If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Canadian teams scramble as U.S. bans NHL charter flights
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. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Canadian teams scramble as U.S. bans NHL charter flights
abc wrote: 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. And Canada blames the Democrats? That's really out of the blue, so to speak. USDOT isn't politically driven. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Canadian teams scramble as U.S. bans NHL charter flights
In "K"
wrote: abc wrote: ... The matter was pushed by the U.S. Air Line Pilots Association. ... And Canada blames the Democrats? That's who's running the show, so who else? That's really out of the blue, so to speak. USDOT isn't politically driven. The ALPA is affiliated with AFL-CIO and would expect to get preferential treatment from a Democrat administration. -- Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Cheap charter type flights to Germany? | Skookum | Europe | 6 | February 10th, 2007 11:13 PM |
Pros and cons of charter flights | Ablang | Air travel | 0 | August 29th, 2005 06:46 AM |
NCL Teams With Famed Second City! | Ray Goldenberg | Cruises | 1 | January 19th, 2005 02:37 AM |
Question about Canadian Customs/Flights | Jeffrey Spoon | USA & Canada | 22 | June 3rd, 2004 05:36 AM |
princess cruises: charter flights to tahiti | Chris Jarshant | Cruises | 4 | February 24th, 2004 01:24 PM |