Air Canada reports February traffic; Load factor of 79.6 per cent matches February 2007 record
    MONTREAL, March 4 /CNW Telbec/ - For the month of February, Air Canada
today reported a load factor of 79.6 per cent on a consolidated basis with
Jazz, matching a February 2007 record, versus 79.2 per cent in February 2008,
an increase of 0.4 percentage points. System traffic decreased 10.5 per cent
on a capacity reduction of 11.0 per cent system wide.
    Air Canada mainline reported a load factor of 80.7 per cent in February
2009 compared to 79.5 per cent in February 2008; an increase of 1.2 percentage
points. The mainline carrier flew 9.8 per cent fewer revenue passenger miles
(RPMs) in February 2009 than in February 2008 on a capacity decrease of 11.1
per cent.
    Jazz, from which Air Canada purchases regional capacity, reported a load
factor of 69.6 per cent, a decrease of 6.8 percentage points from 76.4 per
cent in February 2008. Capacity decreased by 9.7 per cent from February 2008
and the carrier flew 17.7 per cent fewer RPMs than in the previous February.
    "For the month of February, Air Canada reported a load factor of 79.6 per
cent on a consolidated basis with Jazz," said Montie Brewer, President and
Chief Executive Officer. "Our strong load factor, matching the previous record
set in February 2007, shows that we are managing capacity well in this
difficult economic environment. I am particularly proud of our employees who
exceeded both Customer Satisfaction and On-Time Performance objectives for the
month, achieving on-time arrivals performance of 72 per cent for the month of
February, a 13 percentage point improvement over the same month a year ago.
    "Capacity adjustments are on track and we continue to follow the market
closely, fine tuning capacity as required. With our refurbished, fuel
efficient fleet, award-winning onboard product and innovative revenue model, I
am confident that Air Canada is well positioned to manage through the
challenges facing the industry," concluded Mr. Brewer.

    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 the 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)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              FEBRUARY                  YEAR-TO-DATE
                      -------------------------------------------------------
                       2009    2008  Change         2009    2008  Change
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Traffic
     (RPMs millions)  3,130   3,469    -9.8%       6,567   7,195    -8.7%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Capacity
     (ASMs millions)  3,879   4,364   -11.1%       8,209   9,098    -9.8%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Load Factor       80.7%   79.5%    +1.2 pts     80.0%   79.1%   +0.9 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      888     923    -3.8%       1,821   1,884    -3.3%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Canada    ASMs    1,069   1,118    -4.4%       2,259   2,327    -2.9%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
              Load
               Factor  83.1%   82.6%   +0.5 pts     80.6%   81.0%   -0.4 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      570     675   -15.6%       1,158   1,380   -16.1%
    U.S.     ----------------------------------------------------------------
     Trans-   ASMs      691     838   -17.5%       1,446   1,780   -18.8%
     border  ----------------------------------------------------------------
              Load
               Factor  82.5%   80.5%   +2.0 pts     80.1%   77.5%   +2.6 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      628     720   -12.8%       1,359   1,531   -11.2%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Atlantic  ASMs      870     991   -12.2%       1,834   2,050   -10.5%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
              Load
               Factor  72.2%   72.7%   -0.5 pts     74.1%   74.7%   -0.6 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      463     584   -20.7%       1,001   1,230   -18.6%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Pacific   ASMs      535     734   -27.1%       1,142   1,510   -24.4%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
              Load
               Factor  86.5%   79.6%   +6.9 pts     87.7%   81.5%   +6.2 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      581     567    +2.5%       1,228   1,170    +5.0%
    Latin    ----------------------------------------------------------------
     America  ASMs      714     683    +4.5%       1,528   1,431    +6.8%
     & Other ----------------------------------------------------------------
              Load
               Factor  81.4%   83.0%   -1.6 pts     80.4%   81.8%   -1.4 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   AIR CANADA'S REGIONAL CAPACITY PROVIDER
                                   (JAZZ)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              FEBRUARY                  YEAR-TO-DATE
                      -------------------------------------------------------
                       2009    2008  Change         2009    2008  Change
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Traffic
    (RPMs millions)     279     339   -17.7%         555     673   -17.5%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Capacity
     (ASMs millions)    401     444    -9.7%         825     925   -10.8%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Load Factor        69.6%   76.4%   -6.8 pts     67.3%   72.8%   -5.5 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      196     261   -24.9%         389     515   -24.5%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Canada    ASMs      256     328   -22.0%         531     678   -21.7%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
              Load
               Factor  76.6%   79.6%   -3.0 pts     73.3%   76.0%   -2.7 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs       83      78    +6.4%         166     158    +5.1%
    U.S.     ----------------------------------------------------------------
     Trans-   ASMs      145     116   +25.0%         294     247   +19.0%
     border  ----------------------------------------------------------------
              Load
               Factor  57.2%   67.2%  -10.0 pts     56.5%   64.0%   -7.5 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 CONSOLIDATED
                       (AIR CANADA MAINLINE AND JAZZ)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              FEBRUARY                  YEAR-TO-DATE
                      -------------------------------------------------------
                       2009    2008  Change         2009    2008  Change
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Traffic
     (RPMs millions)  3,409   3,808   -10.5%       7,122   7,868    -9.5%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Capacity
     (ASMs millions)  4,280   4,808   -11.0%       9,034  10,023    -9.9%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Load Factor        79.6%   79.2%   +0.4 pts     78.8%   78.5%   +0.3 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs    1,084   1,184    -8.4%       2,210   2,399    -7.9%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
     Canada   ASMs    1,325   1,446    -8.4%       2,790   3,005    -7.2%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
              Load
               Factor  81.8%   81.9%   -0.1 pts     79.2%   79.8%   -0.6 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs      653     753   -13.3%       1,324   1,538    -13.9%
    U.S.     ----------------------------------------------------------------
     Trans-   ASMs      836     954   -12.4%       1,740   2,027    -14.2%
     border  ----------------------------------------------------------------
              Load
               Factor  78.1%   78.9%   -0.8 pts     76.1%   75.9%    +0.2 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              RPMs    1,672   1,871   -10.6%       3,588   3,931    -8.7%
    Interna- ----------------------------------------------------------------
     tional   ASMs    2,119   2,408   -12.0%       4,504   4,991    -9.8%
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
              Load
               Factor  78.9%   77.7%   +1.2 pts     79.7%   78.8%   +0.9 pts
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    %SEDAR: 00001324EF