Comments On Ontario Court Ruling

WestJet isn't happy at all with the outcome of a court decision locking it out of the new Terminal One at Pearson Airport in Toronto. Under the decision, WestJet won't be allowed to appeal a decision by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority to deny WestJet access to Terminal One.

On February 25, 2004, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) decided to seek leave to appeal the Ontario court's decision to grant Air Canada exclusive use of the 14 gates in Terminal 1 (New) at Pearson Airport. Friday, Justice Abella, Justice Blair and Justice Aitken of the Court of Appeal for Ontario denied the GTAA's appeal.

"We are extremely disappointed by today's ruling regarding the distribution of Pearson's gates at Terminal 1 (New)," said Clive Beddoe, WestJet's President, CEO and Executive Chairman. We are once again faced with a situation where a company that does not pay its bills is being given preferential treatment that, we believe, it does not deserve. Regardless of today's ruling, WestJet has the necessary space available in Terminal 2 to operate our previously announced expanded schedule."

WestJet currently operates out of Terminal 3, however effective April 18, 2004, all of the airline's domestic flights will depart from Terminal 2.

FMI: www.westjet.com