Brits poised to Invade Canada? Again!
Gentlemen, hold onto your hats. This is going to be interesting.
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British carrier wants to fly Canadians to Caribbean
Last Updated: Fri Nov 30 15:06:20 2001
TORONTO - A British charter company has applied to fly passengers from Toronto to destinations in the south. Air 2000 has formally asked the Canada Transportation Agency for permission.
Canada, like most countries, does not allow foreign carriers to fly passengers to third countries.
Air 2000 wants to provide the service for its sister company, Signature Vacations. After the collapse of Canada 3000, Canadians have been left with fewer choices for warm vacations.
"It's a sample of the creativity we're going to see in the future regarding air travel," said Martha Chapman, spokesperson for Signature.
Air 2000 has described its request as urgent "in order to avoid the disruption of holiday travel plans of hundreds of Canadian passengers."
It wants to operate from Thursday to Sunday out of Toronto to Cancun, Puerto Plata, Puerto Vallarta and Cozumel in Mexico and the Bahamas. More flights may be added.
Air 2000 is applying for "Fifth Freedom" rights which usually involves cargo flights or limited charter flights.
For instance, airlines such as Russia's Aeroflot, Varig Brazilian Airlines and African International Airways, have agreements with the CTA to fly cargo from Canada.
The CTA is gathering input from the Canadian industry first before it makes a ruling.
Denis Jacob, head of Air Transat, says he doesn't like the idea. Jacob says if a British carrier is allowed to do this in Canada, then Canadian carriers should be given the same opportunity in Britain.
Air Canada is also against the idea.
"Given the state of Canada's air industry, Air Canada opposes this application on a matter of principle," says Priscille LeBlanc of Air Canada.
Representatives of the airline division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees say the idea makes no sense especially with thousands of Canadian airline employees out of work.