News Releases

Airline increases quarterly traffic by 6.8 per cent year over year and achieves its third highest load factor for a third quarter

CALGARY, Oct. 6, 2014 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced September 2014 traffic results with a load factor of 75.9 per cent. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 6.0 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 6.8 per cent over the same period. The airline flew an all-time record 5.2 million guests in the third quarter, a year-over-year increase of 6.2 per cent or approximately 306,000 additional guests.

"We are very pleased with the strong year over year traffic growth we saw in the third quarter, as we flew more than 5 million guests for the first time and achieved our third highest load factor for a third quarter at 83.1 per cent," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "I want to thank our 10,000 WestJetters for continuing to deliver a remarkable guest experience as we transition through our shoulder period into the busy winter season."

September 2014 traffic results

In September, WestJet announced the launch of its new WestJet Rewards tiers program featuring three levels - Teal, Silver and Gold. Under the new tiers program, frequent guests will be eligible for higher WestJet dollar earn rates on WestJet flights, additional companion flights, and new easy-to-use flight benefits. For more information on all the significant benefits offered with the new WestJet Rewards tiers, please visit westjet.com/tiers.

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most-preferred 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 91 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 120 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:

2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
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 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine)
2013 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)
2013 Gold Stevie Award Best Transportation Company (American Business Awards)
2013 Chairman's Circle Award: WestJet Vacations (CPSC)

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SOURCE WestJet