Air Canada reports May traffic

    MONTREAL, June 8 /CNW Telbec/ - For the month of May, Air Canada today
reported a load factor of 79.5 per cent on a consolidated basis with Jazz,
versus 83.2 per cent in May 2008, a decrease of 3.7 percentage points. System
traffic decreased 10.3 per cent on a capacity reduction of 6.1 per cent system
wide.
    Air Canada mainline reported a load factor of 81.0 per cent in May 2009
compared to 84.3 per cent in May 2008; a decrease of 3.3 percentage points.
The mainline carrier flew 10.4 per cent fewer revenue passenger miles (RPMs)
in May 2009 than in May 2008 on a capacity decrease of 6.7 per cent.
    Jazz, from which Air Canada purchases regional capacity, reported a load
factor of 65.6 per cent, a decrease of 6.8 percentage points from 72.4 per
cent in May 2008. Capacity increased by 0.2 per cent from May 2008 and the
carrier flew 9.2 per cent fewer RPMs than in the previous May.
    "For the month of May, Air Canada reported a load factor of 79.5 per cent
on a consolidated basis with Jazz," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief
Executive Officer. "Despite downward pressure on travel demand due to the
weakened economy and concerns over the H1N1 influenza virus, we were able to
maintain a relatively stable performance during the month. We will continue to
manage capacity in a disciplined manner and this includes redeploying capacity
to pursue new strategic revenue generation opportunities. Over the past five
weeks, we have inaugurated new non-stop services from Calgary to San Diego,
CA, London, ON, and Whitehorse, YT. We are also very pleased with the market's
reaction to our new year-round non-stop Montreal-Geneva service to this
important international business and leisure destination that includes the
French Rhone-Alpes region. During the past weeks we continued the
implementation of initiatives to re-engage customers and the travel trade
community alike, with the introduction of our Low Fare Guarantee and, most
recently, a commission program to Canadian travel agents in reward for their
support.
    Also in May, we completed the planned refurbishment of the fleet to offer
a market-leading product which has been well received by customers.
    "I commend our employees who exceeded, once again for the fourth
consecutive month, both Customer Satisfaction and On-Time performance
objectives for the month, achieving on-time arrival performance of 84 per cent
for the month of May."

    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.-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             AIR CANADA MAINLINE
                           (Includes Jetz & Tier 3)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  May                     Year-To-Date
                      -------------------------------------------------------
                        2009    2008  Change         2009    2008  Change
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Traffic
     (RPMs millions)   3,546   3,956   -10.4%      17,202  18,892    -8.9%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Capacity
     (ASMs millions)   4,376   4,691    -6.7%      21,218  23,058    -8.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Load Factor         81.0%   84.3%   -3.3 pts     81.1%   81.9%   -0.8 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
             RPMs      1,069   1,203   -11.1%       4,845   5,139    -5.7%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Canada   ASMs      1,347   1,467    -8.2%       5,984   6,236    -4.0%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
             Load
              Factor    79.4%   82.0%   -2.6 pts     81.0%   82.4%   -1.4 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
             RPMs        440     499   -11.8%       2,801   3,246   -13.7%
    U.S.     ----------------------------------------------------------------
     Trans-  ASMs        569     620    -8.2%       3,514   4,084   -14.0%
     border  ----------------------------------------------------------------
             Load
              Factor    77.3%   80.5%   -3.2 pts     79.7%   79.5%   +0.2 pts
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
             RPMs      1,083   1,129    -4.1%       4,216   4,581    -8.0%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Atlantic ASMs      1,286   1,290    -0.3%       5,270   5,554    -5.1%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
             Load
              Factor    84.2%   87.5%   -3.3 pts     80.0%   82.5%   -2.5 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
             RPMs        617     719   -14.2%       2,741   3,311   -17.2%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Pacific  ASMs        744     807    -7.8%       3,151   3,946   -20.1%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
             Load
              Factor   82.9%    89.1%   -6.2 pts     87.0%   83.9%   +3.1 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
             RPMs        337     406   -17.0%       2,599   2,615    -0.6%
    Latin    ----------------------------------------------------------------
     America ASMs        430     507   -15.2%       3,299   3,238    +1.9%
     & Other ----------------------------------------------------------------
             Load
              Factor   78.4%    80.1%   -1.7 pts     78.8%   80.8%   -2.0 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   AIR CANADA'S REGIONAL CAPACITY PROVIDER
                                   (Jazz)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  May                     Year-To-Date
                      -------------------------------------------------------
                        2009    2008  Change         2009    2008  Change
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Traffic
     (RPMs millions)     317     349    -9.2%       1,478   1,740   -15.1%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Capacity
     (ASMs millions)     483     482    +0.2%       2,190   2,355    -7.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Load Factor         65.6%   72.4%   -6.8 pts     67.5%   73.9%   -6.4 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
             RPMs        228     248    -8.1%       1,037   1,299   -20.2%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Canada   ASMs        320     329    -2.7%       1,416   1,693   -16.4%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
             Load
              Factor    71.3%   75.4%   -4.1 pts     73.2%   76.7%   -3.5 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
             RPMs         89     101   -11.9%         441     441     0.0%
    U.S.     ----------------------------------------------------------------
     Trans-  ASMs        163     153    +6.5%         774     662   +16.9%
     border  ----------------------------------------------------------------
             Load
              Factor    54.6%   66.0%  -11.4 pts     57.0%   66.6%   -9.6 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 CONSOLIDATED
                       (Air Canada Mainline and Jazz)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  May                     Year-To-Date
                      -------------------------------------------------------
                        2009    2008  Change         2009    2008  Change
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Traffic
     (RPMs millions)   3,863   4,305   -10.3%      18,680  20,632    -9.5%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Capacity
     (ASMs millions)   4,859   5,173    -6.1%      23,408  25,413    -7.9%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Load Factor         79.5%   83.2%   -3.7 pts     79.8%   81.2%   -1.4 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
             RPMs      1,297   1,451   -10.6%       5,882   6,438    -8.6%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Canada   ASMs      1,667   1,796    -7.2%       7,400   7,929    -6.7%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
             Load
              Factor    77.8%   80.8%   -3.0 pts     79.5%   81.2%   -1.7 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
             RPMs        529     600   -11.8%       3,242   3,687   -12.1%
    U.S.     ----------------------------------------------------------------
     Trans-  ASMs        732     773    -5.3%       4,288   4,746    -9.7%
     border  ----------------------------------------------------------------
             Load
              Factor    72.3%   77.6%   -5.3 pts     75.6%   77.7%   -2.1 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
             RPMs      2,037   2,254    -9.6%       9,556  10,507    -9.1%
    Interna- ----------------------------------------------------------------
     tional  ASMs      2,460   2,604    -5.5%      11,720  12,738    -8.0%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
             Load
              Factor    82.8%   86.6%   -3.8 pts     81.5%   82.5%   -1.0 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------%SEDAR: 00001324EF



For further information:
For further information: Isabelle Arthur (Montréal), (514) 422-5788;
Peter Fitzpatrick (Toronto), (416) 263-5576; Angela Mah (Vancouver), (604)
270-5741; aircanada.com