Pilots in Canada Oppose Giving Fifth Freedom Rights to UK-Licensed Air Charter Carrier

The Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA) advised on 12 December that it has written to the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) to express the union`s opposition to an application by Air 2000 to operate a charter operation from Canada.

Air 2000 is a UK-licensed airline and is seeking `fifth freedom` rights to pick up and fly Canadian travellers on vacation charters. ACPA has expressed concern that the CTA would even consider such an application at a time when the domestic airline industry is suffering from overcapacity and reduced passenger revenues in the wake of the events of 11 September.

ACPA has called upon the CTA to reject the application.