Oct 31 (Reuters) - Air Canada AC.TO :
* REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2018 RESULTS
* Q3 OPERATING REVENUES OF $5.415 BILLION
* Q3 GAAP EARNINGS PER SHARE C$2.34
* Q3 ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE C$2.03
* QTRLY PASSENGER REVENUE PER AVAILABLE SEAT MILE (PRASM) INCREASED 4.2 PER CENT
* QTRLY CAPACITY GROWTH OF 6.7 PER CENT
* QTRLY COST PER AVAILABLE SEAT MILE (CASM) INCREASED 9.8 PER CENT FROM Q3 OF 2017
* GOING FORWARD, EXPECT REVENUE MOMENTUM TO CONTINUE IN Q4 AND INTO NEXT YEAR
* QTRLY INCREASE IN SYSTEM PASSENGER REVENUES WAS DRIVEN BY TRAFFIC GROWTH OF 7.5 PER CENT AND A YIELD IMPROVEMENT OF 3.4 PER CENT
* NOW EXPECTS POSITIVE FREE CASH FLOW IN RANGE OF $500 MILLION TO $600 MILLION IN 2018
* Q3 EARNINGS PER SHARE VIEW C$2.09, REVENUE VIEW C$5.38 BILLION -- THOMSON REUTERS I/B/E/S
* NOW EXPECTS FULL YEAR 2018 ADJUSTED CASM TO RANGE BETWEEN NO INCREASE TO AN INCREASE OF 0.75 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED TO FULL YEAR 2017
* FOR Q4 OF 2018, AIR CANADA EXPECTS ADJUSTED CASM TO INCREASE 1.5 TO 2.5 PER CENT
* CONTINUES TO EXPECT 2018 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPENSE TO INCREASE BY APPROXIMATELY $75 MILLION FROM FULL YEAR 2017
* NOW EXPECTS 2018 AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE EXPENSE TO INCREASE BY APPROXIMATELY $95 MILLION FROM FULL YEAR 2017
* Q3 EARNINGS PER SHARE VIEW C$2.09, REVENUE VIEW C$5.38 BILLION -- THOMSON REUTERS I/B/E/S