Westjet: Ethically Challenged

From today's Toronto Globe and Mail:

"WestJet Airlines Ltd. has admitted to spying on Air Canada in an out-of-court settlement, ending the two-year legal fight.

In a joint statement released before markets opened Monday, WestJet apologized for accessing a confidential Air Canada website designated for reservations.

”This practice was undertaken with the knowledge and direction of the highest management levels of WestJet and was not halted until discovered by Air Canada,” the release said. ”This conduct was both unethical and unacceptable and WestJet accepts full responsibility for such misconduct. WestJet sincerely regrets having engaged in this practice and unreservedly apologizes to Air Canada and Mr. Robert Milton.”

Ok, so now you know you wouldn't want to golf with these people. How do you feel about flying with them?

Jet Blast and a Car Wash

For sheer, unadulterated jet blast enjoyment, the best place to watch at YYZ is across Dixon Road from runway 23. Approaching aircraft only have to make it across Dixon Road and the perimeter fence before returning to earth. Large parking lots behind the Wendy's and Petro-Canada make it easy to get right underneath the high speed, high noise action. Here a KLM just makes it over the Petro Canada.

TAGS: Toronto, Boeing 747, Petro Canada

FU967-1111 Raptard

Making a stealthy approach into TO. Any way you slice it, this plane is unreal.

TAGS: Toronto, Boeing 767, Paint Shop Pro

Boeing 777

British Airways Boeing 777-236ER landing on runway 23.

TAGS: Toronto Pearson, Boeing 777, British Airways

Direct from Karachi

One of PIA's brand new 777-200's. These planes are big - with capacity for over 300 passengers. Range, according to Boeing is longest in the world at over 14,000 kilometers. Typical city pairings are Toronto-Karachi, London-Los Angeles and Chicago Soeul. Beautiful aircraft. The engines are huge.

TAGS: Toronto, Boeing 777, PIA

Old Fleet

Air Canada retired theirs years ago but Northwest still flies almost 150 DC-9's. Northwest has one of the oldest fleet of all major airlines at over 18 years. They are replacing their DC-9's at a rate of about 30 per year. The DC-9 was first flown by Delta in 1969.

TAGS: Toronto, Northwest Airlines, DC-9

Dusk Approach

TAGS: Toronto, Paint Shop Pro, airplane pictures

London-bound

BA flight 098, sleeper service from Toronto to Heathrow.

TAGS: Toronto, British Airways, airplane blog

Austrian Airlines A-330

Austrian Airlines A330-200. Departing runway 23 into a post-storm early evening.

TAGS: Toronto, Austrian, airplane

A-340 HEAVY

Air Canada A-340 Miss Piggy. Not really. Just messing around with the effects on Corel Paint Shop Pro.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Thought at first this might belong to Peter, Paul and Mary. Parked at Fedex pad. Actually belongs to Flair Airlines - Flair Airlines (?). Not a lot of info on them but some suggest this is the awkward rebirth of Canada 3000. No idea.

Googling 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' turns up over 5 million hits. John Denver and Chantal Kreviazuk rank higher than Peter, Paul and Mary - but their's is the best.

TAGS: Toronto, peter, paul and mary

Gates Learjet

Note the wire antennas on this Michigan registered, Lear 35a. Built before Bombardier took over Learjet.

Tags: Learjet, Toronto, plane photos