Air Canada declared bankruptcy protection in Toronto in order to start a major restructuring plan. Canada?s largest airline made the announcement after failing to reach an agreement with its workers. The airline was already hurting from the lull in the US economy when 9/11, wars in the Middle East and now the SARS virus scare in Asia have made their financials worse. An affiliate charter division of Air Canada successfully operates several flights a week to the Dominican Republic, which will not be affected. Under the bankruptcy protection plan, the airline may reorganize its debts, management and operations to avoid liquidation.