U.S. airport' lures travellers
Eager to lure Montreal passengers south of the border,
Plattsburgh International Airport officials are announcing today ...
Lessons from India
Air Canada recently announced that its flights to India would
be cancelled and aircraft redeployed to China. Today, an Indian
private-sector airline, ...
Monday 03 September 2007 Most Flights Are Late, and It May Only Get Worse NEWARK, Aug. 29 — Passengers are understandably angry when they are stuck on a delayed flight. But they should not necessarily be surprised — especially those traveling on flights like American Airlines 1659, departing every afternoon from Newark Liberty International Airport to Chicago.
Saturday 25 August 2007
Airbus Superjumbo Jet's First Flight Set Initial Singapore-to-Sydney Passenger Run for Delayed A-380 The first passenger flight of the long-delayed superjumbo A-380 will take place Oct. 25, Singapore Airlines and Airbus announced today.
Production problems, particularly with the wiring, have delayed the double-decker's debut for two years. The plane's troubles burdened the Airbus balance sheet as the company was forced to pay compensation to customers for the late delivery. That contributed to a massive management shakeup and restructuring at Airbus and parent European Air Defense Systems.
Tuesday 17 July 2007 TORONTO: SECURITY AT PEARSON REPORTED LAX
The Globe and Mail newspaper reports that security at Pearson International Airport is being compromised by its security service's private operator. Unnamed employees of Garda World Security Corp. claim that their managers press them to speed up passenger screening and have threatened screeners who refuse to do so. The employees claim that managers themselves took over screening during the busy Christmas period to hasten screening, with the result that many pieces of carry-on luggage passed through checkpoints without proper inspection. The Globe obtained an internal Garda document that records a passenger who avoided screening altogether by walking through an unmanned security gate and that the managers did not follow the usual procedure of grounding the airliner although they were aware of the situation. Garda has responded to the newspaper that security at Pearson has never been compromised and that the complaints are from disgruntled employees. Garda has contracts to ensure security at 27 Canadian airports.
Monday 09 July 2007 TORONTO: SECURITY BREACH AT AIRPORT
At least eight flights at Canada's busiest airport, Pearson International in Toronto, were grounded late on Saturday night as a result of a security breach. Police took the move after a passenger failed to declare an item. All passengers who had gone through a security search were obligated to undergo a second search. Flights were delayed for about three hours. Canada's airports have been on a higher security alert since a suspected terrorist attack at Glasgow airport last month.
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Thursday Jun 21, 2007 TORONTO: FLEDGLING AIRLINE WINS NYC ACCESS
Porter Airlines has won U.S. regulatory approval to serve New York City. Porter CEO Robert Deluce welcomed the decision, saying the service will start later this year or early in 2008, adding that the news is good for business and leisure travellers, as for Toronto's downtown economy. Porter started up last year and flies to Ottawa and Montreal out of Toronto's island airport. Air Canada had tried to block Porter's application for New York to the U.S. department of transportation, arguing that the airport's operator, the Toronto Port Authority, had agreed to a sweetheart deal with Porter by limiting the number of takeoffs and landing slots available to competitors. But the department said in its decision that the port authority had never refused a request by a U.S. carrier to use the airport.
rci 22 May 2007 OTTAWA: AIRLINES TO KEEP USING U.S. 'NO-FLY' LIST
The Air Transport Association of Canada says that airlines will continue to make security checks of passengers preparing to board flights using a U.S. "no-fly" list even after Canada's own "no-fly" list becomes mandatory on June 18. Fred Gaspar, the Association's vice-president of policy, says airlines will continue to use a variety of sources to screen out passengers deemed security threats, and that the existence of the Canadian list doesn't impair airlines' ability to make their own decisions. Neither Mr. Gaspar wouldn't say what other means are used, but Canadian airlines have used the U.S. list even for domestic flights. Dozens of Canadian passengers have complained about delays or refusals to board because their names, or one that matches or resembles theirs, appeared on the U.S. list. Under the new security system in effect on June 18, a passenger must present a government-issued piece of ID, such as a passport or driver's licence, which includes the person's photo, name, birthday and sex. In the absence of photographic ID, two other government-produced documents will be required one of which displays the birthday and sex.
