(Reuters) -Air Canada said on Wednesday it plans to increase its capacity for full-year 2022, helped by a rebound in travel demand as COVID-related restrictions ease around the world.
“With the pandemic receding and travel returning, Air Canada has put in place a strategy to return to profitability and increase long-term shareholder value.” said chief executive Michael Rousseau.
Canadian carriers are seeing a rise in spring travel as COVID-19 shows signs of ebbing, but higher oil prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict has cast a shadow ahead of the busy summer vacation season.
The company said it plans to increase its full-year capacity by about 150% compared with 2021, and added it expects a 13% to 15% increase in adjusted cost per available seat (CASM) compared with 2019.
The announcement comes nearly a week after Air Canada said it would add 26 extra-long-range versions of the Airbus A321neo aircraft to its fleet to accommodate higher demand for travel.
(Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
