WestJet reports December load factor of 80.9 per cent

Airline increases full-year traffic by 6.3 per cent year over year and achieves its third highest fourth quarter and full-year load factors

CALGARY, Jan. 7, 2015 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced December 2014 traffic results with a load factor of 80.9 per cent. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 5.1 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 6.1 per cent over the same period. In the month of December, WestJet achieved an on-time performance rate of 77.5 per cent, an improvement of 29.1 percentage points. The airline flew a record 19.7 million guests in the full-year 2014, a year-over-year increase of 6.3 per cent or approximately 1.2 million additional guests.

"We are very pleased with the strong traffic growth we saw throughout 2014, welcoming a record 4.8 million guests on board in the fourth quarter to finish the year with our third highest fourth quarter and full-year load factors," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "I want to thank our more than 10,000 WestJetters for continuing to deliver our brand of friendly caring service this busy holiday season."

December 2014 traffic results

WestJet Rewards' competitor top tier status match offer has been popular, with thousands enrolled in the airline's Gold tier since the offer's launch in October 2014. WestJet expects the offer to complement the airline's strategy to gain greater share of the frequent traveller market. The offer runs through the end of January 2015. In December, WestJet announced a reciprocal frequent flyer agreement with Delta Air Lines, further enhancing the WestJet Rewards program. The agreement allows WestJet Rewards members to earn WestJet dollars on flights marketed and operated by Delta Airlines, with access to Delta's extensive global network of more than 300 destinations on six continents.

Caution regarding forward-looking information
Certain information set forth in this news release, including, without limitation, information regarding our expectation that the WestJet Rewards' competitor top tier status match offer will complement our strategy to gain greater share of the frequent traveler market is forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Corporation's control, including those risk factors described in WestJet's public reports and filings which are available under WestJet's profile at www.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.

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most-preferred 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 90 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 120 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:
2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt)
2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
2014 Brands of the Year (Strategy magazine)
2014 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2014/2013 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine and RewardsCanada.ca)
2013 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)

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SOURCE WestJet

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