APRIL 6TH, 2016

WestJet reports March load factor of 83.2 per cent

CALGARY, April 6, 2016 /CNW/ – WestJet today announced March 2016 traffic results with a load factor of 83.2 per cent. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 7.4 per cent year-over-year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 5.0 per cent over the same period. The airline flew a record 5.3 million guests in the first quarter, a year-over-year increase of 8.4 per cent or approximately 411,000 additional guests.

“We continue to be pleased with our strong traffic growth as a record number of guests chose to fly with us in the first quarter. Our airline partnership strategy continues to contribute to our traffic and in March we added Emirates as our fifteenth code-share partner,” said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. “My thanks go out to all WestJetters for their commitment to delivering a remarkable experience to our guests.”

WestJet continues to expect its first quarter RASM to be in line with its previous guidance.

In March, WestJet announced new seasonal non-stop service to Halifax from Vancouver and Winnipeg beginning June 29, 2016. These routes make WestJet the only airline in Canada offering non-stop flights to Halifax from Vancouver and Winnipeg. Also in March, WestJet Encore launched its first transborder route with inaugural service between Toronto and Boston.