In reference to the 'summer of 99', I think the press did a fair job at the time. It led the business news when something happened. But if you wanted to dive into the story, you'd have to piece together Globe and Mail articles over six months. As a business story, a Canadian business story, it definitely warrants a further dive, and a post-mortem. The cast of characters was wonderful: - Gerry Schwartz - the 'player' - Robert Milton (american, ceo for 2 weeks) - American Airline's executive - Canadian Airlines executive - The Quebec Courts - The numerous banks - The role of Lufthansa and United - The deal, the counter deal, the counter-counter deal, the court decision - David Collenette (minister of transport at the time) .. and how Air Canada was bidding for parts of Canadian prior to the summer, and ended up saddled with an airline they didn't want, billions in debt, huge employee liabilities, a monopoly they couldn't exploit and grouchy customers AND staff. All within eight months. Any one want to write it? Matthew On Feb 10, 2004, at 8:36 AM, Michael A. Burris wrote: > Matthew: > > I wrote a little on this subject in the May issue of > Airline Review Magazine. (The magazine publisher sold > the publication to some NY investment house) The > article was a profile of Air Canada's aircraft and its > history. But what I wrote, was basically what the > press had covered over the years. > > What had you heard? > > Mike Burris > > > > > > > --- Matthew Montano <mmontano@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> Air Canada's answer: 'Zip' >> >> Recognizing that customers expectations have been >> slightly lessoned by >> Westjet, AC has simply downgraded their service >> offering, lowered some >> operating costs and still charge similar fares. >> >> Who did they invite to the roll-out of the new 'Zip' >> planes and >> service? AC's premier frequent fliers; Super Elites. >> Needless to say AC >> got an earful. >> >> Canadian Airlines had a reasonable 'base' in >> Calgary. Not truly a hub, >> but a reasonable presence, and a maintenance >> facility for their smaller >> and commuter jets. It's rather diminished at the >> moment. Calgary is a >> busy place with 15 odd flights to Edmonton and >> Vancouver every day, and >> maybe 8 or nine to Toronto, and the collection of >> Dash-8s and 146s >> feeding from all over the area. >> >> ... I'm still hoping that someone is going to write >> what REALLY >> happened behind the scenes in the summer of 1999 >> with Onex, American >> Airlines, Canadian Airlines, Air Canada, >> Lufthansa/United and the >> battle for Canada's skies. >> >> Matthew >> >> >> On Feb 10, 2004, at 7:31 AM, Michael A. Burris >> wrote: >> >>> BAHADIR / AIRLINE: >>> >>> Hey Bahadir! Thanks for the photo, although it is >> of a >>> sad occasion. >>> >>> I am wondering what news (airwise) is coming out >> of >>> Calgary, Alberta? What's Air Canada doing to >> combat >>> Westjet, which I think, is based there? Did AC >> have a >>> major maintenance facility there at one time? >>> >>> Mike Burris >>> Cambridge, Mass USA >>> >>> 'Always a fan of those in the know.' >>> >>> 'Also a fan of Air Canada when so many people >> doubt >>> they'll be around in the future, due to the lack >> of >>> cold hard cash!' >>> >>> __________________________________________________ >>> Do you Yahoo!? >>> New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! >>> http://sbc.yahoo.com > > > __________________________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! > http://sbc.yahoo.com