WestJet reports June load factor of 83.6 per cent

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Jul 09, 2018, 07:45 ET

CALGARY, July 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Today WestJet announced June 2018 traffic results with a load factor of 83.6 per cent, an increase of 0.7 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 8.5 per cent year over year, while capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 7.5 per cent over the same period. WestJet welcomed an additional 120,000 guests in June, a year-over-year increase of 6.0 per cent.

"We continued to increase traffic and connectivity in the second quarter," Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. "In June, we successfully launched our ultra-low-cost carrier Swoop, enhanced regional service with the launch of WestJet Link and celebrated WestJet Encore's fifth birthday. We are proud to be Canada's most reliable airline, as WestJet placed 2^nd for major North American airlines and WestJet Encore placed 2^nd for all North American regional airlines for on-time performance in the month, as reported by Flight Stats. My sincere thanks go out to each individual WestJetter for their on-going commitment to delivering our award-winning service."

June 2018 traffic results

	June 2018	June 2017	Change
Load factor	83.6%	82.9%	0.7 pts.
ASMs (billions)	2.671	2.484	7.5%
RPMs (billions)	2.232	2.058	8.5%
	Second Quarter 2018	Second Quarter 2017	Change
Load factor	83.9%	82.8%	1.1 pts.
ASMs (billions)	7.922	7.564	4.7%
RPMs (billions)	6.646	6.260	6.2%
	Year to Date 2018	Year to Date 2017	Change
Load factor	84.4%	82.9%	1.5 pts.
ASMs (billions)	15.951	15.263	4.5%
RPMs (billions)	13.456	12.653	6.3%

In June, Swoop flew into the Canadian travel market to provide the country with a no-frills, lower-fare air travel option that will get more Canadians travelling. Swoop has the unique position of being the only ultra-low-cost carrier in Canada with a strong balance sheet, a modern fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft and a management team with deep knowledge of the aviation market. For more details on Swoop, its 2018 launch plans and employment opportunities, sign up at FlySwoop.com.

WestJet also inaugurated new regional airline service, WestJet Link, with service from Cranbrook, Prince George, Lethbridge, Lloydminster and Medicine Hat to WestJet's growing hub at the Calgary International Airport. All WestJet Link flights are operated by Pacific Coastal Airlines using its fleet of 34-seat Saab 340B aircraft. Each aircraft includes six seats available in WestJet Plus, offering guests advanced boarding, no-charge for two checked bags and seating at the front of the aircraft.

About WestJet
Together with WestJet's regional airline, WestJet Encore, we offer scheduled service to more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe and to more than 175 destinations in over 20 countries through our airline partnerships. WestJet Vacations offers affordable, flexible vacations to more than 60 destinations and the choice of more than 800 hotels, resorts, condos and villas. Members of the WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of flights and vacations packages to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods, and have access to Member Exclusive fares offering deals to WestJet destinations throughout our network and those of our partner airlines.

WestJet is proud to be recognized as Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice winner – North America for 2017 and 2018 in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines. The airline was also named the Travellers' Choice Winner – Economy, North America, 2018. All awards are based on authentic reviews from the travelling public on TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site. We are one of very few airlines globally that does not commercially overbook.

WestJet is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol WJA. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.

Recent recognition includes:
2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice Winner Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines – North America(TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018 Travellers' Choice Winner – Economy, North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)
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)

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SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership