If not a full-length book, it'd make a great television documentary. Some crazier things have happened, but the battle for Canada's skies represents an ONGOING debacle. I think there were enough television clips and there's plenty of stock-footage to tell a great story, at least a good episode. Matthew On Feb 10, 2004, at 9:24 AM, Michael A. Burris wrote: > Matthew: > > All kidding aside, I'd love too. But my skills in > this aren't quite up there, yet. Still, you've laid > out a good outline and in reality, it reads more like > an exciting tongue and cheek novel! > > Mike > > > --- Matthew Montano <mmontano@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> 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 > > > __________________________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! > http://sbc.yahoo.com