WHO CRIES, WHO CHEERS
If Air Canada goes bust, there will be a lot more losers than winners.
LOSERS
Air Canada employees: around 30,000 worldwide (down from 40,000 in 2002)
Travellers: especially business people seeking frequent flights to many destinations
Paul Martin: politician famous for managing economy would see a large employer and country’s flagship carrier vanish on his watch
Most Canadian cities with fewer than 750,000 people: likely to see service cut or reduced
Greater Toronto Airports Authority: would lose its biggest customer just as it’s pumped $2.4 billion into a grand new terminal
Cara food services: would lose its top client
Air Canada debt holders: unsecured creditors, mostly banks, are owed $2.7 billion, which will be up for grabs
Aeroplan members: what happens to all those points you’ve been collecting?
WINNERS Buses, limos and Via Rail: particularly in the Windsor-Quebec City corridor
Short-haul carriers: especially WestJet, Air Canada’s blood enemy U.S. carriers: particularly American and United, which already fly to Canada and may be permitted to expand here