El Al prices force Shimon Peres to fly with Air Canada
May 2, 2012, 1:35 pm
#1
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El Al prices force Shimon Peres to fly with Air Canada
http://www.timesofisrael.com/el-al-p...th-air-canada/
El Al likes to tell its customers it’s their home in the sky — but that home is a bit too expensive for President Shimon Peres.
Channel 2 reported Wednesday night that Peres, rather than flying with the national carrier, is set to travel overseas with Air Canada. The reason: El Al’s too expensive.
Travel regulations for public officials require the 88-year-old’s personal paramedic to bring an oxygen tank on board flights. When El Al quoted a $4,700 charge for the oxygen tank, the president’s representatives balked. Then, they found a better deal.
Air Canada offered a significantly lower price for the president’s travel, as well as no charge for in-cabin storage for the oxygen tank.
El Al likes to tell its customers it’s their home in the sky — but that home is a bit too expensive for President Shimon Peres.
Channel 2 reported Wednesday night that Peres, rather than flying with the national carrier, is set to travel overseas with Air Canada. The reason: El Al’s too expensive.
Travel regulations for public officials require the 88-year-old’s personal paramedic to bring an oxygen tank on board flights. When El Al quoted a $4,700 charge for the oxygen tank, the president’s representatives balked. Then, they found a better deal.
Air Canada offered a significantly lower price for the president’s travel, as well as no charge for in-cabin storage for the oxygen tank.
May 2, 2012, 1:49 pm
#4
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My personal belief is that all heads of state / government should fly using Government owned aircraft.
What an embarrassment it would be to be the head of the Israeli government and show up on an Air Canada flight.
The President / Prime Minister should show up in any other country he is flying in to in a big plane with his country spelled out on the side in big bold letters. Sometimes you have to be a little bit proud and show off what you have. And most of the time when leaders are flying around the world, they are going to try and win some kind of right / treaty in their favour. What does it say about your countries ability when you fly commercial, especially in another nations airline?
Thankfully in Canada we have aircraft that the PM can use, and I for one am very happy when he does. The Polaris is a great plane with a striking paint job, and I for one am proud when I see the PM getting on and off on his travels.
What an embarrassment it would be to be the head of the Israeli government and show up on an Air Canada flight.
The President / Prime Minister should show up in any other country he is flying in to in a big plane with his country spelled out on the side in big bold letters. Sometimes you have to be a little bit proud and show off what you have. And most of the time when leaders are flying around the world, they are going to try and win some kind of right / treaty in their favour. What does it say about your countries ability when you fly commercial, especially in another nations airline?
Thankfully in Canada we have aircraft that the PM can use, and I for one am very happy when he does. The Polaris is a great plane with a striking paint job, and I for one am proud when I see the PM getting on and off on his travels.
May 2, 2012, 2:14 pm
#6
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Thankfully, we have a range of AC for the PM to use. Bought for just that purpose. I hope we can also agree that a PM flying commercial is also not cool.
May 2, 2012, 2:19 pm
#7
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We used to run our own fleet of military passenger flights (Scare Air), moved to contracts with Canadian to run charter flights and then gave up and went commercial. No reason why the VIP fleet needs to be any different.
May 2, 2012, 3:20 pm
#9
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Security concerns aside (and I suspect those are overblown), there's no compelling reason for the PM to fly on government aircraft (especially when it comes to flying himself and assorted hangers-on to sporting events). There is no shortage of examples of foreign leaders taking commercial flights. I think the primary effect of using government aircraft is the stroking of massive egos.
May 2, 2012, 3:42 pm
#10
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Harper is a Head of Government.
Head of State is a nominal position in any country with a parliamentary setup. Head of Government is a part of the executive and has significantly more responsibilities and places to be - his position is very time-sensitive. .
A comparison to GG Johnston would be more apt. I don't know how he travels. Anyone know?
May 2, 2012, 3:50 pm
#12
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Shimon Peres is a Head of State.
Harper is a Head of Government.
Head of State is a nominal position in any country with a parliamentary setup. Head of Government is a part of the executive and has significantly more responsibilities and places to be - his position is very time-sensitive. .
A comparison to GG Johnston would be more apt. I don't know how he travels. Anyone know?
Harper is a Head of Government.
Head of State is a nominal position in any country with a parliamentary setup. Head of Government is a part of the executive and has significantly more responsibilities and places to be - his position is very time-sensitive. .
A comparison to GG Johnston would be more apt. I don't know how he travels. Anyone know?
May 2, 2012, 3:56 pm
#13
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^
May 2, 2012, 4:08 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,130
My personal belief is that all heads of state / government should fly using Government owned aircraft.
What an embarrassment it would be to be the head of the Israeli government and show up on an Air Canada flight.
The President / Prime Minister should show up in any other country he is flying in to in a big plane with his country spelled out on the side in big bold letters. Sometimes you have to be a little bit proud and show off what you have. And most of the time when leaders are flying around the world, they are going to try and win some kind of right / treaty in their favour. What does it say about your countries ability when you fly commercial, especially in another nations airline?
Thankfully in Canada we have aircraft that the PM can use, and I for one am very happy when he does. The Polaris is a great plane with a striking paint job, and I for one am proud when I see the PM getting on and off on his travels.
What an embarrassment it would be to be the head of the Israeli government and show up on an Air Canada flight.
The President / Prime Minister should show up in any other country he is flying in to in a big plane with his country spelled out on the side in big bold letters. Sometimes you have to be a little bit proud and show off what you have. And most of the time when leaders are flying around the world, they are going to try and win some kind of right / treaty in their favour. What does it say about your countries ability when you fly commercial, especially in another nations airline?
Thankfully in Canada we have aircraft that the PM can use, and I for one am very happy when he does. The Polaris is a great plane with a striking paint job, and I for one am proud when I see the PM getting on and off on his travels.
