Air Canada mainline flew 12.4 per cent
fewer revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in September 2003 than in September 2002,
according to preliminary traffic figures. In the domestic market, the carrier
recorded the best load factor results of any Canadian carrier reporting.
Overall, capacity decreased by 11.1 per cent, resulting in a load factor of
73.4 per cent, compared to 74.5 per cent in September 2002; a decrease of
1.1 percentage points.
Jazz, Air Canada`s regional airline subsidiary, flew 0.8 per cent fewer
revenue passenger miles in September 2003 than in September 2002, according to
preliminary traffic figures. Capacity increased by 2.7 per cent, resulting in
a load factor of 54.7 per cent, compared to 56.6 per cent in September 2002; a
decrease of 1.9 percentage points.
“While still below last year`s level, we continued to make progress and
experienced an improvement in overall demand in September. The month reflected
the smallest year-over-year traffic decrease since April 2003,” said Rob
Peterson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “Domestic
mainline traffic was 3.9 per cent below the prior year and traffic demand
remained positive on Atlantic routes for the fourth consecutive month.
Increased demand for leisure sun destinations as well as improving economic
conditions in South America pushed traffic up 16.4 per cent on these routes.
Although traffic is gradually recovering over the Pacific, performance of
U.S. transborder routes remains weak, resulting in continued diligent capacity
control on these markets.”
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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