Wed1311
More than five years after 9/11, global aviation security is still an "uncoordinated mess" that's costing the industry millions of dollars, the CEO of the International Air Transport Association charged. IATA
Tuesday 13 March 2007 Canada charging airport authorities too much, IATA head says .... Canadian tax revenue from aviation rose nearly 20 per cent a year between 2001 and 2005, reaching $800 million annually.
"If Canada is serious about aviation as an economic driver, this must change," he said.
Thursday 01 March 2007 Rejigging the engines
Airbus unveiled a long-awaited restructuring plan, which had been held up by last-minute negotiations between France and Germany. Some 10,000 jobs are to go over four years, split between Airbus and its contractors. New “industrial partners” and buyers are being sought for six factories. In order to win backing for the plan in France (where outraged unions called for industrial action), final assembly of the A350 XWB jet will be exclusively based in Toulouse, but Germany is to win increased production of the bestselling A320 narrow-bodied aircraft. After last year's woes, Airbus forecast that the plan would provide it with eventual annual savings of euro2.1 billion ($2.8 billion).
Toronto has acquired a new glitzy airport terminal to be paid for, as is the case for most Canadian airports, with increased landing fees for aircraft and airport fees and ticket prices for passengers. With no competition, no oversight and a reluctance on the part of travellers to fly to a less expensive airport an hour or so away by bus or car from their destination, there is virtually no limit to what can be charged.
In an effort to put the management of local airports in local hands, the Government of Canada set up Airport Authorities in the various cities served by airports. The members of these Airport Authorities are named by various bodies such as mayors and Chambers of Commerce, hence are responsible only to themselves, resulting in excessive airport fees and ticket prices at most destinations. Thus the Toronto –or any other - airport authority can do anything it wants with no oversight by the government except for safety and security issues, and it is almost impossible for citizens to intervene.
Saturday, January 27, 2007 nyt As Airlines Surge, Pilots Want Share The remarkable turnaround of the airline industry has rewarded investors with rising share prices,
2006
Fri 22/12/2006 TORONTO: ONEX IN SECOND AIRCRAFT DEAL
Canadian conglomerate Onex Corp. has entered into a second major aviation transaction this month. Onex and partner Goldman Sachs Group Inc. will buy the business-jet division of U.S. defence frim Raytheon Co. for US$3.3 billion. Raytheon Aircraft Co. builds Hawker business jets and Beechcraft turboprop and jet aircraft. Onex managing partner Nigel Wright says Onex expects the market for business jets to continue to grow, as more foreign firms follow the lead of American corporation in acquiring them. Mr. Wright says the prospects seem especially promising in Europe and Asia. Raytheon Aircraft booked 260 aircraft worth US$2.1 billion in the first nine months of the year. Earlier this month, Onex was part of a three-party consortium that took over Australia's Qantasa Airways for US$7 billion.
Friday 15 December 2006 OTTAWA: FEDERAL AEROSPACE SUBSIDY SLATED
There is criticism of the announcement on Wednesday by the federal government of a $350-million grant to help Pratt & Whitney Canada develop a new gas turbine aircraft engine. The subsidy will be part of Pratt & Whitney's $1.5-billion program to devise more fuel-efficient aircraft engines. The company says it's aiming to develop engines that reduce emissions to levels 60 per cent below industry standards. But critics complain that the company has already profited handsomely from federal grants and loans, most of which haven't been repaid. The Canadian Taxpayers' Federation claims that Pratt & Whitney has received $1.25 billion in repayable federal funds, of which only $92 million, or seven per cent, has in fact been returned. The lobby says that given that unenviable record, it's likely that the taxpayers will again be cheated. According to the National Post newspaper, the company has received $692 million from the federal Technology Partnerships Canada program, of which only $27 million has been repaid. In the firm's defence, President Alain Bellemare says that $50 million will have been returned by the end of the year, noting as well that Pratt & Whitney will contribute $10 million to the Canadian economy over the next decade.
