Air Canada will be adding two new Boeing 767-300F freighters to its fleet as the carrier seeks to further expand its cargo operations.

The airline made the announcement as it reported increased revenue in the first quarter.

Air Canada had operating revenues of US$2.573 billion in the first three months of 2022, more than triple that of the same quarter in the prior year. In terms of cargo, the airline's quarterly revenue was up 42% to US$398 million from the first quarter of 2021. 

"In anticipation of our recovery, Air Canada has kept the course with key long-term projects to increase and diversify revenue and lower costs. One such program is the expansion of Air Canada Cargo ... now further expanded with the addition of two new Boeing 767-300 freighters to be delivered in 2022," said Michael Rousseau, president, and chief executive officer of Air Canada.

Jason Berry, vice president, Cargo, at Air Canada said since the entry into service of the Boeing 767-300BDSF freighters, they have "proven their value" to Air Canada and Air Canada Cargo.

"Today's announcement is a further signal of our long-term commitment to freighters as we continue to adapt and grow at Air Canada Cargo," Berry said. "These additional factory-built 767-300F aircraft will allow Air Canada Cargo to speed up the expansion of its freighter fleet, helping provide reliable, dedicated service to key cargo routes around the world, further bolstering the capacity provided by Air Canada’s mainline fleet."