Air Canada Posts Strong Q1
Air Canada has reported first quarter 2019 EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairment) of $583 million compared to first quarter 2018 EBITDA of $504 million.
The carrier also reported first quarter 2019 operating income of $127 million compared to first quarter 2018 operating income of $86 million.
Adjusted pre-tax income amounted to $24 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to an adjusted pre-tax loss of $32 million in the first quarter of 2018.
On a GAAP basis, the airline reported net income of $345 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to a net loss of $203 million in the first quarter of 2018.
Calin Rovinescu, president and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada, said: “I am pleased to report excellent first quarter results for Air Canada, despite several challenges in the quarter. We set records of $4.453 billion in operating revenue and $6.877 billion in liquidity for the period and delivered on a system yield improvement of 5.0% over last year’s first quarter. Contributing to our performance was the completion of two key strategic initiatives early in the quarter with better than expected results – our acquisition of the Aeroplan loyalty program and our conclusion of a new capacity purchase agreement with Chorus Aviation for flying by Jazz. We are further encouraged by strong booking trends entering the busy summer peak.”
Rovinescu observed that: “These Q1 results, following on records set in previous quarters, are an affirmation of our ability to operate on a sustainably profitable basis, notwithstanding fuel price or foreign currency fluctuations or other unexpected challenges.
And he explained that: “With respect to our cost containment initiatives, we have now realized or identified savings of $242 million, or 97%, of our previously announced two-year $250 million Cost Transformation Program to December 31, 2019. We also made further progress in lowering our leverage ratio in the quarter, which improved to 1.2. Our greater financial resiliency was acknowledged during the quarter by a debt-rating upgrade from Standard & Poor’s, which advances us to one level below our goal of investment grade status. Fitch also recently upgraded our debt rating.”
Air Canada’s president and CEO also noted that: “The grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft following Transport Canada’s and other regulators’ decisions resulted in the unexpected removal of 24 aircraft from our fleet during the last 18 days of the quarter, with the associated cost and revenue impact.”
He pointed out that: “Our team immediately executed on several significant mitigation measures, including entering into new leases and extensions, contracting other airlines to cover some flights and consolidating flights and frequencies, thereby protecting approximately 98% of our flying from the date of the grounding to April 30.”
Rovinescu continued: “The agility of our business model, the flexibility of our fleet and our team’s “can-do” culture was on full display as we adjusted to these unexpected circumstances. This is further evidence of the changed culture at Air Canada, with its emphasis on nimble decision-making and a focus on customer care.”
Go to www.aircanada.ca for more.
