Airline achieves its highest quarterly load
factor in its 21-year history
CALGARY, Oct. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - WestJet today
announced September 2017 traffic
results with a load factor of 80.4 per cent an increase of 0.5
percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs),
or traffic, increased 5.9 per cent year over year, and capacity,
measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 5.3 per cent over the
same period. In the third quarter of 2017, the airline flew an
all-time record high of 6.5 million guests, a year-over-year
increase of 10.7 per cent or approximately 630,000 additional
guests.
"We are very pleased with our strong traffic growth, as we
reported record load factors each month this quarter, which
translated into achieving both our highest ever quarterly load
factor of 85.7 per cent, and flying an all-time quarterly record
number of guests in our 21-year history," said WestJet President
and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "I want to
sincerely thank our over 13,000 WestJetters for continuing to
deliver our award-winning brand of friendly caring service as we
transition through our shoulder period into the busy winter
season."
September 2017 traffic
results
|
September
2017
|
September
2016
|
Change
|
Load
factor
|
80.4%
|
79.9%
|
0.5 pts
|
ASMs
(billions)
|
2.488
|
2.363
|
5.3%
|
RPMs
(billions)
|
1.999
|
1.887
|
5.9%
|
|
Third quarter
2017
|
Third quarter
2016
|
Change
|
Load
factor
|
85.7%
|
84.0%
|
1.7 pts
|
ASMs
(billions)
|
8.077
|
7.635
|
5.8%
|
RPMs
(billions)
|
6.922
|
6.414
|
7.9%
|
|
Year-to-date
2017
|
Year-to-date
2016
|
Change
|
Load
factor
|
83.9%
|
82.3%
|
1.6 pts
|
ASMs
(billions)
|
23.339
|
22.045
|
5.9%
|
RPMs
(billions)
|
19.575
|
18.152
|
7.8%
|
In September, WestJet broke ground on its new $50 million hangar project at YYC Calgary
International Airport that will support the airline's ongoing fleet
expansion and growth of its Calgary hub. The hangar, once complete, will
occupy 125,000 square feet, accommodate its new Boeing 787-9
Dreamliner aircraft and stand eight stories tall.
Also in September, WestJet announced the name and logo for its
ultra-low-cost airline (ULCC) in Canada. Named Swoop, the ULCC will begin
selling flights in early 2018. Swoop will provide Canadians with a
no-frills, lower-fare travel option backed by an airline with a
proven track record of bringing lower fares to Canadians and an
investment-grade credit rating. Sign up at FlySwoop.com to receive
details on Swoop's job opportunities, launch plans and to learn
more about Canada's newest
airline.
About WestJet
WestJet is proud to be named Best
Airline in Canada and one of the
best Low Cost Airlines in North
America, based on authentic reviews from the travelling
public on Trip Advisor, the world's largest travel site. We are one
of very few airlines globally that does not commercially overbook.
Together with our regional airline, WestJet Encore, we offer
scheduled service to more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe and to more than 175 destinations in
over 20 countries through our airline partnerships. WestJet
Vacations offers affordable, flexible vacations to more than 60
destinations and the choice of more than 800 hotels, resorts,
condos and villas. Members of the WestJet Rewards program
earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more.
Members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of flights and
vacations packages to any WestJet destination with no blackout
periods, and have access to Member Exclusive fares offering deals
to WestJet destinations throughout our network and those of our
partner airlines.
WestJet is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)
under the symbol WJA. For more information about everything
WestJet, please visit westjet.com.
Recent recognition includes:
2017
Five-Star Airline in the Low-Cost Category (The Airline Passenger
Experience Association)
2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted
Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)
2017 Best Airline in Canada and
Travellers' Choice Winner Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines –
North America (TripAdvisor
Travelers' Choice awards for Airlines)
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