There you go again with that monopoly BS, why fly. AC never had a monopoly on its overseas routes. The very nature of bilateral route assignment is that both countries can appoint carriers to fly the routes. And on some routes, AC even competed with CP. [Not to mention several Canadian charter companies flying nearly scheduled service.] On all the other major ones it competed with the very carriers that are still there: BA, AF, CX, JL and before it came into the STAR Alliance, LH. So please, where is that monopoly of which you speak? [Oh yes, and didn't Virgin give it a go, but decided to retreat? If the product was so good, why didn't they draw all AC's customers away?]

The fact that AC had ordered the A345 in the mid-90s also indicates there was a clear awareness of what was coming. Is this seat any different from LH's choice, or even CX's. Not all carriers opted for the cocoon version that BA selected. AC's new one is quite similar to those used by LH and CX. But that was selected 4 or 5 years ago, and with its new business plan focusing on using Canada as an intermediary between Asia and Europe and South America, the type of seat is now being adjusted accordingly to be competitive with the carriers that offer cocoon like pod seats. [Hey, where is UA's new seat? Not even on the horizon.]

AC knew the world was changing before 9.11 and it is virtually the same business plan that RM unveiled at that time that has been adopted today: Use the merged international strengths of CP and AC abroad to create a world carrier that does not rely solely on Canadian travellers. The major difference has been the evolution of the TANGO model into the overall NAmerican system. Concessions from the unions have made that possible, and the major reconfiguration of NAmerican fares.

If I came on a little strong to our new friend, I apologize, but the reality speaks for itself: airlines cannot introduce these things overnight, and having been in bankruptcy, and before that in very precarious financial shape, implementation was not possible sooner.