Tuesday Dec 12, 2006 wed1293
It seems that Santa's sled will not have early competition from the Airbus A-380. The long tale of woe is a worthwhile read at iht.com/articles/airbus.php
Tuesday 28 November 2006 TORONTO: 'BLUE SKIES' REACTION ENCOURAGING
Reaction to the announcement of more competition in the airline industry has been initially favourable. Federal Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon announced on Monday that the government will negotiate more "Blue Skies" agreements with other countries to allow a relaxation of existing regulations limiting foreign competition. Such accords eliminate rules that determine how many foreign carriers are allowed to operate in a country, which destinations they may serve and how many flights are permitted. Air Canada, the country's biggest carrier has reacted positively, its senior vice-president of corporate affairs, Duncan Dee, saying he's especially pleased with the minister's statement that such agreements would be based on equal treatment for Canadian airlines abroad, adding the such arrangements would mean more choice and better fares for travellers. The Alliance of Canadian Travel Associations expressed that same sentiment. The Air Transport Association of Canada also likes the idea, but stresses the importance of lower airport rents, fuel taxes and passenger security charges to enable its airline members better to compete with foreign airlines.
Wednesday 22 November 2006 OTTAWA: AIR TRAFFIC UP
Air traffic rose by 3.6 per cent in September, compared with the previous September. That's the word from Nav Canada, the private company responsible for air traffic control, flight information and weather report intended for aviation.
Thursday 26 October 2006 OTTAWA: INDUSTRY CONSULTATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR 'OPEN SKIES'
Canadian Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon has convoked the country's civilian aviation industry to consultations on the possibility of new "open skies" accords with foreign carriers. The minister has released a position paper the basic principle of which is that market forces should decide ticket prices, flight frequency and the quality of foreign flights, rather than government regulation. Canada has at present only two "open skies" agreements with the U.S. and Britain, which allow American and British airlines to fly from Canada to third destinations. Mr. Cannon says the government would consider "cabotage" as well, by which foreign airliners could fly between Canadian cities, provided Canadian airlines enjoy the same right. The position of the Air Transport Association of Canada is that while it favours "open skies" accords, the government must lower airport rent fees, excise taxes and security fees for domestic carriers if they're to cope with increased foreign competition.
Wednesday 27 September 2006 Sir Richard Branson today called on the global aviation industry to work together to tackle the growing issue of climate change and outlined plans for a "starting grid" on runways to reduce fuel use.
Wednesday 30 August 2006 Not all celebrating Porter's first plane
The delivery of Porter Airline's first plane may airline president Robert Deluce's dream come true, but it isn't for critics along the waterfront and at city hall who are vowing to keep Porter from the island airport. By Paul Moloney.
Stiffer rules urged for small aircraft
It happens about 15 to 20 times a year in Canada: Everyone aboard a small aircraft survives a crash, only to perish when a fire breaks out after the impact.
Monday 14 August 2006 Transport Canada has introduced new measures in the wake of the recent terrorist scare in Britain. Juice bottles and aerosols have joined the list of items banned in carry-on luggage onboard flights leaving Canada. Government officials say that the aerosols include hairspray and deodorant. The increased precautions follow the arrest on Thursday of 24 British suspects who were allegedly plotting to smuggle bombs disguised as drinks onto aircraft. A Transport Canada official says that the new regulations in Canada are meant to harmonize with those in the United States.
Monday May 22, 2006 Rough Summer Is on the Way for Air Travel Planes are full, fares are rising and frills are disappearing. Brace yourself for a summer of miserable air travel.
