BUSY SUMMER GIVES AIR CANADA A LIFT

Montreal-based airline, Air Canada has posted strong operating profits following a busy summer quarter. An increase in business travel and Asian traffic, the airline income from operations nearly quadrupled to $327 million from $68 million last year. Passenger revenues were up 15% to $3 billion thanks to a 9.7% growth in traffic. Nearly a third of this was driven by Pacific traffic. Calin Rovinescu, president of Air Canada, stated that the 26% growth in premium cabin revenues shows business travellers are returning and that the airline’s initiatives are working. “Our significantly improved financial performance in the quarter clearly demonstrates that