Executives from Westjet, Canada's biggest budget airline, attempted to make amends this week for their "unethical and unacceptable" acquisition of internal data from rival Air Canada. Westjet has admitted that in 2003 and 2004, company employees, with the knowledge of upper management, covertly accessed an internal Air Canada website utilizing an Air Canada employee's password. Air Canada discovered the shenenigans (240,000 logins later) with the help of a private investigator, forcing Westjet to discontinue their activities. Westjet has agreed to pay $5.5 million Canadian to cover the Air Canada's legal costs and to donate another 10 million to children's charities. In return, all legal action has been suspended.

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-- MDT