fishermanbob

It would be pretty hard to disagree with your sentiment given all the money various governments have poured into Air Canada/TCA over the years and decades and encouraging their employees to use Air Canada when there is a choice.

Bytepusher

Nevertheless, they are legislatively empowered to make that judgement, not a bunch of punters on a message board.

YOWkid

For the nth time, since privatization, the federal govenrment has never given a handout to Air Canada.

Furthermore, federal public servants are encouraged to fly Canadian carriers whenever possible, not Air Canada.

imverge

The point was... FACT Air Canada did get federal money back in the day. It doesn't matter when that day was AC got tax payers money and planes paid for by the tax payers.

And another FACT... since privatization AC has declared bankruptcy protection and has written off billions in debt...

YOWkid

And that was when, 1930-50 something?

In that case, why don't you say Bell Canada, CPR, CN, Petro Canada, DeHavilland, Nortel blah blah blah are all taxpayer funded since they were all once upon a time related to the crown?

So, whatever.

And to note, even WHEN AC was a crown corporation, it generally did not get money from the federal treasury (I'm sure you'll find some obscure thing to hit me back with, so I'll say generally instead of being absolute). As a general principle, it always had to at least breakeven.

Now how they did it is a different story and it would be unfair to bring that stuff into the picture.

Sebring

FACT is you don't have the knowledge to quote facts about AC. AC did not get federal money back in the day, whatever day that was. It did get loans, which went on its books, and was repaid. AC also was required to pay an annual dividend which it paid whether it was profitable or not, to maintain maintenance bases and call centres whether it needed them or not, all as make work projects so politicians could point to jobs in their communities. All facts you conveniently neglect to mention.

tcook052

I thought this was a Porter thread?

imverge

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acplt

Thanks so much for giving the true story. Facts are facts and AC has always been a net winner for the Canadian taxpayer returning more than it received and all the time shackled to this day with costly policies not required at other Canadian airlines.

Nothwich

Don't you mean YOUR sponsor? Hopefully you are getting paid in advance.

YOWkid

PORTER AIRLINES INC.

Transmitted by CNW Group on : June 20, 2007 14:42

U.S. Dept. of Transportation grants license to Porter Airlines


TORONTO, June 20 /CNW/ - Porter Airlines has received official clearance
from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide scheduled and
charter service. The first planned destination is New York through Newark
Liberty International Airport, with plans to ultimately serve as many as nine
U.S. destinations, including New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C.,
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cincinnati and Cleveland.
In its disposition, the DOT states that the approval is consistent with
the terms of the U.S.-Canada Air Transport Agreement and in the public
interest. In addition, the DOT found that Porter is operationally and
financially qualified to conduct its proposed operations.
"This is a significant day for Porter," said Robert Deluce, president and
CEO of Porter Airlines. "We will now be able to offer true competition and
superior service on a number of U.S. routes. Regular service to New York will
begin later this year and not later than the early part of 2008. This is great
news for business and leisure travellers, for the city of Toronto and the
downtown economy."
Porter's primary focus is on short-haul Canadian and U.S. destinations
within 500 nm of its base at Toronto City Centre Airport, only a few
kilometers from the city's financial and entertainment districts.
The airline's emphasis on speed, convenience and service has changed how
people fly to and from Toronto. Since launching its first scheduled service to
Ottawa in October, Porter has added Montreal to its schedule and will begin
flying to Halifax on June 29.

About Porter Airlines

Porter Airlines Inc. is a regional passenger carrier based at Toronto
City Centre Airport. The airline currently serves Toronto, Ottawa and
Montreal, and will add Halifax on June 29, 2007. Porter plans to fly to at
least 17 short-haul Canadian and U.S. destinations. Visit www.flyporter.com or
call (416) 619-8622 or (888) 619-8622 for more information.

imverge

The U.S. Department of Transportation today said that Porter can operate both scheduled and charter airline service to U.S. destinations, noting that Porter's application meets all necessary requirements under the U.S.-Canada air service agreement and “is in the public interest.”

The U.S. transportation department noted in its decision that the port authority has never denied a U.S. carrier access to the airport, and that it granted an initial request by US Airways to operate from the facility. US Airways has since scrapped its plans to fly to the island.

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/227579

Now watch as AC's fares start to drop just like they did to Montreal and Ottawa.

Simon

After all AA [LGA, ORD, BOS], US [PHL, PIT], UA [ORD, IAD], CO [EWR, CLE], DL [CVG, BOS, JFK] and NW [DTW] are not "true" competition. They are AC feeders.

?!

Simon

Tangoer

...and that sound you hear is the Blackberrys of dozens of AC lawyers going off. Frantic text messages: return to office re. destroying porter

Hours of overtime for all! Countdown until AC mounts (another) legal challenge of some sort in reponse to this USA decision...

imverge

followed by.... another increase in the "fuel surcharge" to pay for all those high priced AC lawyers