Washington National shuts out Air Canada

October 4, 2001 11:18 AM

Washington National shuts out Air Canada - and there am I thinking didn't George Bush recently call us "family"?
posted by scotty (9 comments total)

I'm Canadian too, and I don't see anythink wrong with this.

The article says that they are not allowing any international carriers to use the airport.

Canada, not being part of the US (thank goodness), would be considered international. It's not like we're being singled out or anything.
posted by sanitycheck at 11:29 AM on October 4, 2001

I suspect that Air Canada sees a logical inconsistency in the ban on their flying out of National, given the higher level of security on cross-border flights and the fact that the attacks of the 11th exposed the security failures within domestic air travel. It just seems arbitrary and silly. (Incidentally, it's not really a ban on "any international carriers", given that National only serves North American destinations, and since Air Canada was the only non-US airline to use it, that pretty much counts as "being singled out". Non-US transatlantic carriers fly into Dulles and Baltimore.)
posted by holgate at 11:42 AM on October 4, 2001

... didn't George Bush recently call us "family"?

That was BEFORE Celine Dion released her version of "God Bless America". I'm warnin' you guys ... don't force us to make Barbara Streisand sing "O, Canada"!
posted by RavinDave at 11:58 AM on October 4, 2001

Instead of messing around with these unproven airport security risks, they should watch West Wing, and crack down on that massive security risk the tv show exposed last night - the undefended Ontario - Vermont border.

Apparently security there is so lax, Arabic terrorists can cross the border there whenever they choose...

http://www.metafilter.com/comments.mefi/11090
posted by spnx at 12:55 PM on October 4, 2001

the undefended Ontario - Vermont border

Did they mention the Saskatchewan / Montana/N. Dakota border? It's fairly wide-open...
posted by scotty at 1:30 PM on October 4, 2001

Canada, not being a part of the US (Thank Goodness)


Was that really necessary?

I think the reason Canadians vehemently deny their love for the USA stems from their trying so hard to be like us and failing.

Just a hypothesis.
posted by hellinskira at 1:46 PM on October 4, 2001

Actually, my point was that the Ontario - Vermont border crossing DOESN'T EXIST!

Ontario does not border onto Vermont.

So, it's not really very threatening, as far as security risks go, really...
posted by spnx at 3:25 PM on October 4, 2001

Not a logical inconsistency to me - National's been closed for over 3 weeks, what does Air Canada expect, that the FAA will allow a full schedule there from day one?

Besides...on the news last night, the local NBC affiliate said that they're only flying about 25% of normal flights, and even then only to about 10 cities at most....NYC being one. I wouldn't be surprised if Canadian services are the last to be restored.
posted by PeteyStock at 3:48 PM on October 4, 2001

hellsinkira - My apologies. I have nothing against America in general. I was thinking more along the lines of your current federal government when I posted that comment.
posted by sanitycheck at 9:06 AM on October 5, 2001