> >Air Canada Reports February Traffic, Recalls Laid Off Staff as Operations >Ramp up for Summer > > > > > > MONTREAL, March 8 /CNW/ - Air Canada flew 2.9 per cent more revenue >passenger miles (RPMs) in February 2002 than in February 2001, according to >preliminary traffic figures. Capacity declined by 6.1 per cent, resulting in a >load factor of 76.8 per cent, compared to 70.1per cent in February 2001; an >improvement of 6.7 percentage points. > Air Canada's February system load factor as well as its improvement over >2001 is the highest February figure in the company's history and is the >highest reported by any major North American carrier for the month. > "Capacity management combined with positive traffic trends produced these >encouraging results," said Rob Peterson, Executive Vice President and Chief >Financial Officer. "Higher load factors in addition to firming yields resulted >in modest year-over-year RASM improvements. While the first quarter this year >will result in an operating loss, as is historically the case, we continue to >anticipate a return to profitability in the seasonally stronger quarters - the >result of an improved revenue environment and our relentless cost reduction >efforts which must continue if we are to achieve our goal of sustained >profitability." > "We are pleased to continue mitigating job losses by recalling staff in >response to a stronger than anticipated recovery in traffic levels and with a >focus on enhanced customer service going forward. As operations ramp up in >response to peak summer travel demand, we will closely monitor staffing >requirements in all operational areas and recall staff accordingly," he said. > So far, Air Canada has recalled more than 100 airport employees >represented by the IAMAW. As a result of strong demand for third party >maintenance work the carrier has also recalled Technical Services employees >from layoff status and is hiring additional licensed and specialized >mechanics. Due to anticipated growth in traffic demand during the seasonally >stronger quarters, the carrier will continue to recall operational staff >currently on layoff status. Initially, 150 Air Canada flight attendants will >be recalled for duty beginning in April followed by additional recalls as the >airline ramps up operations in response to peak summer travel demand. It is >anticipated that all furloughed Air Canada flight attendants will be recalled >for the third quarter. Former Canada 3000 flight attendants will be given >priority interview status for any temporary summer peak positions which are >offered. > > 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, 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. > > << > _________________________________________________________________________ > AIR CANADA MAINLINE > _________________________________________________________________________ > FEBRUARY YEAR-TO-DATE > _________________________________________________________________________ > 2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change > _________________________________________________________________________ > Traffic (RPMs > millions) 3,063 2,978 +2.9% 6,304 6,250 +0.9% > _________________________________________________________________________ > Capacity (ASMs > millions) 3,989 4,246 -6.1% 8,425 9,122 -7.6% > _________________________________________________________________________ > Load Factor 76.8% 70.1% +6.7 pts 74.8% 68.5% +6.3 pts > _________________________________________________________________________ > _________________________________________________________________________ > Canada RPMs 922 918 +0.4% 1,918 1,871 +2.5% > ________________________________________________________________ > ASMs 1,179 1,225 -3.8% 2,517 2,637 -4.6% > ________________________________________________________________ > Load Factor 78.2% 74.9% +3.3 pts 76.2% 71.0% +5.2 pts > _________________________________________________________________________ > _________________________________________________________________________ > U.S. Trans- > border RPMs 682 689 -1.0% 1,391 1,409 -1.3% > ________________________________________________________________ > ASMs 987 999 -1.2% 2,077 2,124 -2.2% > ________________________________________________________________ > Load Factor 69.1% 69.0% +0.1 pts 67.0% 66.3% +0.7pts > _________________________________________________________________________ > _________________________________________________________________________ > Atlantic RPMs 682 664 +2.7% 1,396 1,409 -0.9% > ________________________________________________________________ > ASMs 853 977 -12.7% 1,807 2,084 -13.3% > ________________________________________________________________ > Load Factor 80.0% 68.0% +12.0 pts 77.3% 67.6% +9.7 pts > _________________________________________________________________________ > _________________________________________________________________________ > Pacific RPMs 489 510 -4.1% 1,016 1,148 -11.5% > ________________________________________________________________ > ASMs 589 770 -23.5% 1,242 1,709 -27.3% > ________________________________________________________________ > Load Factor 83.0% 66.2% +16.8 pts 81.8% 67.2% +14.6 pts > _________________________________________________________________________ > _________________________________________________________________________ > Other & > Charter RPMs 288 197 +46.2% 583 413 +41.2% > ________________________________________________________________ > ASMs 381 275 +38.5% 782 568 +37.7% > ________________________________________________________________ > Load Factor 75.6% 71.6% +4.0 pts 74.6% 72.7% +1.9 pts > _________________________________________________________________________ > >> > The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site: Roj (Roger James) *************************************************** escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca yahoo email: mailto:triniroj@yahoo.com Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com CBSC Group on Yahoo: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribsocabrass CBSC Website http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeansocabrassconnection/ ******************************************************* Steel Expressions Orch http://www.escape.ca/~ejames/se/ email #1: mailto:steelexpressions@yahoo.com email #2: mailto:steelexpressions@home.com ******************************************************* The Trinbago Site of the Week: (Flowerline) http://www.flowerlinetnt.com (Flowerline Florist) courtesy of Roj Trinbago Website & TnT Web Directory Roj's Trinbago Website: http://www.tntisland.com TnT Web Directory: http://195.224.187.36/ *********************************************************