Air Canada reports September traffic

MONTREAL , Oct. 5 /CNW Telbec/ - For the month of September, Air Canada today reported system load factor of 79.7 per cent on a consolidated basis with Jazz (from which Air Canada purchases regional capacity), versus 79.9 per cent in September 2008 , a decrease of 0.2 percentage points. System traffic decreased 2.1 per cent on a capacity reduction of 2.0 per cent system wide.

"In September, Air Canada recorded a load factor of 79.7 per cent on a consolidated basis with Jazz," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer. "This result is in line with last year's record-setting load factor for the month and is attributable to our on-going disciplined approach to capacity management. I am particularly pleased to report a strong performance of 83.5 per cent load factor for the third quarter, an increase of one percentage point from the previous year, despite the impact of the weak economy on the industry overall. I commend our employees who exceeded both Customer Satisfaction and On-Time Performance objectives for the month, achieving on-time arrivals performance of 88 per cent, a one 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.

    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 CONSOLIDATED
                       (Air Canada Mainline and Jazz)
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                             September                       Q3
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       2009    2008  Change         2009    2008  Change
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    Traffic
     (RPMs mln)       4,168   4,259    -2.1%      14,153  14,458    -2.1%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Capacity
     (ASMs mln)       5,227   5,332    -2.0%      16,946  17,515    -3.2%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Load Factor        79.7%   79.9%   -0.2 pts     83.5%   82.5%   +1.0 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs    1,337   1,342    -0.4%       4,695   4,661    +0.7%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Canada    ASMs    1,712   1,731    -1.1%       5,781   5,869    -1.5%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
              LF       78.1%   77.5%   +0.6 pts     81.2%   79.4%   +1.8 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      516     551    -6.4%       1,770   1,923    -8.0%
    US       ----------------------------------------------------------------
     Trans-   ASMs      731     768    -4.8%       2,307   2,527    -8.7%
     border  ----------------------------------------------------------------
              LF       70.6%   71.7%   -1.1 pts     76.7%   76.1%   +0.6 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs    1,295   1,268    +2.1%       4,281   4,044    +5.9%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Atlantic  ASMs    1,505   1,417    +6.2%       4,829   4,520    +6.8%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
              LF       86.0%   89.5%   -3.5 pts     88.7%   89.5%   -0.8 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      702     771    -8.9%       2,288   2,618   -12.6%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Pacific   ASMs      861     982   -12.3%       2,670   3,133   -14.8%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
              LF       81.5%   78.5%   +3.0 pts     85.7%   83.6%   +2.1 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      318     327    -2.8%       1,119   1,212    -7.7%
    Latin    ----------------------------------------------------------------
     Amer &   ASMs      418     434    -3.7%       1,359   1,466    -7.3%
     Other   ----------------------------------------------------------------
              LF       76.1%   75.3%   +0.8 pts     82.3%   82.7%   -0.4 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Year-To-Date
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    2009    2008  Change
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Traffic
     (RPMs mln)                                   36,999  39,674    -6.7%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Capacity
     (ASMs mln)                                   45,503  48,503    -6.2%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Load Factor                                     81.3%   81.8%   -0.5 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs                                11,984  12,608    -4.9%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Canada    ASMs                                14,970  15,695    -4.6%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
              LF                                    80.1%   80.3%   -0.2 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs                                 5,527   6,204   -10.9%
    US       ----------------------------------------------------------------
     Trans-   ASMs                                 7,302   8,062    -9.4%
     border  ----------------------------------------------------------------
              LF                                    75.7%   77.0%   -1.3 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs                                 9,763   9,901    -1.4%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Atlantic  ASMs                                11,528  11,533     0.0%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
              LF                                    84.7%   85.8%   -1.1 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs                                 5,680   6,751   -15.9%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Pacific   ASMs                                 6,635   8,031   -17.4%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
              LF                                    85.6%   84.1%   +1.5 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs                                 4,045   4,210    -3.9%
    Latin    ----------------------------------------------------------------
     Amer &   ASMs                                 5,068   5,182    -2.2%
     Other   ----------------------------------------------------------------
              LF                                    79.8%   81.2%   -1.4 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

%SEDAR: 00001324EF

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