Evidence of meeting #44 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was aveos.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
Whether you've accepted them or not, have you been approached by Aveos for any alternative maintenance or overhaul facilities in any other locations?
Senior Director, Engines and Airframe Maintenance, Air Canada
Not that I'm aware of.
Assistant General Counsel, Law Branch, Air Canada
Not that we're aware of, no.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
Not that you're aware of? Okay, we'll leave it at that. We can't hold you to any more than that.
With regard to the maintenance that's not done on your bases, what does that comprise...the 30% or 35% of the maintenance that's not done under your own services?
Senior Director, Engines and Airframe Maintenance, Air Canada
We have aircraft that are flying all over the world and they encounter maintenance issues wherever they are operating. We would perform that work to ensure the safety of the aircraft before it departs from that location.
We perform work as far away as South America or Asia to ensure the aircraft depart fully airworthy for regular scheduled service.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
What percentage of your air travel is to destinations outside Canada?
Senior Director, Engines and Airframe Maintenance, Air Canada
I have no idea. I'm only a maintenance person; I can't answer that.
Director, Government Relations, Air Canada
We have a very substantial international fleet, a very substantial international presence. It would depend on how you look at it. I think 25% of our seats travel internationally.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
But that obviously can't make up the 30% of the maintenance you're doing in other countries. If you're just doing line maintenance in the other countries, you're doing the overhauls in Canada, and if--let's give that number--25% of your flights are overseas, what's the breakdown between line maintenance and large overhaul in terms of your cost?
Senior Director, Engines and Airframe Maintenance, Air Canada
First of all, in the statement we're talking about the work that's performed in Winnipeg, Toronto, and Montreal. In Canada, we have a number of other maintenance facilities. We have a maintenance facility that handles overhaul work, which is in the city of Vancouver. That would include the large portion you don't see in this number.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Thank you for that.
Mr. Jean, on a promise that we won't hear Fort McMurray....
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I am not allowed to talk about Alberta's northern line, but somewhere above Edmonton would be a good place for a new maintenance centre. I want to let you know that.
With all jest aside, I want to talk a little bit about Air Canada. Who owns Air Canada?
Assistant General Counsel, Law Branch, Air Canada
Right now a variety of shareholders. ACE Aviation today holds about 28%, but as you may have read, it is in the process of divesting part of it, so after the transaction, they would hold 11%. The rest is publicly traded.
Conservative
Assistant General Counsel, Law Branch, Air Canada
You have investment funds, you have individuals.
Conservative
Conservative
Assistant General Counsel, Law Branch, Air Canada
It has to be owned at least 75% by Canadians.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
How many outstanding shares right now—100 million, is that correct?