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Saturday May 20, 2006 rci HALIFAX: CHANGE IN FLIGHT ATTENDANT RULES DENOUNCED
Flight attendants and politicians held protests across Canada on Friday to denounce Transport Canada to change the regulations regarding the number of attendants required on airline flights. At present, one attendant is required for every 40 passengers, but the change will alter the number to 50. The federal opposition New Democratic Party opposes the changing, says that the government should increase numbers of attendants required in the post-Sept. 11 world. Halifax Member of Parliament Peter Stoffer says the change is more about helping airlines cut costs than about passenger safety. Transport Canada claims the one-to-fifty ratio brings Canada in line with what's usual on airlines elsewhere in the world and won't compromise safety.
Saturday Apr 22, 2006 rci MONTREAL: 'OPEN-SKIES' ACCORD WITH BRITAIN REACHED
Canadian and British government, as well as British and Canadian airlines signed an "open-skies" agreement in Montreal on Friday. The accord was hailed by Canada's biggest airline, Air Canada. Duncan Dee, a senior vice-president of the airline's parent firm, ACE Aviation Holdings, says the agreement will enable it to simplify fares for customers travelling between the two countries. Britain is Air Canada's biggest international market and London's Heathrow Airport is Canadian firm's biggest international destination. OPEN-SKIES on WN
Monday Apr 10, 2006 The International Air Transport Association reached an agreement with Chinese authorities to open a new route that shaves half an hour from the flying time between China and Europe. Airlines have been pushing the country to ease restrictions on its airspace, of which only 30% is available for civil aviation. (Reported by the Economist)
IATA reports that the new route also has a very positive impact on the environment: "The more direct routing will eliminate 2,860 hours of flight time, 27,000 tonnes of fuel consumption, 84,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide emission, and 340,000 kilogrammes of nitrogen oxides emission annually".
Wed 4/12/2006 The International Air Transport Association reached an agreement with Chinese authorities to open a new route that shaves half an hour from the flying time between China and Europe. Airlines have been pushing the country to ease restrictions on its airspace, of which only 30% is available for civil aviation.
The World Trade Organisation reported that exports in goods increased by 6% in 2005 (in real terms) and estimated they would rise by 7% in 2006. The surge in the price of oil and metals helped the share of fuels and mining products to reach 16% of global trade last year, its highest for 20 years.
Sunday Feb 26, 2006 nyt A Move to Add Still More Fine Print to Advertised Airfares Proposed changes to industry advertising regulations would give large airlines leeway to advertise fares that do not include the entire amount that the airline would receive.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006 Inco and Falconbridge's Long Merger Wait; Is RIM Running Low on Options?; , Ron Meisels, contributor, NA Marketletter
Lori Rogers, VP of operations, Manpower Canada
Don Carty, chair, Virgin America & Porter Airlines
William Rice, chair and CEO, Alberta Securities Commission Duration: 57m 35s please us IE Firefox wont work for us
Thursday February 23, 2006 The Guardian Wings of desire
They have 32,000 major parts, 750,000 rivets, 23 miles of wiring and, when assembled, a pair will have a span wider than a football pitch. But if the wings of the Airbus A380, the biggest passenger plane ever built, are unprecedented in scale, it is the journey they take from north Wales to the company's HQ in southern France that is truly astonishing. Aida Edemariam follows one wing on its epic voyage, and traces an extraordinary tale of engineering imagination
Thursday Jan 5, 2006 fp THINK AGAIN: AIRLINES By Giovanni Bisignani
Bankruptcies, terrorism, and high oil prices have rocked the airline industry. Customers complain about bad service and long lines. Are airlines doomed? Not a chance. The global economy cannot function without air travel. But the industry that emerges from the coming shakeout will need a whole new set of wings.
2005
Thursday Dec 8, 2005 nyt Air Marshals Shoot and Kill Passenger in Bomb Threat By ABBY GOODNOUGH and MATTHEW L. WALD The incident in Miami was the first case of an air marshal opening fire since marshals became a common presence on flights after 9/11.
Thursday Dec 8, 2005 ts Airline passenger shot dead in false bomb scare
An agitated passenger who claimed to have a bomb in his backpack was shot and killed by a U.S. federal air marshal yesterday after he bolted from an airplane.
