Don’t you just want to get back at Air Canada because you feel it hurt you?
They did indeed, but I don’t get mad at people, I just get even. [Laughs] But look around the world. Even our old friend [Warren] Buffett got into airlines and he says it is the worst business he’s ever been in.


What an idiot, he thought he was gonna play in Air Canada and WestJet's back yard(scheduled service) and stick it to them. Well.... they(AC/WJ) fired back and sank him. As for the charter business(CanJet), he has no doubt, a good product but.................

Old fella wrote:Don’t you just want to get back at Air Canada because you feel it hurt you?
They did indeed, but I don’t get mad at people, I just get even. [Laughs] But look around the world. Even our old friend [Warren] Buffett got into airlines and he says it is the worst business he’s ever been in.


What an idiot, he thought he was gonna play in Air Canada and WestJet's back yard(scheduled service) and stick it to them. Well.... they(AC/WJ) fired back and sank him. As for the charter business(CanJet), he has no doubt, a good product but.................

Idiot?? Strong word to be using about someone that is obviously a very successful business man. He is grossing $1 Billion a year and he is the idiot? At least he had the smarts to not let his pride get in the way of shutting down the money loosing scheduled side of things, before it dragged the rest of the company down the drain.

For the record, I never worked for Canjet or any other part of the IMP Group.

Rubberbiscuit wrote:

Old fella wrote:Don’t you just want to get back at Air Canada because you feel it hurt you?
They did indeed, but I don’t get mad at people, I just get even. [Laughs] But look around the world. Even our old friend [Warren] Buffett got into airlines and he says it is the worst business he’s ever been in.


What an idiot, he thought he was gonna play in Air Canada and WestJet's back yard(scheduled service) and stick it to them. Well.... they(AC/WJ) fired back and sank him. As for the charter business(CanJet), he has no doubt, a good product but.................

Idiot?? Strong word to be using about someone that is obviously a very successful business man. He is grossing $1 Billion a year and he is the idiot? At least he had the smarts to not let his pride get in the way of shutting down the money loosing scheduled side of things, before it dragged the rest of the company down the drain.

For the record, I never worked for Canjet or any other part of the IMP Group.

Yep I agree I wouldn't call him an idiot either. If he was an idiot for trying to start up Canjet, then I guess anyone that ever tries their hand at the industry is an idiot. No doubt its an incredibly risky industry, it does pay off for some ie founders of Westjet.

I like how he brushes off the current CanJet ...."I went back to CanJet Two when we won [the dispute] and the government assured us it would be different. CanJet Two stopped scheduled service and changed to [a charter business.] They’re doing quite well. If it lasts, fine; if it doesn’t, we’ll move on to something else. "

Hard to argue the guys business expertise though.

Troubleshot wrote:I like how he brushes off the current CanJet ...."I went back to CanJet Two when we won [the dispute] and the government assured us it would be different. CanJet Two stopped scheduled service and changed to [a charter business.] They’re doing quite well. If it lasts, fine; if it doesn’t, we’ll move on to something else. "

Hard to argue the guys business expertise though.

This is how KR has ALWAYS operated. No beating of the dead horse.

I have no problem with it. Those contemplating working for him must know his MO going in with eyes wide open.

On his comment on Air Canada, he indicated he doesn't get mad, he just gets even. Pray tell and perish the thought, how the hell is he gonna get even with Air Canada. Say what you will about AC but they have been around a while(60+ yrs) through the thick and thin of it all.

The country is littered with astute business people and the remains of others(Conrad black, Peter the Puck etc etc).



PS. WJ started out with a couple of B737-200 hand me downs and built themselves up to a very good airline with a bright future. Clive and the lads knew how to start and run an airline. If this guy Rowe was so smart how come he couldn't do what ole Clive could do.

I am talking about running an airline, not other business interests.

Old fella wrote: PS. WJ started out with a couple of B737-200 hand me downs and built themselves up to a very good airline with a bright future. Clive and the lads knew how to start and run an airline. If this guy Rowe was so smart how come he couldn't do what ole Clive could do.

I am talking about running an airline, not other business interests.

Plus a lot of luck by being in the right place at the right time!

Old fella wrote:On his comment on Air Canada, he indicated he doesn't get mad, he just gets even. Pray tell and perish the thought, how the hell is he gonna get even with Air Canada. Say what you will about AC but they have been around a while(60+ yrs) through the thick and thin of it all.

The country is littered with astute business people and the remains of others(Conrad black, Peter the Puck etc etc).



PS. WJ started out with a couple of B737-200 hand me downs and built themselves up to a very good airline with a bright future. Clive and the lads knew how to start and run an airline. If this guy Rowe was so smart how come he couldn't do what ole Clive could do.

I am talking about running an airline, not other business interests.

Considering the market size in Calgary compared to Halifax/Toronto and east? Really? Is it that big of a surprize?

True.... then again when WJ was starting , Canadian Airlines International(Calgary based) was starting to go down the tube and was into a massive restructuring(which didn't last and AC was forced into an acquision cause of political issues, not business related). Opinion was noted that an upstart like WJ with it's 3 B737-200 wasn't gonna to last as the mighty CAI couldn't survive.............. but the rest is history. WJ did quite well and is continuing to do so, AC survived despite it's many issues and appears to be on a solid footing so far(as airlines go). Scheduled carriers like JetsGo and Canjet fell down, didn't CanJet try a scheduled service out west(in WestJet's back yard)..........

Old fella wrote: PS. WJ started out with a couple of B737-200 hand me downs and built themselves up to a very good airline with a bright future. Clive and the lads knew how to start and run an airline. If this guy Rowe was so smart how come he couldn't do what ole Clive could do..

Even Clive has been quoted as saying that the timing for the WestJet startup was a very narrow window (A/C restructuring, cheap clapped out 737's, low fuel costs, little competition) and that even he thinks it would be impossible in today's aviation environment.

Would have to agree with Clive. Besides, start-ups have the odds stacked against them (unless of course you are one of the national start-ups in the Middle East ). 90% of startup airlines are bankrupt within 5 years, and 95% of them are bankrupt within 10 years. They had good timing, a good business plan, excellent financing and even some hand holding from David Neeleman didn't hurt. Of course, absolutely no guarantees that Westjet, Air Canada, or any other airline will be around 10 years from today (once again, with the exception of these Middle Eastern sheiks' model-railroad sets like Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, et al).

Even Clive has been quoted as saying that the timing for the WestJet startup was a very narrow window (A/C restructuring, cheap clapped out 737's, low fuel costs, little competition) and that even he thinks it would be impossible in today's aviation environment.[/quote]

Well.......... isn't timing part and parcel of being an astute business person. He(ole Clive) recognized an opportunity during a specific time and took the risk and was rewarded. More power to him and whatever $$$$ he personally made he deserved it in my books.

Over and out!!!!