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CALGARY, Jan. 9, 2019 /CNW/ - Today WestJet announced December 2018 traffic results with a load factor of 82.8 per cent, a decrease of 0.8 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 3.4 per cent year over year, while capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 4.5 per cent over the same period. WestJet welcomed an additional 57,000 guests in December, a year over year increase of 2.7 per cent and set a record for guests flown on a single day with over 82,000 guests choosing WestJet on Friday, December 21. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the airline flew a record 6.2 million guests, a year over year increase of 2.9 per cent or approximately 175,000 additional guests. For the full year of 2018, the airline flew a record 25.5 million guests, a year over year increase of 5.6 per cent or approximately 1.4 million additional guests.
"We are very pleased to have welcomed more than 25 million guests on board in 2018 while achieving our highest ever full year load factor," said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. "I want to thank every individual WestJetter for providing our guests with a safe and remarkable travel experience during the busy holiday season."
December 2018 traffic results
December 2018 | December 2017 | Change | |
Load factor | 82.8% | 83.6% | -0.8 pts. |
ASMs (billions) | 2.877 | 2.754 | 4.5% |
RPMs (billions) | 2.381 | 2.303 | 3.4% |
Fourth Quarter 2018 | Fourth Quarter 2017 | Change | |
Load factor | 81.6% | 82.6% | -1.0 pts. |
ASMs (billions) | 8.109 | 7.659 | 5.9% |
RPMs (billions) | 6.615 | 6.329 | 4.5% |
Full Year 2018 | Full Year 2017 | Change | |
Load factor | 83.8% | 83.6% | 0.2 pts. |
ASMs (billions) | 32.939 | 30.998 | 6.3% |
RPMs (billions) | 27.587 | 25.904 | 6.5% |
Note: All statistics are at a consolidated WestJet group level
In December, WestJet announced its newest WestJet Rewards tier, Platinum, along with enhancements to the Rewards program that will make it easier for members to get even more value from WestJet's loyalty program. For example, WestJet Vacations packages will now count toward qualifying spend to help WestJet Rewards members reach elite tier status faster. Future enhancements to WestJet Rewards are anticipated throughout 2019.
About WestJet
Together with WestJet's 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 proud to be recognized as Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice winner – North America for 2017 and 2018 in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines. The airline was also named the Travellers' Choice Winner – Economy, North America, 2018. All awards are based on authentic reviews from the travelling public on TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site. We are one of very few airlines globally that does not commercially overbook.
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:
2018 Number-One-Ranked Airline Credit Card in Canada (Rewards Canada)
2018 North America's Best Low-Cost Airline (Skytrax)
2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice Winner Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines – North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018 Travellers' Choice Winner – Economy, North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018/2017/2016 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)
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SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership
