News Releases

WestJet reports March load factor of 84.1 per cent

Airline increases traffic by 8.7 per cent, flies a record 2.0 million guests for the month of March

CALGARY, April 13, 2017 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced March 2017 traffic results with a load factor of 84.1 per cent, an increase of 0.9 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 8.7 per cent year-over-year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 7.4 per cent over the same period. The airline flew a record 5.7 million guests in the first quarter, a year-over-year increase of 6.8 per cent or approximately 363,000 additional guests.

"We continue to be pleased with our strong traffic growth as a record number of guests chose to fly with us in the first quarter," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "My thanks go out to all WestJetters for their dedication to providing our growing number of guests with a safe and remarkable travel experience."

March 2017 traffic results


March 2017

March 2016

Change

Load factor

84.1%

83.2%

0.9 pts

ASMs (billions)

2.676

2.491

7.4%

RPMs (billions)

2.252

2.072

8.7%


First quarter 2017

First quarter 2016

Change

Load factor

83.0%

82.1%

0.9 pts

ASMs (billions)

7.699

7.294

5.6%

RPMs (billions)

6.393

5.988

6.8%

WestJet recently announced an expansion to their reciprocal frequent flyer agreement with Delta Air Lines to include redemption of WestJet dollars on new select Delta routes including Paris, Tokyo, Rome, Madrid, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Sydney (Australia). Delta SkyMiles Members can now redeem miles anywhere WestJet flies.

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most trusted 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 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 150 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 vacations 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:
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)
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

For further information: WestJet Media Relations, 1-888-WJ-4-NEWS (1-888-954-6397), Email: media@westjet.com, Website: www.westjet.com, WestJet Investor Relations, 1-877-493-7853, Email: westjetinvestorrelations@westjet.com