News Releases

WestJet reports May load factor of 80.6 per cent

Airline increases traffic by 4.8%, flies a record 2.0 million guests for the month of May

CALGARY, June 8, 2017 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced May 2017 traffic results with a load factor of 80.6 per cent, second highest for May in WestJet's 21-year history. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 4.8 per cent year-over-year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 5.9 per cent over the same period. The airline flew a record 2.0 million guests in May, a year-over-year increase of 8.2 per cent or approximately 147,000 additional guests.

"We continue to be pleased with our strong traffic growth as a record number of guests chose to fly with us in May," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "I want to thank our more than 12,000 WestJetters who continue to deliver our award winning brand of friendly caring service each and every day."

May 2017 traffic results


May 2017

May 2016

Change

Load factor

80.6%

81.4%

(0.8 pts)

ASMs (billions)

2.511

2.371

5.9%

RPMs (billions)

2.023

1.931

4.8%


Year-to-date 2017

Year-to-date 2016

Change

Load factor

82.9%

81.7%

1.2 pts

ASMs (billions)

12.779

12.060

6.0%

RPMs (billions)

10.594

9.848

7.6%

In May, WestJet announced it had again been named Canada's most trusted airline by the Gustavson Brand Trust Index instituted by the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria. The airline was also named one of Canada's top ten most trusted brands. The results are based on more than 6,500 Canadian consumer responses to a survey on 294 Canadian brands.

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most trusted 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 100 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 150 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:
2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)
2017 Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice Winner Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines – North America (TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice awards for Airlines)
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)
2015/2011/2010/2008/2007/2006/2005 Canada's Most Admired Corporate Culture (Waterstone Human Capital)
2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt)

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SOURCE WestJet

For further information: WestJet Media Relations, 1-888-WJ-4-NEWS (1-888-954-6397), Email: media@westjet.com, Website: www.westjet.com; WestJet Investor Relations, 1-877-493-7853, Email: investor_relations@westjet.com