Wednesday Nov 16, 2005 ts Pearson to be world's costliest
The world's airlines are bracing for fee hikes that will make Toronto Pearson International the world's most expensive airport at which to land, reports Kevin McGran.
Sunday Nov 13, 2005 rci Canada and the U.S. have agreed to expand their Open Skies treaty of 1995. The two countries have agreed on that expansion after several days of negotiations. The two sides will allow each other's airlines to fly to destinations in the other nation to convey travellers to a third country. Canada's transport minister, Jean Lapierre, says he hopes the expanded accord will encourage Canadians to develop new markets and services. Canadian and American airlines still cannot fly between destinations in the other country, nor are the Canadian regulations concerning foreign ownership changed.
Thursday Nov 10, 2005 rci The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports security problems at several of the country's major airports, including Pearson International Airport in Toronto. CBC describes how an American security expert was able to approach which block access to zones off-limit to the public. The expert is reported to have taken only 20 minutes to crack the security code that gave access to the aircraft and to pipes that convey fuel to them. He also was able to bring a piece of hand-held luggage into a security zone without being search. The CBC's report also broadcast remarks by Bill Butler, an employ of the international airport in Ottawa, who says that Canadian airports are far from being safe and that the existing security measures are only an illusion to delude passengers. Mr. Butler was suspended with salary after the report was broadcast. The Canadian transport authorities deny that their airports aren't safe.
Thursday Sep 15, 2005 nyt Two Major Airlines Seen Near Filing for Bankruptcy By MICHELINE MAYNARD Northwest and Delta have been hit hard by the spike in jet fuel prices and by the relentless competition in the industry.
Tuesday Sep 13, 2005 gaz Airlines' prospects spiral lower NICOLAS VAN PRAET
IATA now predicts $7.4 billion in losses. Air Canada says it can weather fuel price hikes but 54% rise in costs looms for global industry
Saturday Sep 3, 2005 rci China's civil aviation authority has given its permission to four Taiwanese airlines to fly through the mainland's airspace on the flights to Europe and Southeast Asia. The four airlines had asked for that permission to shorten their flight paths and thus lower their soaring fuel costs. Taiwan imposed a ban on such overflights 56 years ago, relaxed its ban in February to enable flights between the mainland and the island to enable people to visit their relatives in both places. The Chinese and Taiwanese government were discussing the possibility of more flights, but Taiwan suspended the talks after the Chinese Parliament approved "anti-secession" legislation.
Friday Aug 19, 2005 rci
VANCOUVER: AIRPORT IS FIRST TO USE NEW RUNWAY SAFETY DEVICE
A Canadian airport is set to become the first in the world to operate a new radar system that can detect the smallest piece of debris on a runway. The international airport in the west coast city of Vancouver, BC, has purchased four of British-made radar units. They were developed after the July, 2000, crash of a Concorde jetliner in Paris shortly after take-off that killed all 113 people on board. The disaster was blamed on a piece of metal that fell off another aircraft. It punctured a tire on the Concorde as it was rolling down the runway for takeoff. A piece of tire flew upward and broke fuel lines in the wing causing the fire that led to the subsequent crash.
Wednesday Aug 17, 2005 ts WiFi boosts airline Internet When it comes to choosing his flights businessman Nicholas Keuper says the deal maker-or-breaker could be whether the surf`s up.
Saturday Aug 13, 2005 gaz
Airports come close to running out of fuel
Deliveries choked by supply bottlenecks
While
fliers haven't yet had to add that problem to the list of headaches
associated with air travel, it might not be far away. Airports in
Arizona, California, Florida and Nevada recently came within a few days
- and at times within hours - of running out of jet fuel.
Because
of supply bottlenecks, airlines were forced to fly in extra fuel from
other markets and scramble for deliveries by truck. But these are
expensive, short-term fixes that do not address what airline executives
consider to be the underlying problem: with passenger traffic rising
above pre-9/11 levels, the aviation business in the United States is
slowly outgrowing the infrastructure that fuels it.
