WestJet reports July load factor of 85.2 percent

CALGARY, Canada – WestJet today announced July 2016 traffic results with a load factor of 85.2 percent an increase of 2.4 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 13.9 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 10.7 percent over the same period. The airline flew a record 2.0 million guests in July, a year-over-year increase of 6.6 percent or approximately 126,000 additional guests.

“We are very pleased with our continued double-digit traffic growth as we achieved our second-highest July load factor and flew a record 2.0 million guests for the month of July,” said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. “I want to thank our almost 12,000 WestJetters for their commitment to providing a remarkable guest experience through the busy summer travel season.”

July 2016 traffic results
July 2016 July 2015 Change

Load factor 85.2% 82.8% 2.4 pts
ASMs (billions) 2.627 2.374 10.7%
RPMs (billions) 2.239 1.966 13.9%
Year-to-date 2016 Year-to-date 2015 Change
Load factor 82.0% 80.3% 1.7 pts
ASMs (billions) 17.037 15.847 7.5%
RPMs (billions) 13.976 12.731 9.8%

In July, WestJet announced its 2016-2017 winter schedule that included new flights to its growing domestic and international networks. The winter schedule includes new non-stop weekly service between Regina and Orlando, Florida, and new flights from Toronto to a number of Canadian and international destinations including Vancouver, Ottawa, Moncton, Myrtle Beach, Aruba, Kingston (Jamaica), San Jose and Liberia (Costa Rica), Port of Spain and St. Martin.

Beginning October 29, 2016, WestJet will become the only Canadian airline to provide non-stop service to Belize, connecting Toronto with Belize City twice weekly, including connecting service from Western and Atlantic Canada.