The company is also demanding an injunction to stop the alleged
misuse by WestJet of confidential information about Air Canada's
passenger loads, routes and business operations.
The suit, filed in Ontario Superior Court, hinges on the web
site access ID given to a former employee of Air Canada, Jeffrey
Lafond, who now works for WestJet. Both Lafond and WestJet's VP of
strategic planning, Mark Hill, are also named in the action.
According to a report by The Globe and Mail, when Lafond ceased
employment with Air Canada he was given two free tickets per year
with the airline, for the next five years. These tickets are booked
on a private employee web site and Lafond was able to access the
site with his old ID number.
However, the suit alleges that in the period between 15th May
2003 and 19th March 2004 the ID number was used to access the site
243,630 times, according to the Toronto-based Globe and Mail.
"Such massive access to the employee web site through one
employee ID number could only be accomplished through automated
technology," says the suit.
Air Canada says that the information obtained through the site
was used to work out which Air Canada flights were most profitable,
and gave the company a head start in planning its successful
expansion and new pricing strategy.
The claim is due to be heard on 15th April.
