Airline increases traffic by 6.5 per cent and flies a record number of guests in January.
WestJet today announced record January 2018 traffic results with a load factor of 82.6 per cent, an increase of 2.6 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 6.5 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 3.1 per cent over the same period. The airline flew a record 2.0 million guests in January, a year-over-year increase of 7.9 per cent or approximately 150,000 additional guests.
“We are pleased to start the year off with a strong year-over-year increase in January’s load factor, as we continue to grow traffic in a strengthening demand environment,” said WestJet President and CEO, Gregg Saretsky. “As always, I thank the more than 13,000 WestJetters whose efforts power our airline. The safe, caring and friendly travel experience they offer our guests each day is greatly appreciated.”
January 2018 traffic results
January 2018 January 2017 Change
Load factor 82.6% 80.0% 2.6 pts
ASMs (billions) 2.734 2.653 3.1%
RPMs (billions) 2.259 2.122 6.5%
In January, WestJet announced its summer schedule, which includes daily direct flights between Halifax and both Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and London’s Gatwick Airport (LGW). This summer, WestJet will operate an average of 765 daily flights to 92 destinations including 43 in Canada, 22 in the United States, 23 in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, and four in Europe. WestJet will also inaugurate daily non-stop service between Calgary and Denver starting March 8, 2018, non-stop service between Mexico City and both Calgary and Vancouver starting March 14 and March 15, 2018, respectively, and seasonal non-stop service between Whitehorse and Calgary beginning June 29, 2018.
Caution regarding forward-looking information
Certain information set forth in this news release, including, without limitation, information regarding our service to Charles de Gaulle airport and planned summer schedule, is forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond WestJet’s control. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on WestJet’s current forecasts and strategy, the expected demand environment, the utilization of our fleet, the forward-curve for jet fuel price, the expected exchange rate of the Canadian dollar to the U.S. dollar, agreements and bookings, but may vary due to factors including, but not limited to, changes in guest demand, changes in fuel prices, delays in aircraft delivery, general economic conditions, competitive environment, ability to effectively implement and maintain critical systems and other factors and risks described in WestJet’s public reports and filings which are available under WestJet’s profile at sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may vary materially from the forward-looking information. WestJet does not undertake to update, correct or revise any forward-looking information as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.
