Beddoe Opens Pie-Hole Wide

complexintentions · Post by **complexintentions** » Wed May 17, 2006 7:52 pm

Gad what an arrogant d&ck...the comments about Porter took me from indifference to hoping they (Porter) can make a go of it...I haven't flown a turboprop in years but I understand the Q400 is pretty amazing...

WestJet's Beddoe hits out at rival over lawsuit
Decries wait for Air Canada documents

BRENT JANG
TRANSPORTATION REPORTER
WestJet Airlines Ltd. chairman Clive Beddoe returned to fighting form yesterday, lashing out at Air Canada for what he calls stalling tactics in a bitter lawsuit and deriding fledgling Porter Airlines Inc. for its plans to use turboprops.

The combative Mr. Beddoe said WestJet is growing impatient because there has been no response to its request that Air Canada's lawyers turn over certain corporate documents.

Air Canada launched a $220-million lawsuit in April, 2004, alleging that Calgary-based WestJet stole confidential data. None of the allegations have been proven in court. WestJet, which denies any wrongdoing, countered that Air Canada must provide evidence to show that its business has suffered from WestJet's alleged espionage.

"We're still awaiting documents from Air Canada that have yet to arrive after two years of being at this. It's just a frustrating process," Mr. Beddoe said during Scotia Capital's transportation and aerospace conference. "If someone was that intent on collecting all these incredible damages, then I think they would have found some documents by now."

Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said it's WestJet that has put up procedural roadblocks with vast demands for disclosure of internal documents.

WestJet has "sought to deny that the spying caused damages or even more implausibly that the information that they took such pains to collect covertly was not in fact confidential," Mr. Fitzpatrick said.

"Air Canada has made disclosure of tens of thousands of documents and is now about to start the cross-examination of WestJet's witnesses. WestJet's delaying tactics have not succeeded and will not succeed."

Industry observers noticed that Mr. Beddoe had temporarily cooled his criticism of rivals since price-slashing Jetsgo Corp. closed its operations in March, 2005. But he didn't shy away from firing shots yesterday, including at Porter Airlines, the upstart Toronto commuter carrier that's promoting its hub at Toronto City Centre Airport to initially use 10 Bombardier 70-seat Q400 turboprops this fall for flights.

"No matter how good the turboprop, people don't like them. Those things spinning around at thousands of revolutions per minute just past your nose just scares the bejesus out of people. They don't go high enough, they don't go fast enough," said Mr. Beddoe, who co-founded WestJet in 1996.

He expressed confidence that WestJet will be able to withstand any new entrant. In any case, he said WestJet and Montreal-based Air Canada enjoy a "relatively strong duopoly" domestically, putting a damper on new airlines, especially with high oil prices.

Porter president Robert Deluce vehemently disagreed with Mr. Beddoe's views on turboprops, saying his carrier will exceed the service provided by rival jets at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

"The Porter passenger experience aboard the Bombardier Q400 will rival any other airline in terms of speed, comfort and cabin environment," Mr. Deluce said. "And beyond the in-flight experience, Porter will offer its customers service and convenience that surpass what they must now accept when flying through Pearson today."

Montie Brewer, Air Canada's president and chief executive officer, said Air Canada is toying with the idea of revamping its fees for itinerary changes, possibly streamlining them so that consumers aren't overwhelmed by the complexities of various charges. The airline's simplified fare strategy is working well against WestJet, he said.

Air Canada offers five basic fares, down from more than 20 categories in early 2003. The cheapest among the fare categories, Tango, is designed to compete against WestJet.

Travel agents are complaining about having the base Tango category removed from their electronic reservation networks known as global distribution systems, but Mr. Brewer said Air Canada believes the networks are inadequate.

The carrier will have seven new Boeing 777s in its fleet by the seventh month of 2007, he added. "That's a little cheat sheet for everyone to remember," he joked.

DA900 · Post by **DA900** » Thu May 18, 2006 12:23 pm

Not to surprising. He attacked Edmonton for allowing Peace Air and Air Mikisew to operate out of the muni with those "things" spinning by the passengers. I guess his "duopoly" is not quite enough.

I think what he is concerned with is safety. You can never tell when one of those "things" may let go and strike someone in the head. Thank you Clive at least you are concerned for us little people not like those bastards at Jazz, Pasco, Buffalo Joe, Calm Air, Horizon, and the others. How dare they put my life in danger!

WJ700 · Post by **WJ700** » Thu May 18, 2006 1:01 pm

What I've heard from the inside is that its another complete miss-quote from the usual inept reporter, Mr.Brent Jang. I understand he said 'given the choice' would you rather fly a turbo prop or jet.... and the safety comment was embelished and manufactured from thin air. It's an embarssing comment as written, but Jang does have a reputation for stretching the truth since WestJet never gives him attention anymore.

Personally, I think Porter Air is a money maker if they get past the politics.

Legacy · Post by **Legacy** » Thu May 18, 2006 8:30 pm

I would have thought Mr. Bedoe could say something more constructive than that. He should know passengers care more about cost these days not if a prop is hanging off a wing. Besides the prop swings at 750 rpm in cruise on the 400 not "thousands". Small arguement on my part but oh well. I think Mr. Deluce needs some more credit than that. Look at his history. I would think he knows a little of what he is doing.

