News Releases
CALGARY, May 8, 2019 /CNW/ - Today WestJet announced April 2019 traffic results with a record load factor of 87.7 per cent, an increase of 1.7 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 7.0 per cent year over year, while capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 4.9 per cent over the same period. WestJet welcomed an additional 99,000 guests in April, a year over year increase of 4.7 per cent.
"In April, all preparatory work that went into two major initiatives culminated in the launch of our first transatlantic flight operated on our new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and the opening of our new wide-body hangar in Calgary. Both major programs launched on time, on budget and to scope," said WestJet President and CEO Ed Sims. "Another testament to the execution and delivery capability we have built throughout our organization."
April 2019 traffic results
April 2019 | April 2018 | Change | |
Load factor | 87.7% | 86.0% | +1.7 pts |
ASMs (billions) | 2.733 | 2.606 | 4.9% |
RPMs (billions) | 2.396 | 2.240 | 7.0% |
Year to date 2019 | Year to date 2018 | Change | |
Load factor | 85.5% | 85.1% | +0.4 pts |
ASMs (billions) | 11.189 | 10.634 | 5.2% |
RPMs (billions) | 9.564 | 9.050 | 5.7% |
Note: All statistics are at a consolidated WestJet group level
On April 28, 2019 WestJet's Dreamliner took its first transatlantic flight. The sold-out flight between Calgary and London, Gatwick featured WestJet's new long-haul lie-flat bed Business cabin. WestJet also increased travel options across the Atlantic with new non-stop service between Halifax and Dublin, Ireland. Further supporting our global growth, WestJet strengthened its codeshare with Air France providing WestJet guests access to new European destinations from Paris.
In April, Westjet also expanded travel options between the Northwestern United States and Western Canada with inaugural service to Portland, Oregon.
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 Best Low-Cost Airline in North America (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)
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
