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Airline reports record September traffic, a 7.8 per cent increase year over year, and improves on-time performance to 90.7 per cent

CALGARY, Oct. 5, 2015 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced September 2015 traffic results with a load factor of 77.4 per cent. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 7.8 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 5.9 per cent over the same period. WestJet achieved an on-time performance rate of 90.7 per cent in the month of September, an improvement of 3.7 percentage points year-over-year. In the third quarter of 2015, the airline flew a record 5.5 million guests, a year-over-year increase of 5.2 per cent or approximately 270,000 additional guests.

"We are very pleased with our strong year over year traffic growth as we continue to fly record numbers of guests while improving our on-time performance," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "As we transition through our shoulder period into the busy winter season, I want to thank our more than 10,000 WestJetters for their commitment to providing our brand of friendly caring service."

September 2015 traffic results

In September, WestJet launched its new Plus product on all Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft featuring an empty middle seat for more space and privacy, added services, and upgraded meal options including premium boxed meals on longer flights. On WestJet's Boeing 767 aircraft, guests in Plus can enjoy wider seats configured with an aisle separating each set of two seats. These new features are in addition to flexibility and convenience features already offered as part of WestJet's Plus product.

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 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 vacation 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:

2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt)
2015/2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (MoneySense magazine)
2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in the Canada's Choice ranking (RewardsCanada.ca)
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)
2014/2013/2012/2011 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)

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SOURCE WestJet