phreezee
09-05-2009, 03:22 PM
Came across this and thought it was pretty dumb. It effects sports leagues, and musicians on tour. If Canada retaliates, we can expect less concerts. Borders are getting tighter.
http://groups.google.com/group/can.politics/browse_thread/thread/838935a7db941fad?pli=1
Canadian teams scramble as U.S. bans NHL charter flights
September 04, 2009
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly warns the ban on Air Canada chartered
flights will create a complicated “patchwork” of travel that could
“wreck havoc” with the oncoming hockey schedule, including early league
games in Europe. Peter J. Thompson/National Post NHL Deputy
Commissioner Bill Daly warns the ban on Air Canada chartered flights
will create a complicated “patchwork” of travel that could “wreck
havoc” with the oncoming hockey schedule, including ...
OTTAWA -- Canada's six NHL teams are scrambling to find alternative
travel arrangements south of the border after the U.S. Department of
Transportation banned Air Canada's charter fleet from flying between
U.S. cities.
In a furious exchange with the Obama administration over the mid-August
ruling, Canada has launched its own investigation and will soon close
its skies to U.S. sports team charters in retaliation, warns Transport
Minister John Baird.
The sticking point is an eight-year-old exemption that had allowed
sports and celebrity charters to make several pit stops in American
cities. Under existing open skies agreements, regular Canadian airline
flights can only visit one U.S. city before returning.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly warns the charter ban will create a
complicated "patchwork" of travel that could "wreck havoc" with the
oncoming hockey schedule, including early league games in Europe, as
teams scramble to book flights under the new rules.
"It's potentially a very significant impact," Mr. Daly said Friday.
"It's crazy and very destabilizing to our business. We're operating on
a long-standing interpretation and for it to change overnight on the
eve of our season is creating a huge problem for us."
Air Canada executive vice president Duncan Dee predicted the ruling
will create "chaos" for teams shuttling across the border. "It's
extremely messy for both American and Canadian teams," he said. It was
a unilateral action imposed without consultation or Air Canada being
able to defend itself. It's obvious the U.S. Department of
Transportation doesn't watch hockey."
The Air Canada charters fly under the Jetz label.
Mr. Baird said the dispute "shows the power of anti-free-trade
Democrats in the Congress" and cautioned his government will respond in
kind.
"We've already directed the Canadian Transportation Agency to launch a
formal inquiry and the next step will be a direction to the CTA to
immediately prohibit charter flights by U.S. carriers under season-long
contracts with professional sports teams with multiple stops in
Canada," he said in an interview.
The ruling also side-swipes musicians and other artists on tour.
The matter was pushed by the U.S. Air Line Pilots Association. It had
demanded an investigation of passenger lists on the NHL flights, which
found a few examples of injured players, personal trainers and team
owners boarding the charter south of the border and departing at
another U.S. city in a technical violation of the agreement.
Despite the small number of passengers involved, the American side
ruled it was enough to shut down an arrangement negotiated eight years
ago during the George W. Bush presidency.
The Anaheim Ducks have pulled back from an Air Canada contract and
there are concerns existing clients like the Boston Bruins and NBA
Milwaukee Bucks will follow suit.
Air Canada says it still hopes Mr. Baird's hard-line response will
force a resolution by the time NHL season starts next month.
Former Air Canada president Montie Brewer says the Jetz charters are
the only way to fly for teams that must reach their destinations
without fail. Each charter plane comes with its own on-board mechanic
and has exclusive access to private terminals regular airlines cannot
use.
http://groups.google.com/group/can.politics/browse_thread/thread/838935a7db941fad?pli=1
Canadian teams scramble as U.S. bans NHL charter flights
September 04, 2009
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly warns the ban on Air Canada chartered
flights will create a complicated “patchwork” of travel that could
“wreck havoc” with the oncoming hockey schedule, including early league
games in Europe. Peter J. Thompson/National Post NHL Deputy
Commissioner Bill Daly warns the ban on Air Canada chartered flights
will create a complicated “patchwork” of travel that could “wreck
havoc” with the oncoming hockey schedule, including ...
OTTAWA -- Canada's six NHL teams are scrambling to find alternative
travel arrangements south of the border after the U.S. Department of
Transportation banned Air Canada's charter fleet from flying between
U.S. cities.
In a furious exchange with the Obama administration over the mid-August
ruling, Canada has launched its own investigation and will soon close
its skies to U.S. sports team charters in retaliation, warns Transport
Minister John Baird.
The sticking point is an eight-year-old exemption that had allowed
sports and celebrity charters to make several pit stops in American
cities. Under existing open skies agreements, regular Canadian airline
flights can only visit one U.S. city before returning.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly warns the charter ban will create a
complicated "patchwork" of travel that could "wreck havoc" with the
oncoming hockey schedule, including early league games in Europe, as
teams scramble to book flights under the new rules.
"It's potentially a very significant impact," Mr. Daly said Friday.
"It's crazy and very destabilizing to our business. We're operating on
a long-standing interpretation and for it to change overnight on the
eve of our season is creating a huge problem for us."
Air Canada executive vice president Duncan Dee predicted the ruling
will create "chaos" for teams shuttling across the border. "It's
extremely messy for both American and Canadian teams," he said. It was
a unilateral action imposed without consultation or Air Canada being
able to defend itself. It's obvious the U.S. Department of
Transportation doesn't watch hockey."
The Air Canada charters fly under the Jetz label.
Mr. Baird said the dispute "shows the power of anti-free-trade
Democrats in the Congress" and cautioned his government will respond in
kind.
"We've already directed the Canadian Transportation Agency to launch a
formal inquiry and the next step will be a direction to the CTA to
immediately prohibit charter flights by U.S. carriers under season-long
contracts with professional sports teams with multiple stops in
Canada," he said in an interview.
The ruling also side-swipes musicians and other artists on tour.
The matter was pushed by the U.S. Air Line Pilots Association. It had
demanded an investigation of passenger lists on the NHL flights, which
found a few examples of injured players, personal trainers and team
owners boarding the charter south of the border and departing at
another U.S. city in a technical violation of the agreement.
Despite the small number of passengers involved, the American side
ruled it was enough to shut down an arrangement negotiated eight years
ago during the George W. Bush presidency.
The Anaheim Ducks have pulled back from an Air Canada contract and
there are concerns existing clients like the Boston Bruins and NBA
Milwaukee Bucks will follow suit.
Air Canada says it still hopes Mr. Baird's hard-line response will
force a resolution by the time NHL season starts next month.
Former Air Canada president Montie Brewer says the Jetz charters are
the only way to fly for teams that must reach their destinations
without fail. Each charter plane comes with its own on-board mechanic
and has exclusive access to private terminals regular airlines cannot
use.