Air Canada Reports April Traffic

The April domestic load factor of 76.2 per cent rose 0.2 percentage points from that of March despite the heavy Easter travel period occurring in late March this year versus April in 2001. In anticipation of strong summer traffic, domestic capacity was added, particularly on the transcon routes to and from Alberta and British Columbia. Some softening in the U.S. transborder traffic reflected the seasonal decline in demand to the U.S. sun destinations of Florida, Hawaii and Las Vegas.

"It is particularly gratifying to note the 14.3 per cent growth in transpacific traffic," said Rob Peterson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "After seven months of steep declines, the Asian market has rebounded strongly, particularly with group travel from Japan as well as much higher demand on the China and Hong Kong routes."