News
Airlines
Air Canada posts ‘bleak’ financial results as Transat deal comes through
February 12, 2021 By Jon Victor, The Canadian Press
Air Canada Cargo operates self-handled hubs in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Chicago, London and Frankfurt. (Photo: Air Canada) MONTREAL — Air Canada posted a staggering $1.16 billion loss in the fourth quarter of 2020, a result that caps off what the company’s chief executive called the bleakest year in aviation history.
Despite the losses, Air Canada president and CEO Calin Rovinescu said on a call with analysts Friday morning that he was encouraged by the progress of recent talks with the federal government about a bailout package for the sector, which have been ongoing for months without a resolution.
“While there is no assurance at this stage that we will arrive at a definitive agreement on sector support, I am more optimistic on this front for the first time,” Rovinescu said.
Ottawa approves Air Canada’s $190 million Transat purchase
The company released its earnings report on the heels of last night’s news that the Canadian government approved Air Canada’s $190-million purchase of Transat A.T.
Air Canada’s fourth quarter financial report, released this morning, says the company had a net loss of $1.16 billion or $3.91 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared with profit of $152 million or 56 cents per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2019.
The airline’s operating revenue dropped to $827 million in the fourth quarter, down from $4.43 billion in the same three months of 2019, as the COVID-19 pandemic has hampered air travel.
Analysts polled by financial data firm Refinitiv expected Air Canada to lose $735.67 million dollars, or $2.84 per share, on revenue of $885.36 million.
As the pandemic hurt demand for air travel, Air Canada’s passenger numbers declined 73 per cent in 2020 following several years of record growth for the airline, Rovinescu said.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said last night that the proposed purchase of Transat A.T. by Air Canada will bring greater stability to Canada’s air transport market amid devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry.
Rovinescu, who will retire on Feb. 15, said in the financial report that he is also “very encouraged by the constructive nature of discussions” with the Government of Canada on sector-specific financial support over the last several weeks.
