Above: an Air Canada plane

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Air Canada has named executive vice president and COO Benjamin Smith to the position of president, passenger airlines, the company announced this week.

The announcement was made by Air Canada President and CEO Calvin Rovinescu.

The “organizational realignment” takes effect Sep. 1, Rovinescu said.

Smith will now have “cost as well as revenue oversight for passenger airline activities,” the company said, “with a view to optimizing the operating profitability of Air Canada.”

“Ben has continuously demonstrated his passion, industry knowledge and proven leadership throughout his more than 20 years with Air Canada and has contributed significantly to our record revenues and  evolution of our products, services and airline alliances,” Rovinescu said. “In the next phase of Air Canada’s development, we will need to have an even greater focus on our network and international activities, as we continue to drive towards sustainable profitability.”

Air Canada is the largest domestic and international airline in Canada and one of the larger foreign carriers to the Caribbean.