Air Canada to halt deportations aboard its aircraft

posted on October 03, 2006 | in Category Canada | PermaLink

Originl author: Press Release
Source: Air Canada website
URL: [link]
Date: Setpember 29, 2006

MONTREAL, September 29 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada has the pleasure of announcing to its clientele and the media the recent adoption of a resolution aimed at re-evaluating certain aspects of its periodic collaboration with the federal authorities in the area of immigration. During the 2006 Annual General Share-holders Assembly held in Montreal on May 30th, Resolution 2.3.28, initially brought forward by staff representatives of company board members, was formulated and adopted.

The resolution aims, among its principal goals, to provide a concrete response to concerns expressed by our clients, to conform to guiding principles of international associations concerned with the regulation of air transportation, and to increase on-board security of Air Canada aircraft.

Robert Milton, Chairman, President and CEO of ACE Aviation Holdings Inc, stated during his 30 May 2006 remarks, « … it is an idea which has long been in motion among foreign companies, and which I have communicated to the highest levels of Transportation Canada and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority; it addresses a problematic situation, whether we are talking flight safety, consumer confidence, or the simple logistics of flight reservations, check-in, and boarding.In the current context, with the security measures already in place occassioning numerous inconveniences to our clients, we should not be afraid to move forward on this issue. »

The resolution will phase out the deportation of immigrants on all commercial flights of Air Canada and its affiliates by the end of the present year.

A Special Committee has been struck to negotiate a withdrawal from the current arrangement between Air Canada and the Canadian Border Services Agency under which the latter has been permitted priority reservation of seats on all flights of Air Canada and affiliates. The Committee is mandated to bring forward Air Canada’s concerns to Federal authorities and to conclude an agreement between the two parties according to a fixed time-table at the end of which passengers aboard Air Canada aircraft will be composed exclusively of Air Canada customers and professional staff.

The Special Committee, comprising international air transportation specialists, was formed pursuant to a recommendation by upper management of the Star Alliance, which plans to standardise these measures throughout its network.

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