TENNIS fans hoping to see Davis Cup action at the MTS Centre this year shouldn't get their hopes up.

Tennis Manitoba and True North Sports & Entertainment made an unsuccessful bid to host the round of 16 matches against Spain, which was held in Vancouver last weekend.

By virtue of the team's 3-2 victory over the top-ranked Spaniards, Canada will host Italy from April 5-7.

Unfortunately, when Milos Raonic could be unleashing his lightning-fast serve on the Friday, Bon Jovi will take to the stage at the MTS Centre. The next evening, when the doubles match would be played, the Jets will host the Philadelphia Flyers.

So, no bid for the quarter-finals will be forthcoming from Winnipeg.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/davis-cup-prospects-look-dim-for-city-189967881.html

Late last year, Winnipeg’s Lakeview Management Inc. announced that they had acquired the Hecla Resort and golf course, of which they took possession on Dec. 14. Work is now being completed towards a May 3 official opening.

 The Spectator met with Lakeview Management president Keith Levit and two of his two top managers (Operations Manager Chris Miler and the general manager of the new Hecla property, Jeff Demarcke) at their corporate headquarters in downtown Winnipeg on Jan.30 to discuss their plans for the spectacular Interlake hotel which has stood vacant for the last three years.

“Paletta (the former owner) had created a great resort destination,” said Levit,” But he had a business plan that was challenging and the rates that he was charging were too high to attract Manitobans in search of a vacation in that area,” he added.

http://www.interlaketoday.ca/2013/02/06/lakeview-hecla-resort-to-open-may-3

MONTREAL -- Canada's two largest airlines reported record monthly load factors in January, demonstrating continued momentum as they start what industry observers expect will be a profitable year.

Air Canada flew with 79.4 per cent of its seats filled across its broad network, up from 79.1 per cent a year ago.

The load factor increased on a 0.3 per cent increase in traffic and a 0.1 per cent drop in capacity. The traffic gains were led by a three per cent growth on Atlantic routes and 2.1 per cent gain in Canada.

Latin America and Caribbean traffic was down nearly 10 per cent on a similar reduction in capacity. Transborder capacity growth outpaced traffic, reducing load factor by 0.8 points to 74.5 per cent.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/airlines-see-record-load-factors-189967791.html

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he expects Air Canada to honour its legal commitment to keep maintenance hangars in Winnipeg and Montreal but did not say whether he agrees with a Quebec judge the airline is not doing so.

"It is clear that the government expects Air Canada to abide by its legal commitments, which are clear," Harper said, responding in French to a question from NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair during question period Tuesday. "But as the leader of the NDP acknowledges, the reality is that this case remains in the courts, and we await those decisions."

Harper did not elaborate and his office would only say he was referring to what law says.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/pm-says-air-canada-must-follow-laws-but-mum-on-ruling-189967801.html

ATLANTA - Atlanta's airport is keeping its title as the world's busiest.

Airport officials on Tuesday said passenger traffic increased by more than 3.1 million passengers in 2012 -- making 2012 the busiest year ever for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Authorities said the 2012 total of 95.5 million passengers is 3.35 per cent higher than the previous record of 92.4 million passengers, set in 2011.

Louis Miller, the airport's aviation general manager, says the airport remains the world's busiest in terms of passengers and operations.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/atlanta-airport-retains-title-as-worlds-busiest-passenger-traffic-made-2012-its-busiest-ever-189840531.html

SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea's human rights commission has recommended that the country's second-largest airline allow its female cabin crew to wear trousers, adding weight to a union campaign to ease strict dress rules.

The commission's ruling made Monday is non-binding but represents a small victory for the 3,400 female flight attendants at Asiana Airlines Inc. Since last year, they have been asking the company to relax appearance requirements that range from how many hairpins they can wear to the length of their earrings.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/skorea-commission-says-female-cabin-crew-at-asiana-airlines-should-be-allowed-to-wear-trousers-189965451.html

(A complete article published originally in the WFP, Feb.  '65)

The Thompson Commission was told Friday that Air Canada President Gordon R. McGregor overstated by $30 million the cost of basing DC-9 jets in Winnipeg. Arthur Mauro, counsel for the Manitoba government, made the contention. Mr. Mauro's argument was based on figures in the Dixon Speas report. The report, prepared by the New York engineering management consulting firm in 1963, recommended immediate closing of the Winnipeg base for economic reasons. Retention of Viscounts in Winnipeg until 1973 would cost Air Canada S30 million, the report contended. A $40 million loss would be suffered between 1963 and 1973 by the airline if both the DC-9 and the Viscounts were based here, the report added. Mr. Mauro, during cross examination of Mr. McGregor Friday, noted that the cost difference between just basing the Viscounts here and basing both the Viscounts and jets was only $10 million according to report figures. The Viscounts overhaul probably will remain in Winnipeg until 1973, Mr. McGregor told the commission Friday. Thursday, he had said that basing of the jets in Winnipeg would be "unthinkable" because it would 'mean a cost penalty of $40 million to Air Canada. Mr. Mauro. also said Air Canada was compelled to keep the Viscounts in Winnipeg until 1973 because this was now the policy of the federal government. Mr. McGregor, during his cross-examination, claimed that "the only indication we have had from the government concerning the whole matter has been the appointment of this commission." He claimed that Air Canada had never been told about a federal government policy.