CALGARY, Sept. 10, 2018
/CNW/ - Today WestJet announced August
2018 traffic results with a load factor of 89.0 per cent, a
decrease of 1.6 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger
miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 8.1 per cent year over year,
while capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 10.0
per cent over the same period. WestJet welcomed an additional
128,000 guests in August, a year-over-year increase of 5.4 per
cent. Year-to-date we continue to see traffic growth outpace
capacity additions.
"In August, we flew two of our busiest-ever traffic days with
more than 80,000 guests choosing one of our four airline brands. In
only its second full month of operation, Canadians continue to
embrace Swoop with load factors consistently above ninety-five per
cent," said Ed Sims, WestJet
President and CEO. "I want to thank every individual WestJetter for
continuing to provide our guests with an award-winning service
experience."
August 2018 traffic
results
|
August
2018
|
August
2017
|
Change
|
Load
factor
|
89.0%
|
90.6%
|
-1.6 pts.
|
ASMs
(billions)
|
3.074
|
2.794
|
10.0%
|
RPMs
(billions)
|
2.736
|
2.531
|
8.1%
|
|
Year-to-Date
2018
|
Year-to-Date
2017
|
Change
|
Load
factor
|
85.1%
|
84.3%
|
0.8 pts.
|
ASMs
(billions)
|
22.062
|
20.851
|
5.8%
|
RPMs
(billions)
|
18.780
|
17.575
|
6.9%
|
In August, WestJet became the first Canadian airline to launch
an artificial intelligence chatbot. Named Juliet, the chatbot
offers WestJet's guests more convenience, and enables travellers to
easily manage many aspects of their trip including destination
inspiration and discovery, flight booking and day-of travel
information. Juliet is available in English and French through
Facebook Messenger. To chat with Juliet, please
visit: http://m.me/westjet.
WestJet is also giving Canadians more sun and fun this winter.
As part of the winter schedule, WestJet announced more flights from
WestJet hubs to domestic, transborder, international and sun
destinations including Maui, Phoenix, Las
Vegas, Orlando, Huatulco, Puerto
Vallarta and Belize. The airline also announced new
twice-weekly, non-stop service between Calgary International
Airport (YYC) and Sangster International Airport in Montego
Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) and new weekly, non-stop service between
Skyxe Saskatoon Airport (YXE) and Orlando International
Airport (MCO). The services start November 3,
2018 and December 7, 2018, respectively.
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 Best Low-Cost Airline in North America (Skytrax)
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)
Connect with WestJet on Facebook
at facebook.com/westjet
Follow WestJet on Twitter at twitter.com/westjet
Subscribe to WestJet on YouTube
at youtube.com/westjet
Follow WestJet on Instagram instagram.com/westjet
Read the WestJet blog at blog.westjet.com
SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership