Air Canada reports February traffic
Mainline passenger load factor of 80% - highest ever for February
MONTREAL, March 6 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada and its regional partner Jazz
reported a combined system load factor of 79.6 per cent in February 2007, the
highest ever for the month and the fifth consecutive month of record system
load factors.
The mainline carrier flew 4.5 per cent more revenue passenger miles
(RPMs) in February 2007 than in February 2006, according to preliminary
traffic figures. Capacity increased by 2.8 per cent, resulting in a load
factor of 80 per cent, compared to 78.7 per cent in February 2006; an increase
of 1.3 percentage points.
Jazz, from which Air Canada purchases regional capacity, flew
18.5 per cent more RPMs in February 2007 than in February 2006, according to
preliminary traffic figures. Capacity increased by 13.4 per cent, resulting in
a load factor of 75.7 per cent, compared to 72.4 per cent in February 2006; an
increase of 3.3 percentage points.
Year over year, system traffic on a consolidated basis for Air Canada and
Jazz, rose 5.6 per cent on a capacity increase of 3.7 per cent, resulting in a
load factor of 79.6 per cent; an increase of 1.4 percentage points.
"Air Canada achieved a record 80% load factor at the mainline carrier and
increased traffic by 5.6 per cent system-wide during the typically slow month
of February. Air Canada's innovations, including our simplified fare
structure, refurbished interiors and new aircraft, are attracting passengers,
and our employees are earning and keeping our customers' loyalty," said Montie
Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.
This discussion contains certain forward-looking statements, which
involve a number of risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors
including acts or potential acts of terrorism, international conflicts,
government regulations and government mandated restrictions on operations and
pricing, fuel prices, industry restructuring, labour negotiations, the
economic environment in general including foreign exchange and interest rates,
the airline competitive and pricing environment, industry capacity decisions
and new entrants as well as external events, actual results could differ from
expected results and the differences could be material.
AIR CANADA
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AIR CANADA MAINLINE
(Includes Jetz)
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FEBRUARY YEAR-TO-DATE
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2007 2006 Change 2007 2006 Change
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Traffic (RPMs
millions) 3,279 3,139 +4.5% 6,875 6,639 +3.6%
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Capacity (ASMs
millions) 4,099 3,988 +2.8% 8,670 8,471 +2.3%
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Load Factor 80.0% 78.7% +1.3 pts 79.3% 78.4% +0.9 pts
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Canada RPMs 871 829 +5.1% 1,791 1,703 +5.2%
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ASMs 1,041 1,041 0.0% 2,207 2,192 +0.7%
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Load
Factor 83.7% 79.6% +4.1 pts 81.2% 77.7% +3.5 pts
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U.S.
Transborder RPMs 666 640 +4.1% 1,370 1,302 +5.2%
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ASMs 852 788 +8.1% 1,808 1,648 +9.7%
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Load
Factor 78.2% 81.2% -3.0 pts 75.8% 79.0% -3.2 pts
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Atlantic RPMs 695 670 +3.7% 1,494 1,445 +3.4%
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ASMs 894 874 +2.3% 1,892 1,856 +1.9%
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Load
Factor 77.7% 76.7% +1.0 pts 79.0% 77.9% +1.1 pts
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Pacific RPMs 574 541 +6.1% 1,224 1,198 +2.2%
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ASMs 705 684 +3.1% 1,499 1,480 +1.3%
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Load
Factor 81.4% 79.1% +2.3 pts 81.7% 80.9% +0.8 pts
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Latin America
& Other RPMs 473 459 +3.1% 996 991 +0.5%
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ASMs 607 601 +1.0% 1,264 1,295 -2.4%
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Load
Factor 77.9% 76.4% +1.5 pts 78.8% 76.5% +2.3 pts
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AIR CANADA JAZZ
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AIR CANADA'S REGIONAL CAPACITY PROVIDER
(Jazz)
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FEBRUARY YEAR-TO-DATE
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2007 2006 Change 2007 2006 Change
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Traffic (RPMs
millions) 314 265 +18.5% 623 524 +18.9%
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Capacity (ASMs
millions) 415 366 +13.4% 860 757 +13.6%
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Load Factor 75.7% 72.4% +3.3 pts 72.4% 69.2% +3.2 pts
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Canada RPMs 234 201 +16.4% 464 399 +16.3%
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ASMs 296 267 +10.9% 613 557 +10.1%
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Load
Factor 79.1% 75.3% +3.8 pts 75.7% 71.6% +4.1 pts
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U.S.
Transborder RPMs 80 64 +25.0% 159 125 +27.2%
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ASMs 119 99 +20.2% 247 200 +23.5%
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Load
Factor 67.2% 64.6% +2.6 pts 64.4% 62.5% +1.9 pts
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AIR CANADA & AIR CANADA JAZZ
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COMBINED
(AIR CANADA MAINLINE AND JAZZ)
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FEBRUARY YEAR-TO-DATE
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2007 2006 Change 2007 2006 Change
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Traffic (RPMs
millions) 3,593 3,404 +5.6% 7,498 7,163 +4.7%
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Capacity (ASMs
millions) 4,514 4,354 +3.7% 9,530 9,228 +3.3%
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Load Factor 79.6% 78.2% +1.4 pts 78.7% 77.6% +1.1 pts
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Canada RPMs 1,105 1,030 +7.3% 2,255 2,102 +7.3%
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ASMs 1,337 1,308 +2.2% 2,820 2,749 +2.6%
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Load
Factor 82.6% 78.7% +3.9 pts 80.0% 76.5% +3.5 pts
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U.S.
Transborder RPMs 746 704 +6.0% 1,529 1,427 +7.1%
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ASMs 971 887 +9.5% 2,055 1,848 +11.2%
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Load
Factor 76.8% 79.4% -2.6pts 74.4% 77.2% -2.8pts
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International RPMs 1,742 1,670 +4.3% 3,714 3,634 +2.2%
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ASMs 2,206 2,159 +2.2% 4,655 4,631 +0.5%
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Load
Factor 79.0% 77.4% +1.6 pts 79.8% 78.5% +1.3 pts
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%SEDAR: 00024384EFFor further information: Isabelle Arthur (Montréal), (514) 422-5788; Peter Fitzpatrick (Toronto), (416) 263-5576; Angela Mah (Vancouver), (604) 270-5741; aircanada.com