WestJet asks Saultites to protest air security charge

WestJet, which started serving Sault Ste. Marie Airport on Dec. 18, is asking local residents to protest the proposed flat-rate air traveller's security charge.

The request is part of a national campaign by the airline to convince the federal government to alter its plans.

WestJet has reserved ad space in major newspapers across the country for Saturday. The ads will include a tear-out section designed to be mailed to finance minister Paul Martin and local members of Parliament.

"We fully support enhanced security measures for our industry, and we are not opposed to collecting a fee for such services," WestJet president and chief executive officer Clive Beddoe said this morning.

"However, we believe that imposing another flat-rate fee to Canadian travellers will surely have a negative impact on our industry and will discourage people from choosing air travel as a mode of transportation.

"Our proposal is to charge a security fee that is proportional to the airfare paid. We know that our model of collection will ensure that the government can continue to generate the revenues it needs for enhanced security measures," Beddoe said.

In a news release, Beddoe pointed out that the new security charge will hike the total taxes and fees added to a typical $100 return air ticket to 84 percent, compared to just 21 percent in 1996.

"The Department of Finance believes that this fee is what Canadians want. We disagree, and are launching this national advertising campaign to provide the Canadian government with the real views of Canadian travellers," Beddoe said.

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