NHL and Air Canada Respond to Charter Ban

In the wake of the US DOT’s ban on chartered Canadian flights between US cities, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly says that this new ruling has caused the NHL to scramble to work out new travel arrangements.

“It’s potentially a very significant impact,” Mr. Daly said Friday. “It’s crazy and very destabilizing to our business. We’re operating on a long-standing interpretation and for it to change overnight on the eve of our season is creating a huge problem for us.“The change in the exemption came after the U.S. Air Line Pilots Association had demanded an investigation. The inquiry found that some injured players and team personnel had boarded the flight in the U.S, before flying directly to another U.S. city, which violates the 8-year old aggreement.

With the Anaheim Ducks already pulling out of Air Canada contracts, company vice president Duncan Dee says the U.S. does not understand the ramifications of the ban.

Air Canada executive vice president Duncan Dee predicted the ruling will create “chaos” for teams shuttling across the border. “It’s extremely messy for both American and Canadian teams,” he said. It was a unilateral action imposed without consultation or Air Canada being able to defend itself. It’s obvious the U.S. Department of Transportation doesn’t watch hockey.”