Since the beginning of the year we have all been working very hard at integrating Air Canada and Canadian Airlines. When we undertook this huge task I told the different integration teams: wipe the slate clean, imagine new ways of doing business and build us a great future. Since then we have taken many strides. We’ve combined our fleets, integrated our schedules, moved into the same terminal in different airports, and pooled some of our resources. Now it’s time to take the biggest step.

Today I want to state very clearly—we will become one airline, the new Air Canada. Everything we have learned and done over the last few months has led us to this decision—which means one airline, one brand, one operating certificate, one employer, one uniform.

This will happen in several stages, but it must happen quickly, and our goal is to be finished by spring 2001. Some milestone events will begin this fall—with the cutover from Sabre to RESIII being a prime example. This step will eliminate customer confusion and operational inefficiencies, and quite frankly, make everyone’s life a lot easier. Hopefully, our last major milestone will be when we move to a single operating certificate next spring.

You’ve seen for yourselves how tremendous our growth has been since integration started—our flights are full, and we’re moving record numbers of people through our airports. In fact, instead of having a surplus of 5,000 people as was originally predicted last fall, by the end of this year, we’ll have added several thousand new people. Despite the operational challenges we’ve experienced over the past couple of months, it’s a good news story. I know how tiring and frustrating it has been for all of you, and I am truly appreciative of your determination and dedication to work through and help solve our integration issues. I am more convinced now than ever before that, together, we are achieving far more than we could have dreamed of on our own.