What started
as routine supply tightness in these markets quickly snowballed after
disruptive events that included a hurricane, a cancelled fuel shipment
and, ironically, the airlines' own efforts to prevent shortages,
according to airline executives.
The shortages underscore the
added strain on refineries, pipelines and the airlines' own
fuel-procurement efforts as the industry recovers from its worst-ever
downturn - June passenger traffic was up four per cent from 2001
levels, according to industry data - and energy demand rises throughout
the economy.
Friday Aug 12, 2005 ts No-fly list is a bad idea for Canada Let`s pretend it`s mid-January and you and the family have turned up at Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport with skis and snowboards, headed for Whistler Mountain. But when you check in for your flight to Vancouver, the man behind the counter rattles your name into a computer, gazes at the screen and says: "Sorry, you`re on the no-fly list. You can`t board the plane."
Tuesday Aug 9, 2005 arc Will the Flight Be on Time? It's Anybody's Guess
This is not a good time for time-conscious air travelers. Data from the department's Bureau of Transportation Statistics last week showed that this was shaping up to be the worst year for departure delays since 2000. In the year through June, nearly one in five flights, or 17 percent, left airports late.
To placate exasperated passengers, airlines have scrambled to get their planes in on time - by flying faster once in the air, for example, which burns more fuel. This actually led to a minuscule improvement in on-time arrivals this year compared with last year - 78 percent versus 77.8 percent - but more than one in five flights still arrived late. At certain times of the day, like late afternoon and evening, and at some airports, like Atlanta Hartsfield, Newark Liberty International and Chicago O'Hare, delays are almost a given, and airline timetables bear little semblance to reality.
Sunday Aug 7, 2005 rci TORONTO: AIR FRANCE FACES LAWSUIT OVER CRASH IN TORONTO
A passenger aboard the Air France flight that crashed last Tuesday in Toronto has filed a lawsuit, demanding CDN$75 million in damages. The class action lawsuit named one person as the plaintiff, but the list of claimants is expected to grow. All 297 passengers and 12 members of the crew escaped the Airbus jumbo jet when it skidded off an airport runway in bad weather. The lawsuit claims that Air France, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority and Nav Canada were negligent in the landing of the plane. Nav Canada is a non-profit corporation that provides navigation services like air traffic control and weather information within Canadian airspace. The lead investigator for the Transportation Safety Board, Real Levasseur, revealed that two of the airplane's emergency slides failed to work properly. Transport Canada has announced that it will implement new measures aimed at saving lives in the event of a plane crash. The agency will force airports to build so-called "safe areas" at the ends of runways. These runways would allow aircraft to have more room to maneouvre in case they overshoot the primary runway. Transport Canada has not indicated when the new regulations will come into effect or how large the safe areas need to be.
Wednesday Jun 15, 2005 bbc Paris air show opens with Airbus The Airbus A380 super-jumbo has completed its first display flight at the opening day of the Paris air show.
Away from the hype, deals have been done at one of the aviation industry's biggest annual get-togethers.
Wednesday, June 1, 2005 globe The International Air Transport Association estimated that airlines' fuel costs would rise by 31% in 2005. IATA, which represents 95% of the world's airlines, also predicted that the industry would lose $6 billion.
In Giovanni Bisignani's "State of the Industry address to the IATA Annual General Meeting, he said that "the fuel bill [for IATA member-airlines] this year will be US$83 billion. Equal to the GNP of New Zealand. This is US$39 billion more than 2003. The Fifth horseman of the Apocalypse—the extraordinary price of fuel—is destroying our profitability. Last year alone, the industry lost US$4.8 billion." ]thankx to Judith Patterson
Wednesday Jun 1, 2005 rci MONTREAL: AIR CANADA BOSS NAMED IATA CHAIRMAN
Air Canada's chairman, Robert Milton, has been elected chairman as well of the Montreal-based International Air Transport Association, which represents most of the world's commercial airlines. His election came at the 61st annual IATA meeting, attended this year by 600 delegates in Tokyo. Mr. Milton also is the CEO of ACE Aviation Holding Inc., Air Canada's parent firm.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
BLAGNAC, France -- Airbus' A380, the world's largest passenger
plane, successfully took off on its maiden test flight Wednesday, a
milestone for aviation and for the European aircraft-maker's battle
with American rival Boeing Co.
