MONTREAL, April 3 /CNW Telbec/ - For the month of March, Air Canada today
reported a load factor of 80.7 per cent on a consolidated basis with Jazz,
versus 82.9 per cent in March 2008, a decrease of 2.2 percentage points.
System traffic decreased 13.5 per cent on a capacity reduction of 11.1 per
cent system wide.
Air Canada mainline reported a load factor of 81.8 per cent in March 2009
compared to 83.6 per cent in March 2008; a decrease of 1.8 percentage points.
The mainline carrier flew 13.1 per cent fewer revenue passenger miles (RPMs)
in March 2009 than in March 2008 on a capacity decrease of 11.3 per cent.
Jazz, from which Air Canada purchases regional capacity, reported a load
factor of 69.5 per cent, a decrease of 7.0 percentage points from 76.5 per
cent in March 2008. Capacity decreased by 9.1 per cent from March 2008 and the
carrier flew 17.5 per cent fewer RPMs than in the previous March.
"For the month of March, Air Canada reported a strong load factor of 80.7
per cent on a consolidated basis with Jazz," said Calin Rovinescu, President
and Chief Executive Officer. "The significant traffic historically generated
by Easter holidays has shifted to April this year, as opposed to March last
year, making year-over-year comparisons less meaningful. Forecasted lower
travel demand for March was accounted for through planned capacity
adjustments. We will continue this disciplined approach to capacity management
and will make adjustments as necessary to meet peak summer season travel
demand.
"I commend our employees who exceeded both Customer Satisfaction and
On-Time Performance objectives for the month, achieving on-time arrivals
performance of 81 per cent for the month of March, a 13 percentage point
improvement over the same month a year ago."
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)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARCH YEAR-TO-DATE
-------------------------------------------------------
2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traffic
(RPMs millions) 3,555 4,092 -13.1% 10,122 11,287 -10.3%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity
(ASMs millions) 4,345 4,897 -11.3% 12,553 13,996 -10.3%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Load Factor 81.8% 83.6% -1.8 pts 80.6% 80.6% 0.0 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 974 1,025 -5.0% 2,794 2,909 -4.0%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Canada ASMs 1,190 1,235 -3.6% 3,449 3,563 -3.2%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 81.8% 83.0% -1.2 pts 81.0% 81.6% -0.6 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 635 769 -17.4% 1,792 2,149 -16.6%
U.S. ----------------------------------------------------------------
Trans- ASMs 776 943 -17.7% 2,221 2,723 -18.4%
border ----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 81.8% 81.5% +0.3 pts 80.7% 78.9% +1.8 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 820 971 -15.6% 2,180 2,502 -12.9%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic ASMs 1,027 1,119 -8.2% 2,861 3,169 -9.7%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 79.8% 86.8% -7.0 pts 76.2% 79.0% -2.8 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 538 705 -23.7% 1,539 1,935 -20.5%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ASMs 596 839 -29.0% 1,738 2,349 -26.0%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 90.3% 84.0% +6.3 pts 88.6% 82.4% +6.2 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 588 622 -5.5% 1,817 1,792 +1.4%
Latin ----------------------------------------------------------------
America ASMs 756 761 -0.7% 2,284 2,192 +4.2%
& Other ----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 77.8% 81.7% -3.9 pts 79.6% 81.8% -2.2 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIR CANADA'S REGIONAL CAPACITY PROVIDER
(JAZZ)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARCH YEAR-TO-DATE
-------------------------------------------------------
2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traffic
(RPMs millions) 307 372 -17.5% 862 1,044 -17.4%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity
(ASMs millions) 442 486 -9.1% 1,268 1,411 -10.1%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Load Factor 69.5% 76.5% -7.0 pts 68.0% 74.0% -6.0 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 212 280 -24.3% 601 795 -24.4%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Canada ASMs 282 357 -21.0% 814 1,034 -21.3%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 75.2% 78.4% -3.2 pts 73.8% 76.9% -3.1 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 95 92 +3.3% 261 249 +4.8%
U.S. ----------------------------------------------------------------
Trans- ASMs 160 129 +24.0% 454 377 +20.4%
border ----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 59.4% 71.3% -11.9 pts 57.5% 66.0% -8.5 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED
(AIR CANADA MAINLINE AND JAZZ)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARCH YEAR-TO-DATE
-------------------------------------------------------
2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traffic
(RPMs millions) 3,862 4,464 -13.5% 10,984 12,331 -10.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity
(ASMs millions) 4,787 5,383 -11.1% 13,821 15,407 -10.3%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Load Factor 80.7% 82.9% -2.2 pts 79.5% 80.0% -0.5 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 1,186 1,305 -9.1% 3,395 3,704 -8.3%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Canada ASMs 1,472 1,592 -7.5% 4,263 4,597 -7.3%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 80.6% 82.0% -1.4 pts 79.6% 80.6% -1.0 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 730 861 -15.2% 2,053 2,398 -14.4%
U.S. ----------------------------------------------------------------
Trans- ASMs 936 1,072 -12.7% 2,675 3,100 -13.7%
border ----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 78.0% 80.3% -2.3 pts 76.7% 77.4% -0.7 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPMs 1,946 2,298 -15.3% 5,536 6,229 -11.1%
Interna- ----------------------------------------------------------------
tional ASMs 2,379 2,719 -12.5% 6,883 7,710 -10.7%
----------------------------------------------------------------
Load
Factor 81.8% 84.5% -2.7 pts 80.4% 80.8% -0.4 pts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------%SEDAR: 00001324EF
For further information: Isabelle Arthur, (Montréal), (514) 422-5788;
Peter Fitzpatrick, (Toronto), (416) 263-5576; Angela Mah, (Vancouver), (604)
270-5741; Internet: aircanada.com
