EX-99.1 2 ex991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 -- PRESS RELEASE DATED APRIL 6, 2005 Exhibit 99.1 -- Press Release Dated April 6, 2005

Exhibit 99.1
 
 
New Release
 
AIR CANADA REPORTS ONE FULL YEAR OF RECORD LOAD FACTORS IN MARCH

•
Domestic passenger load factor at 79.0% - highest ever for March
•
System passenger load factor at 79.8% - highest ever for March

MONTRÉAL, April 6, 2005 - Air Canada reported a system load factor of 79.8 percent in March 2005, the highest ever for March. The mainline carrier flew 6.4 percent more revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in March 2005 than in March 2004, according to preliminary traffic figures. Overall, capacity increased by 1.7 percent, resulting in a load factor of 79.8 percent, compared to 76.3 percent in March 2004; an increase of 3.5 percentage points. In the domestic market, capacity decreased by 1.1 percent and traffic increased by 3.3 percent resulting in a domestic load factor of 79.0 percent - a 3.4 percentage point increase year over year.

Jazz, Air Canada’s regional airline subsidiary, flew 11.8 percent more revenue passenger miles in March 2005 than in March 2004, according to preliminary traffic figures. Capacity decreased by 3.0 percent, resulting in a load factor of 71.2 percent, compared to 61.8 per cent in March 2004; an increase of 9.4 percentage points.

Domestic traffic, on a combined basis for Air Canada and its regional carrier, Jazz, rose 5.6 percent.

“With a 3.5 percentage point increase over last year in March, Air Canada’s employees have now delivered one full year of record load factors,” said Montie Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer. “I’m incredibly proud of their efforts particularly in view of the strong operational performance achieved while handling record volumes in March. Customer response to our simplified fares and other high value product offerings continues to grow. Air Canada has clearly become the airline of choice for Canadians with the lowest fares to the greatest number of destinations on an everyday basis.”



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.
 
 
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  AIR CANADA MAINLINE (Includes Jetz) 
  
     
March
  
Year-To-Date
  
     
2005
  
2004
  
Change
  
2005
  
2004
  
Change
  
Traffic (RPMs millions)    
3,615
    
3,399
    
+6.4
%
  
10,112
    
9,648
    
+4.8
%
Capacity (ASMs millions)    
4,531
    
4,455
    
+1.7
%
  
12,884
    
13,096
    
-1.6
%
Load Factor    
79.8
%
  
76.3
%
  
+3.5
 pts  
78.5
%
  
73.7
%
  
+4.8
 pts
                                       
 
RPMs
    
1,002
    
970
    
+3.3
%
  
2,785
    
2,742
    
+1.6
%
Canada
ASMs
    
1,269
    
1,283
    
-1.1
%
  
3,594
    
3,769
    
-4.6
%
 
Load Factor
    
79.0
%
  
75.6
%
  
+3.4
 pts  
77.5
%
  
72.8
%
  
+4.7
 pts
                                         
 
RPMs
    
707
    
680
    
+4.0
%
  
1,907
    
1,912
    
-0.3
%
U.S. Transborder
ASMs
    
913
    
969
    
-5.8
%
  
2,516
    
2,810
    
-10.5
%
 
Load Factor
    
77.4
%
  
70.2
%
  
+7.2
 pts  
75.8
%
  
68.0
%
  
+7.8
 pts
                                         
 
RPMs
    
792
    
768
    
+3.1
%
  
2,090
    
2,015
    
+3.7
%
Atlantic
ASMs
    
950
    
919
    
+3.4
%
  
2,589
    
2,658
    
-2.6
%
 
Load Factor
    
83.4
%
  
83.6
%
  
-0.2
 pts  
80.7
%
  
75.8
%
  
+4.9
 pts
                                         
 
RPMs
    
654
    
583
    
+12.2
%
  
1,848
    
1,716
    
+7.7
%
Pacific
ASMs
    
819
    
736
    
+11.3
%
  
2,285
    
2,175
    
+5.1
%
 
Load Factor
    
79.9
%
  
79.2
%
  
+0.7
 pts  
80.9
%
  
78.9
%
  
+2.0
 pts
                                         
 
RPMs
    
460
    
398
    
+15.6
%
  
1,482
    
1,263
    
+17.3
%
Other & Charter
ASMs
    
580
    
548
    
+5.8
%
  
1,900
    
1,684
    
+12.8
%
 
Load Factor
    
79.3
%
  
72.6
%
  
+6.7
 pts  
78.0
%
  
75.0
%
  
+3.0
 pts

AIR CANADA REGIONAL (Jazz)
   
March
  
Year-To-Date
  
   
2005
  
2004
  
Change
  
2005
  
2004
  
Change
  
Traffic (RPMs millions)
    
161
    
144
    
+11.8
%
  
449
    
390
    
+15.1
%
Capacity (ASMs millions)
    
226
    
233
    
-3.0
%
  
643
    
666
    
-3.5
%
Load Factor
    
71.2
%
  
61.8
%
  
+9.4
 pts  
69.8
%
  
58.6
%
  
+11.2
 pts
 
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Contacts :
Isabelle Arthur (Montréal)
(514) 422-5788
 
Laura Cooke (Toronto)
(416) 263-5576
 
Angela Mah (Vancouver)
(604) 270-5741
Internet :
aircanada.com