Air Canada reports December traffic

MONTREAL , Jan. 6 /CNW Telbec/ - For the month of December, Air Canada today reported a system load factor of 81.2 per cent on a consolidated basis with Jazz (from which Air Canada purchases regional capacity), versus 81.7 per cent in December 2008 , a decrease of 0.5 percentage points. System traffic increased 3.4 per cent on a capacity increase of 4.0 per cent system wide.

"For the month of December and full year 2009, Air Canada recorded load factors of 81.2 and 80.7 per cent, respectively, on a consolidated basis with Jazz," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer. "These strong results underscore the effectiveness of our on-going disciplined approach to managing capacity in a difficult economic environment. I am proud of our employees who remained focused on taking care of our customers while maintaining a safe and secure operation during winter storms and the recent implementation of new security measures. It is especially rewarding that their dedication and professionalism have been recognized by our customers who ranked Air Canada as the best North American airline in recent readership surveys conducted by two international business traveler magazines."

In 2009 readership surveys, Global Traveler magazine readers voted Air Canada as the Best Airline in North America and Canada , and Business Traveler magazine readers voted Air Canada as the top airline in North America for Best Flight Attendants, Best In-Flight Services, Best Business Class Service and as Best North American Airline for International Travel.

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.

    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 CONSOLIDATED
                       (Air Canada Mainline and Jazz)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              December                       Q4
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       2009    2008  Change         2009    2008  Change
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Traffic
    (RPMs mln)        3,855   3,729    +3.4%      10,885  10,846    +0.4%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Capacity
     (ASMs mln)       4,748   4,564    +4.0%      13,840  13,570    +2.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Load Factor        81.2%   81.7%   -0.5 pts     78.6%   79.9%   -1.3 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs    1,229   1,217    +1.0%       3,560   3,608    -1.3%
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Canada    ASMs    1,537   1,501    +2.4%       4,481   4,510    -0.6%
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
              LF       80.0%   81.1%   -1.1 pts     79.4%   80.0%   -0.6 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      627     645    -2.8%       1,680   1,769    -5.0%
    US        ---------------------------------------------------------------
     Trans-   ASMs      818     829    -1.3%       2,277   2,318    -1.8%
     border   ---------------------------------------------------------------
              LF       76.7%   77.8%   -1.1 pts     73.8%   76.3%   -2.5 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      863     825    +4.6%       2,590   2,529    +2.4%
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Atlantic  ASMs    1,024     963    +6.3%       3,318   3,109    +6.7%
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
              LF       84.3%   85.7%   -1.4 pts     78.1%   81.3%   -3.2 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      613     530   +15.7%       1,833   1,757    +4.3%
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Pacific   ASMs      712     609   +16.9%       2,178   2,045    +6.5%
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
              LF       86.1%   87.0%   -0.9 pts     84.2%   85.9%   -1.7 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      523     512    +2.1%       1,222   1,183    +3.3%
    Latin     ---------------------------------------------------------------
     Amer &   ASMs      657     662    -0.8%       1,586   1,588    -0.1%
     Other    ---------------------------------------------------------------
              LF       79.6%   77.3%   +2.3 pts     77.0%   74.5%   +2.5 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 CONSOLIDATED
                       (Air Canada Mainline and Jazz)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Year-To-Date
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    2009    2008  Change
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Traffic
    (RPMs mln)                                    47,884  50,512    -5.2%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Capacity
     (ASMs mln)                                   59,342  62,062    -4.4%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Load Factor                                     80.7%   81.4%   -0.7 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs                                15,544  16,211    -4.1%
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Canada    ASMs                                19,451  20,199    -3.7%
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
              LF                                    79.9%   80.3%   -0.4 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs                                 7,206   7,969    -9.6%
    US        ---------------------------------------------------------------
     Trans-   ASMs                                 9,579  10,375    -7.7%
     border   ---------------------------------------------------------------
              LF                                    75.2%   76.8%   -1.6 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs                                12,353  12,430    -0.6%
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Atlantic  ASMs                                14,845  14,641    +1.4%
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
              LF                                    83.2%   84.9%   -1.7 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs                                 7,513   8,509   -11.7%
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Pacific   ASMs                                 8,812  10,076   -12.5%
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
              LF                                    85.3%   84.4%   +0.9 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs                                 5,268   5,393    -2.3%
    Latin     ---------------------------------------------------------------
     Amer &   ASMs                                 6,655   6,771    -1.7%
     Other    ---------------------------------------------------------------
              LF                                    79.2%   79.6%   -0.4 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

%SEDAR: 00001324EF

For further information: Isabelle Arthur (Montreal), [phone]; Peter Fitzpatrick (Toronto), [phone]; Angela Mah (Vancouver), [phone]; aircanada.com