Canada’s airlines Part 1: Air Canada exudes confidence in meeting ambitious cost targets

Canada's largest airline Air Canada continues its march to slash unit costs even as the devaluation of the CAD against the USD creates some temporary headwinds for the company. It believes that many opportunities lie ahead to further draw down its costs including a new agreement with regional partner Jazz and the introduction of the Boeing 737 Max beginning in 2017.

The company has revised its 2015 unit cost projections excluding fuel from a 1% to 2% decline year on year to a 1% decrease, driven by several factors, including currency pressure. Absent the depreciation of the CAD, Air Canada maintains its unit cost decreases would be greater year on year for 2015.

Given its complexity, Air Canada's cost on an absolute basis will likely never equal that of its main rival WestJet; but keeping fuel and currency costs constant, the airline remains confident of lowering its unit costs by 21% between 2012 and 2018,. Air Canada's fleet strategy and the continued favourable performance of its low cost subsidiary rouge are major components of its cost cutting strategy.