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Airline increases traffic by 8.9 per cent, achieves a record second quarter load factor of 82.8 per cent

CALGARY, July 13, 2017 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced June 2017 traffic results with a record load factor of 82.9 per cent, an increase of 2.5 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 8.9 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 5.7 per cent over the same period. For the second quarter of 2017, the airline achieved a record load factor of 82.8 per cent, an increase of 2.0 percentage points year over year, and flew a record 5.9 million guests, a year over year increase of 11.5 per cent or approximately 608,000 additional guests.

"We are very pleased with our record-breaking traffic and load factor as we flew more guests, and achieved new records for both June and the second quarter, while celebrating WestJet Encore's fourth birthday," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "As we transition into the busy summer season, I want to sincerely thank our more than 12,000 WestJetters for their continued passion and commitment to providing our award winning brand of friendly caring service."

June 2017 traffic results

In June, WestJet launched the airline's first non-stop flights within the province of Quebec with four flights daily connecting Quebec City and Montreal. This new route is the second of three the airline announced earlier this year – bringing more choice, competition and lower fares to the Quebec market. The routes are part of a significant investment in Quebec's travel and tourism market, with increased service and new routes to and from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and Quebec City, Halifax, and Boston as well as Jean Lesage International Airport and Toronto and Montreal.

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:
2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)
2017 Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice Winner Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines – North America (TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice awards for Airlines)
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