MONTREAL — For the month of September, Air Canada reported a system load factor of 83.2% versus 84.9% in September 2012, and a system load factor for the third quarter of 86.2% versus a record of 86.3% for the quarter last year.

System traffic for September increased 1.9% on a system-wide capacity increase of 3.9%. Air Canada reports traffic results on a system-wide basis, including Air Canada rouge, which began operations on July 1, 2013, and regional airlines from which Air Canada purchases capacity.

“I am pleased to report solid traffic results for the month of September, led by strong gains of almost 6% in the Pacific market,” said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer. “For the third quarter, our load factor of 86.2% is in line with last year’s all-time high for the same period and is a strong indication of the effectiveness of our capacity management strategy given the increase in industry capacity that came into the markets in the quarter. Based on our third quarter load factor, and coupled with the ongoing positive results of our cost transformation and revenue enhancement initiatives, we expect EBITDAR (excluding the impact of benefit plan amendments in 2012) and adjusted net income for the third quarter to be above last year’s level for the same period.