WestJet reports record February load factor of 86.1 per cent

CALGARY, March 5, 2013 /CNW/ – WestJet today announced February 2013 traffic results with a record load factor of 86.1 per cent. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 7.3 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 3.1 per cent over the same period. The airline flew 1.4 million guests in February, a year-over-year increase of 5.5 per cent or approximately 74,300 additional guests.

“Not only did we achieve our eighth consecutive monthly load factor record in February, we also announced WestJet Encore’s first schedule, and celebrated WestJet’s 17th birthday,” said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. “We are very pleased with the record February load factor, as our capacity increases continue to be absorbed by the market. I want to thank our over 9,000 WestJetters for their commitment to providing a remarkable experience for our growing number of guests, especially in light of the challenging winter weather conditions.”

On February 11th, WestJet announced the first two communities that will be serviced by WestJet Encore. Fort St. John, British Columbia, will start daily service from Calgary and Vancouver and Nanaimo, British Columbia, will start daily service from Calgary, commencing on June 24, 2013. WestJet also announced new non-stop service between Toronto and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and between Calgary and Dallas, Texas, beginning this spring.

“The announcements of the first two destinations to be served by our new Bombardier Q400 NextGen fleet, as well as schedule enhancements in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, are an exciting start to WestJet Encore,” said Ferio Pugliese, President, WestJet Encore and Executive Vice-President, WestJet. “We look forward to more announcements later this year as we take delivery of additional aircraft.”