Investor Presentaiton
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Bill C-20 provides for, among other things, a declaration of Canadian airport policy, a number of basic obligations of
airport operators and the powers and capacity of airport authorities and the scope of their activities. Bill C-20 also
introduces principles affecting airport users such as slot allocation and a framework for the fees imposed by large
airport authorities. Management cannot predict if or when such proposed legislation will enter into force.
Transborder Services
In February 1995, a new air services agreement (the "1995 Canada-U.S. Air Services Agreement") was
implemented between Canada and the United States, replacing the previous bilateral agreement, which had imposed
greater restrictions on market access and fares. This agreement gave Canadian air carriers unlimited route rights to
provide "own aircraft" services between points in Canada and points in the United States. The carriage of local traffic
between points within one country by carriers of the other country, commonly known as cabotage, continued to be
prohibited.
Under the 1995 Canada-U.S. Air Services Agreement, rules governing fare levels and the requirement to file tariffs
(excluding rules tariffs) with government authorities were eliminated. Carriers of both countries are free to set their
own prices for transborder services according to market forces. Prices may only be disallowed under special
circumstances if the authorities of both countries agree, for example in response to predatory or monopolistic pricing
behaviour on specific routes. In November 1997, Canada and the United States concluded an agreement that allows
Canadian and U.S. carriers to code-share to, from and via each other's territory, with carriers from other countries
provided the other country allows code-sharing and the carriers hold the underlying rights to serve that country. As a
result, Air Canada increased its code-sharing with certain Star AllianceⓇ partners via Canada and the United States and
some of these Star AllianceⓇ partners' codes appear on some Jazz operated transborder flights.
On November 11, 2005, Transport Canada announced that the governments of Canada and the United States had
negotiated an open skies agreement (the "Open Skies Agreement") which further liberalizes air transportation services.
The Open Skies Agreement was initially expected to come into force on September 1, 2006, but was delayed due to the
then pending immunity application filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation by some Star Alliance carriers,
including Air Canada. The final order from the U.S. Department of Transportation concerning the immunity
application was issued on February 13, 2007. The Open Skies Agreement came into force on March 12, 2007. The
Open Skies Agreement allows air carriers of both countries (i) to pick up passenger and/or cargo traffic in the other
country and carry that traffic to a third country as part of a service to or from the carrier's home country, (ii) to operate
stand-alone all-cargo services between the other country's territory and third countries, and (iii) greater pricing
flexibility for services between the other country and a third country. Cabotage remains prohibited.
International Services
Scheduled international air services are regulated by the Canadian and foreign governments involved. The Minister
of Transport has the authority to designate which Canadian air carriers may serve scheduled international routes.
International route rights are obtained through bilateral negotiations between Canada and foreign countries. Bilateral
agreements provide for the rights which may be exercised over agreed routings and the conditions under which the
carriers may operate, including, among others, the number of carriers which may operate, the capacity and/or flight
frequencies that may be provided and the controls over tariffs to be charged. Most bilateral agreements to which
Canada is a party provide for the designation of more than one Canadian carrier, while some provide for the
designation of only one Canadian carrier. In general, bilateral agreements between Canada and European countries are
more liberal in terms of controls on capacity and flight frequencies than those between Canada and Asian countries.
In February 2001, the Minister of Transport launched an international air services policy review to address
competition in the international markets with the objective of liberalizing Canada's policy for scheduled international
air services, including how Canada approaches the negotiation and management of air traffic rights with other
countries.
In May 2002, the Minister of Transport introduced a liberalized multiple designation policy applicable to
scheduled international air services by Canadian carriers (excluding services to the United States). Any Canadian
carrier may apply to be designated to serve any foreign country regardless of the size of the air travel market. If the
number of Canadian carriers permitted is restricted under existing bilateral agreements, the Canadian government has
indicated that it will pursue negotiations with the appropriate countries to seek the necessary rights for Canadian
carriers. In addition, an incumbent carrier's designation in a particular market will be subject to reallocation only inView entire presentation