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Airline increases traffic by 6.2 per cent year over year, flies a record 1.9 million guests for the month of January

CALGARY, Feb. 9, 2017 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced January 2017 traffic results with a load factor of 80.0 per cent. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 6.2 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 6.3 per cent over the same period. The airline flew a record 1.9 million guests in January, a year-over-year increase of 7.1 per cent or approximately 123,000 additional guests.

"We continue to be pleased with our strong traffic growth as a record number of guests chose to fly with WestJet in January," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "I want to thank our more than 12,000 WestJetters for their ongoing commitment to delivering our award winning brand of caring friendly service."

January 2017 traffic results

In January, WestJet began non-stop service to Winnipeg from Hamilton International Airport as well as relaunching non-stop service to Edmonton and Halifax from Hamilton. Starting in January WestJet officially inaugurated service to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport from Calgary and Edmonton. WestJet also announced it will become the first Canadian carrier featuring non-stop, twice-weekly service between Calgary International Airport and Nashville's Metropolitan Nashville Airport starting on May 4, 2017.

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