2008 Management’s Discussion and Analysis ANNUAL REPORT 2008 CI 2008 Air Canada Annual Report 1. HIGHLIGHTS The following table provides the reader with financial and operating highlights for the Corporation for the periods indicated. Fourth Quarter Year (Canadian dollars in millions, except per (1) share figures) 2008 2007 Change $ 2008 2007 Change $ Financial Operating revenues 2,498 2,513 (15) 11,082 10,646 436 Operating income (loss) before a special provision (2) (146) 72 (218) (39) 433 (472) Operating income (loss) (146) 72 (218) (164) 433 (597) Non-operating expenses (44) (52) 8 (170) (122) (48) Income (loss) before non-controlling interest, foreign exchange and income taxes (190) 20 (210) (334) 311 (645) Income (loss) for the period (727) 35 (762) (1,025) 429 (1,454) Operating margin before a special provision % (2) -5.8 % 2.9 % (8.7) pp -0.4 % 4.1 % (4.5) pp Operating margin % -5.8 % 2.9 % (8.7) pp -1.5 % 4.1 % (5.6) pp EBITDAR before a special provision (2) (3) 108 274 (166) 934 1,263 (329) EBITDAR (2) 108 274 (166) 809 1,263 (454) EBITDAR margin before a special provision % (2) (3) 4.3 % 10.9 % (6.6) pp 8.4 % 11.9 % (3.5) pp EBITDAR margin % (3) 4.3 % 10.9 % (6.6) pp 7.3 % 11.9 % (4.6) pp Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments 1,005 1,239 (234) 1,005 1,239 (234) Free cash flow (428) (892) 464 (985) (2,233) 1,248 Adjusted debt/equity ratio 89.6 % 67.0 % 22.6 pp 89.6 % 67.0 % 22.6 pp Earnings (loss) per share - basic ($7.27) $ 0.35 ($7.62) ($10.25) $4.29 ($14.54) Earnings (loss) per share - diluted ($7.27) $ 0.35 ($7.62) ($10.25) $4.27 ($14.52) Operating Statistics Change % Change % Revenue passenger miles (millions) (RPM) 10,845 11,446 (5.3) 50,519 50,629 (0.2) Available seat miles (millions) (ASM) 13,571 14,715 (7.8) 62,074 62,814 (1.2) Passenger load factor 79.9 % 77.8 % 2.1 pp 81.4 % 80.6 % 0.8 pp Passenger revenue per RPM (cents) (4) 20.1 18.9 6.2 19.2 18.4 4.3 Passenger revenue per ASM (cents) (4) 16.0 14.7 9.1 15.6 14.8 5.3 Operating revenue per ASM (cents) (4) 18.4 16.9 8.9 17.9 16.9 5.3 Operating expense per ASM ("CASM") (cents) 19.5 16.6 17.4 17.9 16.3 10.2 CASM, excluding fuel expense (cents) 13.6 12.4 9.9 12.4 12.2 1.7 Average number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (thousands) (5) 23.6 23.9 (1.3) 24.2 23.9 1.1 Aircraft in operating fleet at period end (6) 333 340 (2.1) 333 340 (2.1) Average fleet utilization (hours per day) (7) 8.8 9.3 (5.4) 9.6 9.8 (2.0) Average aircraft flight length (miles) (7) 827 851 (2.8) 863 874 (1.3) Fuel price per litre (cents) (8) 95.8 67.5 41.9 90.4 65.6 37.8 Fuel litres (millions) 822 905 (9.2) 3,763 3,873 (2.8) (1) Reflects the financial and operating highlights for Air Canada for 2008 and the financial and operating highlights for the Air Canada Services segment, which excluded the consolidation of Jazz, for 2007. (2) A provision for cargo investigations of $125 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2008. (3) See section 20 “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this MD&A for a reconciliation of EBITDAR before the provision for cargo investigations to operating income (loss) and EBITDAR to operating income (loss). (4) A favourable revenue adjustment of $26 million relating to a change in accounting estimates was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007. For comparative purposes, yield and RASM percentage changes were adjusted to include the impact of removing $26 million from the fourth quarter of 2007. (5) Reflects FTE employees at Air Canada. Excludes FTE employees at Jazz. (6) Excludes chartered freighters in 2008 and 2007. Includes Jazz aircraft covered under the Jazz CPA. (7) Excludes third party carriers operating under capacity purchase arrangements. Includes Jazz aircraft covered under the Jazz CPA. (8) Includes fuel handling and is net of fuel hedging results. CII TaBLE OF CONTENTS 1. Highlights ................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Message from the President and CEO of Air Canada ...................................................................................... 4 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results and Financial Condition ......................................... 7 2. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 3. About Air Canada ................................................................................................................................................... 9 4. Overview ................................................................................................................................................................... 10 5. Strategy ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 6. Results of Operations – Fourth Quarter 2008 versus Fourth Quarter 2007 ....................................... 16 7. Results of Operations – 2008 versus 2007 .................................................................................................... 25 8. Fleet .................................................................................................................................................................... 34 9. Financial and Capital Management .................................................................................................................. 36 9.1 Financial Position .................................................................................................................................. 36 9.2 Adjusted Net Debt ............................................................................................................................... 37 9.3 Liquidity ................................................................................................................................................... 38 9.4 Consolidated Cash Flow Movements ............................................................................................. 44 9.5 Contractual Obligations ..................................................................................................................... 45 9.6 Pension Funding Obligations ............................................................................................................. 46 9.7 Capital Expenditures and Related Financing Arrangements .................................................... 48 9.8 Share Information ................................................................................................................................ 49 10. Quarterly Financial Data ..................................................................................................................................... 50 11. Selected Annual Information ............................................................................................................................. 52 12. Financial Instruments and Risk Management ............................................................................................... 53 13. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements ..................................................................................................................... 59 14. Related Party Transactions .................................................................................................................................. 60 15. Critical Accounting Estimates ............................................................................................................................ 65 16. Changes in Accounting Policies ......................................................................................................................... 69 17. Sensitivity of Results ............................................................................................................................................ 72 18. Risk Factors .............................................................................................................................................................. 73 19. Controls and Procedures ...................................................................................................................................... 82 20. Non-GAAP Financial Measures .......................................................................................................................... 83 21. Glossary .................................................................................................................................................................... 84 Management’s Report ................................................................................................................................................. 85 Independent Auditors’ Report .................................................................................................................................. 86 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes 2008 ..................................................................................... 87 Officers and Directors ................................................................................................................................................. 150 Investor and Shareholder Information ................................................................................................................. 151 Official Languages at Air Canada ...........................................................................................................................