WJ700 · Post by **WJ700** » Thu May 18, 2006 11:23 pm

It doesn't make sense when he flies around in his own Cessna himself.

Blastor · Post by **Blastor** » Fri May 19, 2006 4:45 am

WAY TO GO CLIVE!! WHOOO HOOO

GO WESTJET GO!!!

You F*** moron..

tonysoprano · Post by **tonysoprano** » Fri May 19, 2006 6:44 pm

W700.
I can understand you trying to stick up for your leader. It's normal and quite loyal. But once again Clive is showing a dangerous character that can only get more dangerous as his company grows. I'd say you have a ticking timebomb in your company. Some leaders are pompous and arrogant. Our own Mr. Milton is all that too. But at least he seems to have toned it down and isn't shooting everyone down. What's funny is much of Clive's "success" isn't really his own creativity. We all know he has copied Southwest and Jetblue. The only thing original about Clive is his arrogance. It's even funnier how a man that prides himself on running an easy going, happy company is so easily frustrated by the smallest, insignificant things. The man will not get the respect he wants at this rate. Just pray he won't affect the company.

WJ700 · Post by **WJ700** » Fri May 19, 2006 9:41 pm

Not sticking up for him, just doubting the reporter because he has written bad articles many times on AC and WestJet purely to sell papers. If it's accurate, it's embarassing but we've had many clarifications internally when Brent Jang has reported something. WestJet's policy is to never battle the press trying to correct a wrong either... it never works and AC does the same thing.

I was under the impression that Clive's lawyers had his muzzel on tighter these days and didn't expect him to say something like that.

but It doesn't mean he isn't thinking it and for that I'm sorry.

WS739 · Post by **WS739** » Fri May 19, 2006 11:33 pm

Hey Tony WJ700 does have a point, Its not something that Clive would say. Anyone who has read a newspaper by a reporter knows that they up the details a little.

If it is true then yah not a very good representation, however, i still dont think he would say something like that!

Ws739

tonysoprano · Post by **tonysoprano** » Sat May 20, 2006 6:59 am

There's no doubt Mr. Jang has something against airlines and sure enough AC has had its share of bad raps from him too. That being said, the impression Clive has left on everyone's mind is that he can't resist putting down the competition every oppurtunity he gets. Unfortunately for him this seems to be every time the press is listening. He should learn to keep those unattractive comments within WJ. The press loves contoversy and Clive seems to be taking the bait. I have no doubt Clive has provided a good working environment at WJ but that is being overshadowed by his arrogancy towards the competition. I'm sure Clive is a good guy and means well. If he could only show that side instead of the one we've seen so far.

CanadaEH · Post by **CanadaEH** » Sat May 20, 2006 12:50 pm

What's funny is much of Clive's "success" isn't really his own creativity. We all know he has copied Southwest and Jetblue.

Your opinion on Clive aside...

The real brain behind Westjet was Mark Hill. He spent, if my memory is correct, at least a year researching the industry and models of airlines to form the business plan that launched Westjet back in 1996. Over the years he helped evolve that business plan into a model that better fit the competitive landscape of operating in Canada. You can say what you want about the whole espionage thing but if you remove that blemish from Westjet's history there were still 8 years of evolution that he played a huge part in.

blue-sky · Post by **blue-sky** » Sat May 20, 2006 1:11 pm

I hear Mark Hill is now working with Hawkair........hes the newest memeber on their Board of Directors. I saw it in some article?????? I forget where

CanadaEH · Post by **CanadaEH** » Sat May 20, 2006 2:16 pm

I don't know?

He's been consulting with different airlines since he left WJ and last I heard he had helped launch a LCC in Mexico with the backing of some very rich people.

wooden spoon · Post by **wooden spoon** » Sat May 20, 2006 9:17 pm

who is brent jang???
is he cyyz with over 3000 posts?could he be a lurker on av canada(dah)?sorry but im a little suspicious...

Four1oh · Post by **Four1oh** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:41 pm

If he's on here, I just want him to know I think he's a knob.

invertedattitude · Post by **invertedattitude** » Mon May 22, 2006 12:07 am

Not very polite if it is true... and I think AC/WJA has it in both their interests to put this lawsuit behind them.

There is no way a court is going to award AC full payment regardless of the findings anyway, although even a $50Mil hit to westjet would be very painful.

tonysoprano · Post by **tonysoprano** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:46 am

Money isn't everything.

hind sight · Post by **hind sight** » Mon May 22, 2006 8:14 am

It's the only thing.

CanadaEH · Post by **CanadaEH** » Mon May 22, 2006 11:03 am

Money isn't everything.

Got that right. In this case money is nothing and reputation is everything.

twinpratts · Post by **twinpratts** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:02 pm

Blastor wrote:WAY TO GO CLIVE!! WHOOO HOOO

GO WESTJET GO!!!

You F*** moron..

Dude.
As I imagine what your 'F*** Moron' comment reads, I realize that there aren't enough stars there to symbolize the (ing) that usually sits at the end of that word when used in this particual sytax.
You F***ing Illiterate moron.