The good times continue for Canada’s largest airline. With the pandemic firmly in the rear-view mirror, Air Canada today reported record operating revenues of $21.8 billion for last year, up 32% from 2022. Operating income was $2.3 billion, a $2.5 billion improvement from 2022. The company’s adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, deprecation and amortization) was nearly $4 billion; more than twice that of full year 2022. “Air Canada produced very strong results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023, delivering on its key financial goals and strategic priorities,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada. “These results stem from the Read more
aviation
U.S. authorities are demanding the inspection of 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets following an Alaska Airlines incident on Friday that saw a gaping hole blow in the fuselage of a MAX 9 plane at 16,000 feet. The Federal Aviation Administration in Washington D.C. said the move requires airlines to inspect aircraft before further flights take place. Required inspections will take around four to eight hours per aircraft. Both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines earlier said they were both grounding their 737 MAX 9 jets for safety checks. Alaska has 65 MAX 9 jets, while United has 79. Reuters reports Read more
WestJet’s chief executive says Canadians should find plenty of good travel deals this winter and on into summer. Speaking to Yahoo Finance Canada, CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said travel demand is resilient and that he expects a strong winter season. But he also said capacity is up and that there are more options for travellers. “There are markets that have seen strong pent-up demand that drove pricing, because there was an imbalance between supply and demand, the most prominent being on (transatlantic routes) over the summer,” von Hoensbroech said. Demand is now more in line with capacity, which has helped Read more
WestJet says it is profitable once again, and is re-committing to providing customers with affordable air travel. WestJet CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, today addressed key stakeholders and community members at the Toronto Region Board of Trade. In his address, von Hoensbroech shed light on the airlines’ recent accomplishments and shared insights into its strategic outlook and plans to drive the Group’s growth strategy as Canada’s leading low-cost airline. After a challenging three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WestJet Group has surpassed its pre-pandemic capacity levels and returned to profitability, setting the airline up for success as it continues Read more
WestJet and its pilots have ratified a new contract that provides pilots with a big pay boost, and eliminates low-cost carrier Swoop. The second collective bargaining agreement between WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the certified union representing WestJet and Swoop pilots, was ratified today. As negotiated in the collective agreement, the WestJet Group will now begin integration efforts of its ultra-low-cost airline, Swoop. Through an expedited process, the airline anticipates a full integration into its mainline operations by the end of October. To avoid traveller impact, Swoop will operate its existing network through to the end of Read more
