Air Canada's load factor in July matches record for the month set in 2005

By The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - Air Canada (TSX: AC-A.TO) filled 83 per cent of its seats in July, matching a July 2005 record load factor and above a year-before 81.8 per cent last July.

But Canada's biggest airline said Friday its overall system traffic was down 0.6 per cent as capacity was reduced two per cent as the carrier adjusted to softening demand.

The mainline carrier flew 0.1 per cent fewer revenue passenger miles in July than in the prior-year month while capacity fell 1.8 per cent, for a load factor of 84 per cent, compared to 82.5 per cent in July 2007.

Feeder airline Jazz (TSX: JAZ-UN.TO), from which Air Canada buys regional capacity, flew 7.1 per cent fewer revenue passenger miles. Its capacity was down 4.3 per cent for a load factor of 72.1 per cent, compared to 74.2 per cent a year before.

Also Friday, Calgary-based discount carrier WestJet Airlines Ltd. (TSX: WJA.TO) said its July load factor slipped to 79.7 per cent from 82.6 per cent during the same month a year earlier.

The Calgary-based discount airline said revenue passenger miles rose more than 18 per cent to 1.2 billion.