WestJet reports May load factor of 77.2 per cent

Airline increases traffic by 6.6 per cent year over year and improves on-time performance to 93.2 per cent

CALGARY, June 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - WestJet today announced May 2015 traffic results with a load factor of 77.2 per cent. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 6.6 per cent year-over-year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 9.1 per cent over the same period. The airline flew a record 1.6 million guests in May, a year-over-year increase of 3.9 per cent or more than 63,000 additional guests, and achieved an on-time performance rate of 93.2 per cent, a year-over-year improvement of 8.3 percentage points.

"We are pleased with our strong year over year traffic growth as we flew a record 1.6 million guests for the month of May while continuing to improve our on-time performance," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "I want to thank our more than 10,000 WestJetters for continuing to deliver our brand of friendly caring service each and every day."

May 2015 traffic results

In May, WestJet announced improvements to its Plus product, enhancing the airline's offering for value-oriented business travellers and comfort-seeking vacationers. Middle seats in Plus on WestJet's Boeing Next Generation 737s will be outfitted with a new tray table between the aisle and window seat, giving guests a guaranteed empty middle seat. Seats in Plus on WestJet's Boeing 767 aircraft will be wider than the airline's current seats, with an aisle separating each set of two seats. The airline is upgrading meal options for guests in Plus to include a premium boxed meal on longer 737 flights and premium hot meals served on 767 flights, both with complimentary beverages. This option is available for booking now, for travel beginning September 14, 2015.

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most-preferred 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 90 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 120 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 vacation 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:
2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt)
2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
2014 Brands of the Year (Strategy magazine)
2014 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2014/2013 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine and RewardsCanada.ca)
2014/2013/2012/2011 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)

Connect with WestJet on Facebook at facebook.com/westjet
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Read the WestJet blog at blog.westjet.com

SOURCE WestJet

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