Airline flies a record number of guests while improving on-time
performance to 84.0 per cent
CALGARY,
Sept. 3, 2015 /CNW/ - WestJet today
announced August 2015 traffic results
with a load factor of 84.6 per cent. Revenue passenger miles
(RPMs), or traffic, increased 1.7 per cent year over year, and
capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 7.3 per
cent over the same period. The airline flew a record 2.0 million
guests in August, a year-over-year increase of 2.3 per cent or
approximately 44,000 additional guests, and achieved an on-time
performance rate of 84.0 per cent in the month, an improvement of
6.3 percentage points year over year.
"We are pleased with our continued traffic growth
as we welcomed almost two million guests on board in August,
setting a new single-month record even as the Labour Day long
weekend shifted out of August this year. The movement of this busy
travel period into September contributed to the year-over-year
decline from the all-time high load factor reported in August last
year," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg
Saretsky. "My thanks go out to our more than 10,000
WestJetters for their continuing energy and passion through this
busy summer period."
August 2015
traffic results
|
August 2015 |
August 2014 |
Change |
Load factor |
84.6% |
89.3% |
(4.7 pts) |
ASMs (billions) |
2.432 |
2.267 |
7.3% |
RPMs (billions) |
2.057 |
2.023 |
1.7% |
|
Year-to-date 2015 |
Year-to-date 2014 |
Change |
Load factor |
80.9% |
82.7% |
(1.8 pts) |
ASMs (billions) |
18.279 |
17.223 |
6.1% |
RPMs (billions) |
14.788 |
14.243 |
3.8% |
In August, WestJet took delivery of the first of
its four wide-body Boeing 767-300ERW aircraft. Featuring a new teal
and blue maple leaf-themed logo that will eventually appear on all
WestJet aircraft, the airline's 767s will allow it to begin serving
Europe and other regions of the
world from Canada on a non-stop
basis, including new service to London (Gatwick) beginning in May 2016. Inaugural wide-body flights between
Calgary and Toronto will begin in September 2015, with service from Alberta to Hawaii and Toronto to Montego
Bay beginning this winter.
Caution regarding forward-looking
information
Certain information set forth in this news release, including,
without limitation, information regarding WestJet's expected timing
of its 767 service is forward-looking information within the
meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. By its nature,
forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and
uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Corporation's control,
including those risk factors described in WestJet's public reports
and filings which are available under WestJet's profile at
www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that undue reliance
should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual
results may vary materially from the forward-looking information.
WestJet does not undertake to update, correct or revise any
forward-looking information as a result of any new information,
future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable
law.
About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's
highest-rated airline for customer service, powered by an
award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the
country's top employers. We offer scheduled service to 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 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 ΜΆ 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)
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SOURCE WestJet