The two major Canadian carriers had themselves restricted or prohibited smoking in recent years.
According to American officials, this time it is early because the Canadian carriers might otherwise get a head start.
Each of the Canadian carriers already has ties to an American line.
Like the Canadian carriers, Northwest says its ban has been a success.
Trade agreements bar Canadian carriers from expanding south of the border.
The reason for the speedup is to prevent Canadian carriers from getting a competitive head start.
A number of American and Canadian carriers are either already flying the corridor or plan to do so soon.
Many of the major Canadian carriers expressed strong interest, and a number of test systems were ready to roll out by the early 1980s.
The efforts to merge the two Canadian carriers have become a hot political issue here.
Recent financial statements of the two Canadian carriers show they are hemorrhaging.