MONTREAL, June 8 /CNW Telbec/ - For the month of May, Air Canada today
reported a load factor of 79.5 per cent on a consolidated basis with Jazz,
versus 83.2 per cent in May 2008, a decrease of 3.7 percentage points. System
traffic decreased 10.3 per cent on a capacity reduction of 6.1 per cent system
wide.
Air Canada mainline reported a load factor of 81.0 per cent in May 2009
compared to 84.3 per cent in May 2008; a decrease of 3.3 percentage points.
The mainline carrier flew 10.4 per cent fewer revenue passenger miles (RPMs)
in May 2009 than in May 2008 on a capacity decrease of 6.7 per cent.
Jazz, from which Air Canada purchases regional capacity, reported a load
factor of 65.6 per cent, a decrease of 6.8 percentage points from 72.4 per
cent in May 2008. Capacity increased by 0.2 per cent from May 2008 and the
carrier flew 9.2 per cent fewer RPMs than in the previous May.
"For the month of May, Air Canada reported a load factor of 79.5 per cent
on a consolidated basis with Jazz," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief
Executive Officer. "Despite downward pressure on travel demand due to the
weakened economy and concerns over the H1N1 influenza virus, we were able to
maintain a relatively stable performance during the month. We will continue to
manage capacity in a disciplined manner and this includes redeploying capacity
to pursue new strategic revenue generation opportunities. Over the past five
weeks, we have inaugurated new non-stop services from Calgary to San Diego,
CA, London, ON, and Whitehorse, YT. We are also very pleased with the market's
reaction to our new year-round non-stop Montreal-Geneva service to this
important international business and leisure destination that includes the
French Rhone-Alpes region. During the past weeks we continued the
implementation of initiatives to re-engage customers and the travel trade
community alike, with the introduction of our Low Fare Guarantee and, most
recently, a commission program to Canadian travel agents in reward for their
support.
Also in May, we completed the planned refurbishment of the fleet to offer
a market-leading product which has been well received by customers.
"I commend our employees who exceeded, once again for the fourth
consecutive month, both Customer Satisfaction and On-Time performance
objectives for the month, achieving on-time arrival performance of 84 per cent
for the month of May."
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Air Canada's public communications may include written or oral
forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws.
Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are based on assumptions and are
subject to important risks and uncertainties. Any forecasts or forward-looking
predictions or statements cannot be relied upon due to, amongst other things,
changing external events and general uncertainties of the business. Actual
results may differ materially from results indicated in forward-looking
statements due to a number of factors, including without limitation, industry,
market, credit and economic conditions, the ability to reduce operating costs
and secure financing, pension issues, energy prices, currency exchange and
interest rates, employee and labour relations, competition, war, terrorist
acts, epidemic diseases, insurance issues and costs, changes in demand due to
the seasonal nature of the business, supply issues, changes in laws,
regulatory developments or proceedings, pending and future litigation and
actions by third parties as well as the factors identified throughout Air
Canada's public disclosure file available at www.sedar.com. The
forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent Air
Canada's expectations as of the date of this news release and are subject to
change after such date. However, Air Canada disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required
under applicable securities regulations.-------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIR CANADA MAINLINE
(Includes Jetz & Tier 3)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
May Year-To-Date
-------------------------------------------------------
2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change
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Traffic
(RPMs millions) 3,546 3,956 -10.4% 17,202 18,892 -8.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity
(ASMs millions) 4,376 4,691 -6.7% 21,218 23,058 -8.0%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Load Factor 81.0% 84.3% -3.3 pts 81.1% 81.9% -0.8 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 1,069 1,203 -11.1% 4,845 5,139 -5.7%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Canada ASMs 1,347 1,467 -8.2% 5,984 6,236 -4.0%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 79.4% 82.0% -2.6 pts 81.0% 82.4% -1.4 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 440 499 -11.8% 2,801 3,246 -13.7%
U.S. ----------------------------------------------------------------
Trans- ASMs 569 620 -8.2% 3,514 4,084 -14.0%
border ----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 77.3% 80.5% -3.2 pts 79.7% 79.5% +0.2 pts
----------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 1,083 1,129 -4.1% 4,216 4,581 -8.0%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic ASMs 1,286 1,290 -0.3% 5,270 5,554 -5.1%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 84.2% 87.5% -3.3 pts 80.0% 82.5% -2.5 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 617 719 -14.2% 2,741 3,311 -17.2%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ASMs 744 807 -7.8% 3,151 3,946 -20.1%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 82.9% 89.1% -6.2 pts 87.0% 83.9% +3.1 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 337 406 -17.0% 2,599 2,615 -0.6%
Latin ----------------------------------------------------------------
America ASMs 430 507 -15.2% 3,299 3,238 +1.9%
& Other ----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 78.4% 80.1% -1.7 pts 78.8% 80.8% -2.0 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIR CANADA'S REGIONAL CAPACITY PROVIDER
(Jazz)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
May Year-To-Date
-------------------------------------------------------
2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traffic
(RPMs millions) 317 349 -9.2% 1,478 1,740 -15.1%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity
(ASMs millions) 483 482 +0.2% 2,190 2,355 -7.0%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Load Factor 65.6% 72.4% -6.8 pts 67.5% 73.9% -6.4 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 228 248 -8.1% 1,037 1,299 -20.2%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Canada ASMs 320 329 -2.7% 1,416 1,693 -16.4%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 71.3% 75.4% -4.1 pts 73.2% 76.7% -3.5 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 89 101 -11.9% 441 441 0.0%
U.S. ----------------------------------------------------------------
Trans- ASMs 163 153 +6.5% 774 662 +16.9%
border ----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 54.6% 66.0% -11.4 pts 57.0% 66.6% -9.6 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED
(Air Canada Mainline and Jazz)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
May Year-To-Date
-------------------------------------------------------
2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traffic
(RPMs millions) 3,863 4,305 -10.3% 18,680 20,632 -9.5%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity
(ASMs millions) 4,859 5,173 -6.1% 23,408 25,413 -7.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Load Factor 79.5% 83.2% -3.7 pts 79.8% 81.2% -1.4 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 1,297 1,451 -10.6% 5,882 6,438 -8.6%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Canada ASMs 1,667 1,796 -7.2% 7,400 7,929 -6.7%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 77.8% 80.8% -3.0 pts 79.5% 81.2% -1.7 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 529 600 -11.8% 3,242 3,687 -12.1%
U.S. ----------------------------------------------------------------
Trans- ASMs 732 773 -5.3% 4,288 4,746 -9.7%
border ----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 72.3% 77.6% -5.3 pts 75.6% 77.7% -2.1 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 2,037 2,254 -9.6% 9,556 10,507 -9.1%
Interna- ----------------------------------------------------------------
tional ASMs 2,460 2,604 -5.5% 11,720 12,738 -8.0%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 82.8% 86.6% -3.8 pts 81.5% 82.5% -1.0 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------%SEDAR: 00001324EF
For further information: Isabelle Arthur (Montréal), (514) 422-5788;
Peter Fitzpatrick (Toronto), (416) 263-5576; Angela Mah (Vancouver), (604)
270-5741; aircanada.com
