HALIFAX, Feb. 20 /CNW/ - Air Canada Jazz is the second airline in Canada to be registered under the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) programme. Air Canada was the first Canadian carrier to achieve IOSA Registration in April 2005. This achievement demonstrates Jazz's commitment to the highest safety standards in aviation.
    IOSA is one of the most stringent safety and quality audit programmes in the airline industry. The audit is designed to assess operational management and control systems of an airline, using over 900 internationally harmonised standards and recommended practices. These IOSA standards were developed by over 100 highly experienced airline professionals with assistance from Transport Canada, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, all under the guidance and direction of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Airlines that have been audited to full conformity with IOSA standards make a clear, positive statement about the integrity of their operations and their ability to manage the associated risks.
    "IOSA Registration is especially meaningful to Jazz and its employees," said Joe Randell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Canada Jazz. "Safety has always been and will continue to be our top priority. Compliance with IOSA standards and recommended practices builds on our existing system of rigorous safety policies, procedures and processes. As a carrier operating under a capacity purchase agreement business model, IOSA Registration significantly affirms and strengthens Jazz's position in the marketplace as we seek new business opportunities."
    Air Canada Jazz received the official IOSA Registration following an intensive audit conducted by Aviation Compliance Solutions from Melbourne, Australia. The airline is now listed on the IOSA Registry - a publicly available international listing of all operators in conformity with all IOSA standards (www.iata.org/registry).

    About Air Canada Jazz

    Air Canada Jazz is the second largest airline in Canada based on fleet size and the number of routes operated. Air Canada Jazz operates more flights and flies to more Canadian destinations than any other Canadian carrier. Air Canada Jazz forms an integral part of Air Canada's domestic and transborder market presence and strategy.
    Air Canada Jazz and Air Canada are parties to a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) pursuant to which Air Canada currently purchases substantially all of Air Canada Jazz's fleet capacity based on predetermined rates. Air Canada Jazz provides all crews, airframe maintenance and, in some cases, airport operations. In turn, Air Canada determines routes and controls scheduling, ticket prices, product distribution, seat inventories, marketing and advertising for these flights.
    Air Canada Jazz is not a typical airline. Currently, 99% of Air Canada Jazz's revenues are derived from the CPA. Air Canada Jazz is isolated from most of the risks typically associated with airlines such as fuel and navigation costs since these costs are passed-through to Air Canada.
    Under the CPA with Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz provides service to and from lower density markets as well as higher density markets at off-peak times throughout Canada and to and from certain destinations in the United States. As of February 1, 2007 Air Canada Jazz operated scheduled passenger service on behalf of Air Canada with approximately 802 departures per weekday to 56 destinations in Canada and 29 destinations in the United States with a fleet of 135 aircraft.Air Canada Jazz is the focal point of Air Canada's regional passenger strategy. Air Canada Jazz and Air Canada have linked their regional and mainline networks in order to serve connecting passengers more efficiently and to provide valuable feed traffic to Air Canada's mainline routes.