Air Canada shares slide over 10% as earnings miss, U.S. travel demand stays weak
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Air Canada shares slide over 10% as earnings miss, U.S. travel demand stays weak
The airline continues to see lower demand for trips to the U.S., with revenues dropping 11 per cent on eight per cent less capacity. Air Canada earned a net income of $207 million in its second quarter, compared to $369 million in the same period last year. As of July 28, Air Canada flight attendants began voting on whether to give a strike mandate to the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents more than 10,000 flight attendants. The vote runs until Aug. 5.
Shares of Air Canada (AC.TO) fell over 10 per cent on Tuesday, after the airline’s quarterly earnings missed expectations.
“This quarter was not business as usual,” said Mark Galardo, executive vice-president and chief commercial officer.
“We faced significant economic and geopolitical uncertainty,” Galardo added, referencing “an evolving geopolitical landscape affecting the Middle East and India,” increased competition in China, currency fluctuations and weakened demand for transborder travel.
The airline continues to see lower demand for trips to the U.S., with revenue dropping 11 per cent on eight per cent less capacity, says president and CEO Michael Rousseau.
According to Statistics Canada, Canadian return trips by air from the U.S. declined throughout the first five months of 2025, dropping 14 per cent year-over-year in April and 24.2 per cent in May.
On an adjusted basis, Air Canada earned a net income of $207 million in its second quarter, compared to $369 million in the same period last year. Its adjusted earnings are 60 cents per diluted share, down from 98 cents per share last year.
In a note, RBC Dominion Securities analyst James McGarragle took a neutral view on the results, saying that the broader narrative of demand recovery remains intact.
Meanwhile, National Bank analyst Cameron Doerksen says he’s cautious of the near-term risk of a potential strike in mid-to-late August.
As of July 28, Air Canada flight attendants began voting on whether to give a strike mandate to the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents more than 10,000 flight attendants. The vote runs until Aug. 5.
“Such a vote is a normal step in the negotiation process and does not mean any disruption will take place,” Rousseau said, adding that the company remains “focused on what we can control,” such as managing costs, and supply and demand.
As at 11:25 a.m. ET Tuesday, Air Canada’s stock was trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange at $18.99 per share, down $3.05 or 13.84 per cent.