September 18, 09

NEWS / U.S. DOT, Air Canada Reach Agreement on NHL Team Charters

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Air Canada today reached an agreement to apply an unprecedented level of monitoring and enforcement to Air Canada’s charter flights for certain National Hockey League teams in the United States to ensure compliance with U.S. law.

Under the settlement, Air Canada will submit monthly reports to enable DOT to ensure compliance with “cabotage” laws the prohibit a foreign airline from carrying passengers or cargo between U.S. points that it does not also carry into or out of the United States. The carrier also will designate an official to monitor its own compliance, and it agreed to carry only people affiliated with the teams that have contracted for the sports charters. In addition, Air Canada has agreed to voluntarily implement security procedures that are comparable to those required for U.S.-airline charter flights, including X-raying of carry-on bags, passing passengers through a metal detector and checking shoes for explosives.

DOT said that it would continue to enforce vigorously the laws prohibiting cabotage. It added that the Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office will continue its ongoing investigation of whether Air Canada violated these laws during the 2008/09 season.

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2009/dot14709.htm