CALGARY, Sept. 12, 2016 /CNW/ – WestJet today announced August 2016 traffic results with a load factor of 86.5 per cent an increase of 1.9 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 11.3 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 8.8 per cent over the same period. The airline flew an all-time monthly record of 2.1 million guests in August, a year-over-year increase of 5.3 per cent or approximately 105,000 additional guests.

“We are pleased with our fourth consecutive month of double-digit traffic growth as we welcomed on board the highest ever monthly number of guests in our twenty year history,” said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. “My sincere thanks go out to our almost 12,000 WestJetters for their continuing commitment and passion through this very busy summer period.”

In August, WestJet announced new service to Belize commencing October 29th and that it will offer members of any airline or travel rewards program the opportunity to obtain gold status in its WestJet Rewards program. Gold flight benefits for eligible WestJet Rewards members include two free checked bags, 10 airport lounge vouchers, four advance seat selection vouchers, no fee to change to an earlier or later flight on the same day of travel, advance boarding and priority security screening at select airports.