WestJet reports February load factor of 85.2 per cent

Airline increases traffic by 5.2 per cent

CALGARY, March 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - WestJet today announced February 2017 traffic results with a load factor of 85.2 per cent, an increase of 2.0 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 5.2 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 2.7 per cent over the same period. The airline flew a record 1.8 million guests in February, a year-over-year increase of 5.8 per cent or approximately 100,000 additional guests.

"We are pleased with our continued strong traffic growth as we achieved a 200 basis point improvement in load factor year over year and flew a record number of guests while celebrating WestJet's 21^st birthday," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "I want to thank our more than 12,000 WestJetters for continuing to deliver a safe and caring guest experience."

February 2017 traffic results

In February, WestJet announced a significant investment in Quebec's travel and tourism market with increased service and new routes to and from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport as well as Quebec City's Jean Lesage International Airport. On March 15, 2017, WestJet will launch twice-daily service between Montreal and Halifax, starting June 15, 2017, WestJet will begin point-to-point service for the first time within the province with four daily flights between Montreal and Quebec City, and on October 15, 2017, WestJet will begin twice-daily service between Montreal and Boston.

In February, WestJet also announced plans to connect two long-standing WestJet destinations with the addition of service between Winnipeg and Abbotsford commencing April 30, 2017. On the same date, WestJet will also increase frequency between Edmonton and Hamilton. 

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most trusted airline, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the country's top employers. We offer scheduled service to more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 150 destinations in more than 20 countries. Leveraging WestJet's extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Our members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day, at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods  ̶  even on seat sales. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com. 

Recent recognition includes:
2016 Canada's Most Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)
2016 Canada's most reputable company for Corporate Social Responsibility (Reputation Institute)
2016/2015/2014/2013/2012 Ranked top three for Canadian Brands (Canadian Business Magazine)
2016/2015/2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (MoneySense magazine)
2015/2011/2010/2008/2007/2006/2005 Canada's Most Admired Corporate Culture (Waterstone Human Capital)
2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt)

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SOURCE WestJet

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