WestJet reports September load factor of 75.9 per cent
 

Good Morning All:

Here are the latest results for our Teal friends in YYC which is nice to see the airline industry is rebounding in Canada.


WestJet reports September load factor of 75.9 per cent


Airline increases quarterly traffic by 6.8 per cent year over year and achieves its third highest load factor for a third quarter
CALGARY, Oct. 6, 2014 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced September 2014 traffic results with a load factor of 75.9 per cent. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 6.0 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 6.8 per cent over the same period. The airline flew an all-time record 5.2 million guests in the third quarter, a year-over-year increase of 6.2 per cent or approximately 306,000 additional guests.
"We are very pleased with the strong year over year traffic growth we saw in the third quarter, as we flew more than 5 million guests for the first time and achieved our third highest load factor for a third quarter at 83.1 per cent," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "I want to thank our 10,000 WestJetters for continuing to deliver a remarkable guest experience as we transition through our shoulder period into the busy winter season."
September 2014 September 2013 Change Load factor 75.9% 76.6% (0.7 pts)
ASMs (billions) 1.982 1.855 6.8%
RPMs (billions) 1.505 1.420 6.0%

Third quarter 2014 Third quarter 2013 Change

Load factor 83.1% 82.8% 0.3 pts
ASMs (billions) 6.498 6.109 6.4%
RPMs (billions) 5.401 5.059 6.8%

Year-to-date 2014 Year-to-date 2013 Change

Load factor 82.0% 82.2% (0.2 pts)
ASMs (billions) 19.206 18.029 6.5%
RPMs (billions) 15.748 14.823 6.2%

From a SLF perspective, it will be interesting to see how long this trend can last, especially with their recent moves into 'premium' seating (I use the term lightly) aka cramming the unwashed into the Rouge-esque rear, and the downgrade from 737 to Q400 service on multiple other routes. This in addition to baggage charges etc.

They appear to be ape-ing the very AC behavior that led, to me at least, abandoning AC altogether a few years back on domestic flights. To this end I booked Porter for the first time ever for my flights later this month.

The tragedy in this near-monopoly / oligopolistic market is there really are precious few alternatives... Except - when AC and WJ travel both become equally squalid, it is better to just stay at home and use Virtual Meetings.

For me, their race-to-the-bottom is nearing its end. :{

WestJet's service to Dublin, Ireland was so successful, they are now serving Glasgow, Scotland from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Dublin St Johns
 

Did the Dublin Canada last july, next to perfect.
Shorter than my domestic Oslo , Med runs and with sweeter girls.
Return Customer.
B