Air Canada to add capacity after posting smaller quarterly loss

Air Canada said Friday it would add capacity during the start of 2022 as pandemic travel restrictions relax, after reporting a smaller fourth-quarter loss due to strong advance ticket sales despite a December Omicron outbreak. Canada's largest carrier, which lost C$3.6b in 2021, is adding flights and bringing back staff amid hopes for a further easing of government restrictions. Shares rose around 2% in morning trade. Canada's largest provinces are reopening businesses and removing vaccine passport curbs as coronavirus cases drop and after facing mass protests against the measures. "If bars and large public events can open at full capacity and if some provinces such as Quebec and Ontario can put an end to the vaccination passports, there is no reason to single out travel," Rousseau told analysts. Air Canada said it would increase its available seat miles capacity by 243% during the first three months of 2022, compared with the same quarter in 2021, although it was down 44% from 2019 levels.<br/>