I am pleased to share with you our first Chorus Aviation Sustainability Report, outlining our current practices and commitment to a better future for us all. We will continue to build and improve upon our commitments to be an exemplary corporate citizen and an employer of choice. As an organization that brings people together and gets them to where they need to be, we understand our responsibility to protect the spaces in which we operate and to foster a safe and rewarding environment for our employees and customers.
We are Canada’s largest regional carrier and a global lessor of regional aircraft. In 2019, we operated approximately 700 daily flights to over 85 destinations in North America under the Air Canada Express brand. We also fly humanitarian missions on behalf of customers such as the United Nations and the World Food Programme, helping them to deliver aid to people and communities in need. Chorus’ regional aircraft leasing business is the world’s second largest. Our extensive portfolio of turboprop and regional jet aircraft is positioned on lease with 16 customers across six continents.
The rapid and dramatic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak has changed the world. The pandemic is affecting people, communities and companies around the globe. In this time of crisis, we are taking all measures to ensure the safety of our employees and to support the communities around us, while prudently managing our financial resources to position Chorus for a strong recovery when this pandemic abates. The full extent of the duration and impact of this unprecedented, ever changing event are still unknown.
While this report focuses on 2019, with the remainder of 2020 still unpredictable, it is perhaps more important than ever to acknowledge our achievements in 2019 and to recognize our employees for their vital role in Chorus’ achievements.
Our vision is to deliver regional aviation to the world. We are growing our business by leveraging our regional aviation expertise and strong relationships with employees and customers. We now conduct business on six continents, and being a member of the global community means we have a greater responsibility.
Based on the core principle of respect, we believe how we do business differentiates us as an employer, a service provider and a corporate citizen. How we engage is founded in our values of listening, collaborating and improving.
The incredible energy and professionalism of our employees is what drives our success. We’ve been honoured to be the recipient of numerous awards as a top employer in Canada, and named among Canada’s Safest Employers 2019, taking home gold in the Transportation category.
