Air Canada officials say they’re very optimistic about the future, and they say more expansion news is on the way.
Speaking at a Toronto event to honour outgoing Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Lucie Guillemette, who has announced her retirement, senior executives said the Montreal-based company has emerged strongly from the pandemic and is eager to rise even higher.
“We are emerging from the pandemic better equipped than ever,” said Guillemette. “We feel we are back in full force.”
Guillemette joked she’ll probably still check on Air Canada advance sales over coffee every morning, even when she’s retired.
EMERGING STRONGER THAN EVER
Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management, said the airline industry will always be a volatile, cyclical business.
“But that’s what makes it fun.”
Galardo said when Air Canada had downturns in previous year, it was because there was a weakness in their business model.
“We didn’t own our own loyalty program. We didn’t have the right network model. We didn’t have the right technology. But emerging from the pandemic, our commercial foundation has arguably never been stronger. We’ve fully modernized our wide bodies. We’ve fully modernized our narrow bodies. We’ve built up three hubs, Toronto Vancouver and Montreal. We’ve made joint venture deals around the world.
“We’re ready to take on the post pandemic environment. We’ve never been in better shape than we are today.”
The Air Canada executive team in Toronto on April 13, 2023. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Prior to the pandemic, Galardo said Air Canada had made Toronto Pearson the largest hub in North America, bigger than New York, Chicago or Atlanta. That business is coming back and now there are great opportunities in places such as India and sub-Saharan Africa, he said.
“We continue to be a global international airline. We rightfully feel we belong in a league with Air France, British Airways and Cathay Pacific. We have amazing fundamentals here in Canada, and we’re continuing to grow internationally. We’re about to take on new 787’s … and there’s a lot of expansion coming our way.”
Air Canada earlier in the day announced direct flights between Vancouver and Dubai will begin in October.
LEISURE TRAVEL REBOUNDING STRONGLY
Lisa Pierce, Vice President, Global Sales and Air Canada Vacations, said leisure travel and visiting friends and relatives trips have come back very fast, while corporate travel has been a little slower.
Immigration and foreign students studying in Canada both have the potential to boost international business, she said.
“Canada has the largest immigration population growthh of any G-7 country,” she said.
Virgilio Russi, Vice President, International Sales, said trans-Atlantic traffic for Air Canada has surpassed 2019 levels and that Latin America business is growing fast.
“We’re also confident that 2023 and 2024 will see the rebound of Asia.”
Russi said Air Canada hopes to add more routes if it can get the aircraft.
With care and class.
