News
WestJet jetting into Spring with strong March results
April 4, 2012, Calgary - WestJet Airlines has reported strong passenger traffic results for March, saying Wednesday that it enjoyed its second-highest load factor for the month ever.
April 4, 2012 By The Canadian Press
Overall, the airline says it flew almost 104,000 more passengers in March than in the same month last year, increasing its load factor, which measures how much of its capacity is used, to 86.2 per cent from 84.8 per cent.
Revenue passenger miles, or RPMs, increased nine per cent year over year to 1.691 billion and capacity, measured in available seat miles, grew seven per cent to 1.96 billion over the same period.
"We are very pleased with the market strength we've seen in March and system-wide demand remains healthy,'' president and CEO Gregg Saretsky said.
"The market has absorbed our growth and increased fare levels have helped offset higher fuel costs.''
Meanwhile, Toronto-based Porter Airlines, a regional carrier, reported a record March load factor, filling 59.8 per cent of available seats, 10.2 points higher than the previous year.
The increase in load factor came even as Porter increased available seat miles by 20 per cent to 117.2 million. Revenue passenger miles grew 44.8 per cent to 70.1 million.
"March has become a stronger month for Porter with the development of seasonal leisure routes and a passenger base that travels year-round for business and pleasure,'' said Robert Deluce, president and CEO.
