MONTREAL, May 9 /CNW/ - Air Canada flew 2.0 per cent more revenue
passenger miles (RPMs) in April 2002 than in April 2001, according to
preliminary traffic figures. Capacity increased by 1.7 per cent, resulting in
a load factor of 74.6 per cent, compared to 74.3 per cent in April 2001; an
improvement of 0.3 percentage points.

The April domestic load factor of 76.2 per cent rose 0.2 percentage
points from that of March despite the heavy Easter travel period occuring in
late March this year versus April in 2001. In anticipation of strong summer
traffic, domestic capacity was added, particularly on the transcon routes to
and from Alberta and British Columbia. Some softening in the U.S. transborder
traffic reflected the seasonal decline in demand to the U.S. sun destinations
of Florida, Hawaii and Las Vegas.

“It is particularly gratifying to note the 14.3 per cent growth in
transpacific traffic,” said Rob Peterson, Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer. “After seven months of steep declines, the Asian market has
rebounded strongly, particularly with group travel from Japan as well as much
higher demand on the China and Hong Kong routes.”
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