WestJet reports a record April load factor of 84.0 per cent

News provided by

WestJet

May 05, 2010, 08:30 ET

Airline flies 70,000 more guests this April compared to last

CALGARY, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - WestJet today announced April traffic results with a record load factor of 84.0 per cent. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) increased 12.1 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 8.3 per cent over the same period. The airline flew an additional 70,000 guests in April 2010 compared to April 2009.

"We are very pleased to report double-digit improvements in traffic and our highest-ever April load factor while growing capacity," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "We can attribute this successful growth to our expansion in southern markets and the ongoing contributions that WestJet Vacations is making to our business."

"With our continuous commitment to driving cost efficiencies and providing a great guest experience, WestJet has the foundational elements in place to carry this positive momentum into the second quarter and throughout 2010," added Gregg Saretsky. "Our WestJetters work extremely hard to take care of our guests and to make us a great airline, and for this I sincerely thank them."

                         April 2010 traffic results

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
                         April 2010          April 2009        Change
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    Load factor             84.0%               81.2%         2.8 pts.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    ASMs (billions)         1.589               1.467             8.3%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    RPMs (billions)         1.335               1.191            12.1%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Year-to-date 2010   Year-to-date 2009    Change
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    Load factor             82.3%               80.6%         1.7 pts.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    ASMs (billions)         6.289               5.824             8.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    RPMs (billions)         5.175               4.693            10.3%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------

As part of its 2010 summer schedule, WestJet has expanded its seasonal service from Toronto to include year-round service to 10 of its popular sun spots: Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Plata, Samana, Bridgetown, Cayo Coco, Varadero, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos, and St. Martin/St. Maarten. Domestically, the airline's summer schedule also includes new daily service between Calgary and Windsor and between Vancouver and Kitchener/Waterloo.

About WestJet

WestJet is Canada's preferred airline, offering scheduled service throughout its 68-city North American and Caribbean network. Inducted into the corporate culture hall of fame after being named one of Canada's most admired corporate cultures in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. WestJet offers increased legroom, leather seats and live seatback television provided by Bell TV on its modern fleet of 88 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. With future confirmed deliveries for an additional 47 aircraft through 2016, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world.

SOURCE WestJet

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