Tuesday Mar 29, 2005 TORONTO: OTTAWA SET FOR AIRPORT DEAL
The Canadian government is preparing to offer Canada's airports an agreement that would give them lower rental fees. But in exchange the federal government would require the airports to allow the airlines to have more of an input in how the facilities are run. Canada's airports have been non-profit operations since being transferred from federal to local control about a decade ago. They pass on the cost of their rent to airlines through landing and terminal fees. Then the airlines either pass on those fees to passengers or pay for them themselves.
Thursday Mar 24, 2005 ts Jetsgo proposes new flight plan
Jetsgo — or some version of the failed airline — wants to fly again and a court-appointed monitor is proposing that as an option to creditors. But selling the idea faces a very bumpy ride.
Thursday Mar 24, 2005 ec See you in court
Trade negotiators from the European Union and America argued over who was to blame for a breakdown in talks on cutting government subsidies to Airbus and Boeing. The talks, which began in January, sought to avoid formal complaints to the World Trade Organisation, which now seems likely to have to rule on the dispute.
Tuesday Mar 15, 2005 Jetsgo's crash landing, leaving in its wake higher ticket prices and confirmation of Judith Patterson's findings on the dismal prospects for the airline industry. See also t-WJA.asp
Monday Mar 14, 2005 OTTAWA: AIRLINES PREDICT HIGHER FARES FOLLOWING JETSGO FAILURE
The failure of Jetsgo to make money on super cheap fares will likely lead to higher fares overall, predicted executives at Canada's two biggest airlines on Sunday. The heads of Air Canada, Robert Milton, and WestJet, Clive Beddoe, agreed that fares were being kept artificially low because Jetsgo was charging impossibly low prices for its seats. Mr. Beddoe declared, however, that any increases would be modest. "In my view, it doesn't have to climb very much for the consumer to be able to provide an adequate fare to the airline," he said. Mr. Beddoe thought that Jetsgo's finances depended greatly on advance ticket sales, a practice that he thought might need to be better regulated. Mr. Milton suggested that a special fund might be set up to protect airline passengers who suddenly find that their tickets are worthless, as some 17,000 passengers throughout North America discovered on Friday when Jetsgo announced that it was grounding its 29 aircraft and ceasing operations. But he said that the federal government should also cut airport rents and security fees that airlines pay. On Sunday, Prime Minister Paul Martin offered sympathy to Jetsgo's stranded passengers and said that "everybody is trying to do their best" to help them. Montreal's mayor, Gerald Tremblay, said that the city would lose about 400 unionized jobs as a result of Jetsgo's demise, but he was heartened by the local expansion of Air Canada and charter airline, Air Transat. Jetsgo is now under temporary bankruptcy protection.
Monday Mar 14, 2005 MONTREAL: ICAO HEAD ABRUPTLY ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION
The head of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Assad Kotait, has announced that he will retire before the end of his term. Mr. Kotait, 80, has served in the post for almost 30 years. He had been under pressure to resign by critics in the world's most industrialized countries, including Canada, who accused him of failing to keep ICAO vibrant. ICAO is a United Nations agency in Montreal. Canada contributes more than CDN$20 million annually to ICAO, the largest amount of any of its 188 members.
Saturday Mar 12, 2005 ts Jetsgo selling tickets up to end
Discount airline Jetsgo Corp. was selling tickets and taking bookings until just before it pulled the plug on its operations yesterday — even though it knew as early as Wednesday it could be forced to shut down.
Friday, March 11, 2005 globe Jetsgo folds Discount airline
Air traffic controllers at the Los Angeles airport. January 15, 2007 
BBC
Airbus Superjumbo Jet's First Flight Set
Paris air show opens with Airbus 