NAV CANADA reports April traffic figures

OTTAWA, May 17 /CNW Telbec/ - NAV CANADA today announced its traffic figures for April 2010, as measured in weighted charging units for en-route, terminal and oceanic air navigation services, in comparison to the same month in 2009.

The traffic in April 2010 decreased by an average of 3.3 per cent compared to the same month in 2009. This decrease reflects the disruption to oceanic air traffic caused by the ash from the Icelandic volcano, which resulted in the temporary closure of much of European airspace. It is estimated that the traffic in April 2010 would have been about three per cent higher than in April 2009 had the volcanic eruption not occurred.

Fiscal year-to-date traffic was 2.8 per cent lower than in fiscal year 2009. NAV CANADA's fiscal year runs from September 1 to August 31.

Weighted charging units represent a traffic measure that reflects the number of flights, aircraft size and distance flown in Canadian airspace.

These traffic figures are also available in graph form on NAV CANADA's web site at www.navcanada.ca.

NAV CANADA, the country's civil air navigation services provider, is a private sector, non-share capital corporation financed through publicly-traded debt. With operations from coast to coast to coast, NAV CANADA provides air traffic control, flight information, weather briefings, aeronautical information services, airport advisory services and electronic aids to navigation.

For further information: John Morris, Director, Communications, [phone]; Ron Singer, Manager, Media Relations, [phone]; Media Information Line: 1-888-562-8226