Photo: The Canadian Press Air Canada is ready to raise fares as it tries to offset the blow from higher fuel costs, business travel relaxation and skyrocketing inflation. The country’s largest carrier more than tripled its revenue last quarter as travel demand rose, although a net loss of nearly $ 1 billion signaled a pandemic recovery was far from complete. After the COVID-19 Omicron variant slowed bookings in January, Air Canada sales increased in March as travel restrictions eased, pushing bookings to 90% of 2019 levels. “We are very positive for the rest of the year and have continued to grow for the next several years,” CEO Michael Rousseau told analysts at a news conference on Tuesday. Despite that optimism, Air Canada shares fell $ 1.76, or 7.3 percent, to $ 22.46 on Tuesday at the end of the day on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The airline maintained year-over-year forecasts that available seat capacity will average around three-quarters of 2019. A similar rate is expected for the current quarter, which will be five times higher than last year. However, Air Canada’s capacity continues to lag behind that of its US counterparts, and business travel remains at half its volume three years ago, said Lucie Guillemette, chief commercial officer. “International can take a little longer,” she said, referring to bookings for businesses abroad, even as domestic and leisure travel increases. Air Canada hopes to take advantage of the renewed appetite for corporate travel in the United States as the carrier strengthens its flight schedule in the United States, he added. read more Do you have an opinion? Send it to [email protected] April 26, 2022 – 5891 votes Should Internet technology companies compensate news organizations whose work they republish on their websites? Yes: 3044 No: 2211 Uncertain: 636 April 25, 2022 – 8819 votesWould it be good or bad for Elon Musk to have his own Twitter? Good: 3731 Bad: 3130 Uncertain: 1958 April 24, 2022 – 13345 votes You are happy that the city of Kelowna is closing Bernard Ave. in vehicle traffic once again this summer? Yes: 7831 No: 3176 Do not care: 2338 April 23, 2022 – 9908 votes Do you consider privately contracted nurses a threat to the healthcare system? Yes: 3141 No: 5902 Uncertain: 865 April 21, 2022 – 12237 votes Should the federal government ban all private weapons? Yes: 4313 No: 7754 Definitely: 170