Air Canada Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Operating revenues of $5.632 billion, an increase of 2% versus last year.
Operating income of $418 million with operating margin of 7.4% and adjusted EBITDA* of $909 million with adjusted EBITDA margin* of 16.1%.
Premium revenues up 5% from the second quarter of 2024. 
Cash flow from operating activities of $895 million and free cash flow* of $183 million.
Completion of $500 million substantial issuer bid, with approximately 296 million total issued and outstanding shares at June 30 2025.
Leverage ratio* of 1.4 at June 30, 2025.

MONTREAL, July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Air Canada today reported its second quarter 2025 financial results.

“Air Canada’s second quarter 2025 results showcase the airline’s many strengths in the face of a challenging environment. We generated operating revenues exceeding $5.6 billion, up $113 million from the previous year. Operating income was $418 million, with an operating margin of 7.4%, and adjusted EBITDA was $909 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.1%. Operationally, we had an excellent spring, leading all major North American carriers in on-time performance for both May and June, which corresponded with strong gains in customer service scores. We remained disciplined and consistent in executing on a long-term plan that is rooted in Air Canada’s proven commercial strategy, while navigating macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. We have strategically redirected capacity to high-demand markets and captured demand for premium services, leveraging the breadth and strength of our global network. Our results were further lifted by strong performances by Air Canada Cargo, Air Canada Vacations, and Aeroplan—each a key pillar of our diversified business,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

“Our distinctive product offerings and the unwavering dedication of our employees were recognized at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. We are proud to have been recognized as the Best Airline in North America and as the sole North American carrier ranked among the global top 20. Additionally, we have received additional accolades, including Best Cabin Crew in both Canada and North America. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our employees for their commitment to excellence and professionalism in safely transporting our 11.6 million customers this quarter with care and class.”

“A key pillar of our strategy is delivering value to our shareholders through effective capital allocation programs. Building on the successful reinstatement in 2024 of our normal course share purchase program, we completed a $500 million substantial issuer bid during the quarter, purchasing 26.6 million shares for cancellation. Since then, we have also fully repaid our convertible notes in cash upon maturity in July. As we look ahead, we are excited about our upcoming fleet additions and the opportunities they will unlock. Our confidence in our business outlook remains solid and we are reaffirming our financial guidance for the full year 2025.”

Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Operating revenues of $5.632 billion
Operating expenses of $5.214 billion
Operating income of $418 million with an operating margin of 7.4% and adjusted EBITDA of $909 million with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.1%
Adjusted pre-tax income of $300 million
Net income of $186 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.51
Adjusted net income of $207 million and adjusted earnings per diluted share of $0.60
Adjusted CASM* of 14.4 cents
Net cash flows from operating activities of $895 million and free cash flow of $183 million

Outlook

For the third quarter of 2025, Air Canada plans to increase its ASM capacity between 3.25% and 3.75% from the same quarter in 2024.

For the full year 2025, Air Canada is reiterating its guidance previously provided on May 8, 2025 and updating certain major assumptions. Full year 2025 guidance is as follows:

Major Assumptions

Air Canada made assumptions in providing its guidance—including a marginal Canadian GDP growth for 2025. Air Canada now assumes that the Canadian dollar will trade, on average, at C$1.39 per U.S. dollar for the full year 2025 (previously $1.40) and that the price of jet fuel will average C$0.92 (previously C$0.88) per litre for the full year 2025.

Air Canada’s guidance constitutes forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws and is subject to important risks and uncertainties, including in relation to statements or actions by governments and uncertainty relating to the imposition of (or threats to impose) tariffs on Canadian exports or imports and their resulting impacts on the Canadian, North American and global economies and travel demand. Please see the discussion below under Caution Regarding Forward-looking Information. 

2028 Targets 

On December 17, 2024, Air Canada announced its long-term 2028 financial targets and 2030 aspirations described below:

The 2028 long-term targets and 2030 aspirations provided in this news release do not constitute guidance or outlook but rather are provided for the purpose of assisting the reader in measuring progress toward Air Canada’s objectives. The reader is cautioned that using this information for other purposes may be inappropriate. Air Canada may review and revise these targets and aspirations including as economic, geopolitical, market and regulatory environments change. These targets and aspirations are used as goals as Air Canada executes on its strategic priorities, and they assume a normal business environment. Air Canada’s ability to achieve these targets and aspirations is also dependent on its success in achieving initiatives and business objectives that are described in Air Canada’s 2024 Investor Day presentations, which are available at aircanada.com/investors, including those relating to increasing revenues, growing fleet and network capacity, and successfully executing on other key investments and initiatives, as well as other major assumptions, including those described in this news release, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Below is a description of certain non-GAAP financial measures and ratios used by Air Canada to provide readers with additional information on its financial and operating performance. Such measures are not recognized measures for financial statement presentation under GAAP, do not have standardized meanings, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities and should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results. The non-GAAP financial measures or ratios described in this section typically have exclusions or adjustments that include one or more of the following characteristics, such as being highly variable, difficult to project, unusual in nature, significant to the results of a particular period or not indicative of past or future operating results. These items are excluded because the company believes these may distort the analysis of certain business trends and render comparative analysis across periods less meaningful and their exclusion generally allows for a more meaningful analysis of Air Canada’s operating expense performance and may allow for a more meaningful comparison to other airlines.

Air Canada excludes the effect of impairment of assets, if any, when calculating adjusted CASM, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted pre-tax income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) as it may distort the analysis of certain business trends and render comparative analysis across periods or to other airlines less meaningful.

Adjusted CASM

Air Canada uses adjusted CASM to assess the operating and cost performance of its ongoing airline business without the effects of aircraft fuel expense, the cost of ground packages at Air Canada Vacations, freighter costs and other items discussed above. These items may distort the analysis of certain business trends and render comparative analysis across periods less meaningful and their exclusion generally allows for a more meaningful analysis of Air Canada’s operating expense performance and may allow for a more meaningful comparison to that of other airlines.

In calculating adjusted CASM, aircraft fuel expense is excluded from operating expense results as it fluctuates widely depending on many factors, including international market conditions, geopolitical events, jet fuel refining costs and Canada/U.S. currency exchange rates. Air Canada also incurs expenses related to ground packages at Air Canada Vacations which some airlines, without comparable tour operator businesses, may not incur. In addition, these costs do not generate ASMs and therefore excluding these costs from operating expense results provides for a more meaningful comparison across periods when such costs may vary.

Air Canada also incurs expenses related to the operation of freighter aircraft which some airlines, without comparable cargo businesses, may not incur. Air Canada had six Boeing 767 dedicated freighter aircraft in service as at June 30, 2025, and at June 30, 2024. These costs do not generate ASMs and therefore excluding these costs from operating expense results provides for a more meaningful comparison of the passenger airline business across periods.

The following tables provide the adjusted CASM reconciliation to GAAP operating expense for the periods indicated.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairment) and adjusted EBITDA margin (adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of operating revenues) are commonly used in the airline industry and are used by Air Canada as a means to view operating results and the related margin before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairment and other items discussed above. These items can vary significantly among airlines due to differences in the way airlines finance their aircraft and other assets.

Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin are reconciled to GAAP operating income (loss) as follows:

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