Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline, reported strong financial results for 2017. The carrier’s adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, impairment and aircraft rent (EBITDAR) reached $2.92 billion for the year, up $153 million, or about 5.2 percent, from $2.76 billion in 2016.
Adjusted pre-tax income for 2017 was $1.15 billion, slightly higher than the $1.14 billion posted in 2016. On a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis, Air Canada reported record income before income taxes of $1.27 billion for 2017, compared with $877 million a year earlier.
“Our strong 2017 results underscore the effectiveness of our transformation strategy, as well as the success of our global expansion and the power of our comprehensive network,” said Calin Rovinescu, president and CEO of Air Canada. “We profitably expanded our global network with 30 new routes launched and carried a record 48 million customers, while maintaining our focus on cost discipline and continuing to improve margins.”
Rovinescu credited the airline’s performance to its workforce of roughly 30,000 employees. He noted their role in implementing organizational changes and delivering reliable service, particularly during difficult winter conditions over the holiday period, when teams worked to keep customers safe and ensure operations continued despite disruptions.
In addition to financial gains, the carrier emphasized network growth as a key driver of its results. The airline expanded international and domestic connectivity by introducing new routes and deploying capacity to meet demand, contributing to increased passenger volumes and improved network utilization.
Air Canada’s 2017 performance reflects a combination of strategic initiatives: disciplined cost management, targeted network expansion, and investments in customer experience. These efforts helped the airline capture demand across markets while improving margins and sustaining profitability.
Looking ahead, the company signaled continued focus on growth and operational resilience. Building on the momentum from 2017, Air Canada intends to pursue further network development and maintain cost controls to support long-term financial health and customer service improvements.
The airline’s ongoing expansion underscores its commitment to serving more destinations and attracting additional customers worldwide while balancing the operational and financial demands of a major global carrier.