The FINANCIAL –WestJet on June 3 announced May 2015 traffic results with a load factor of 77.2 per cent. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 6.6 per cent year-over-year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 9.1 per cent over the same period.
The airline flew a record 1.6 million guests in May, a year-over-year increase of 3.9 per cent or more than 63,000 additional guests, and achieved an on-time performance rate of 93.2 per cent, a year-over-year improvement of 8.3 percentage points, according to WestJet.
“We are pleased with our strong year over year traffic growth as we flew a record 1.6 million guests for the month of May while continuing to improve our on-time performance,” 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 each and every day.”
In May, WestJet announced improvements to its Plus product, enhancing the airline’s offering for value-oriented business travellers and comfort-seeking vacationers. Middle seats in Plus on WestJet’s Boeing Next Generation 737s will be outfitted with a new tray table between the aisle and window seat, giving guests a guaranteed empty middle seat. Seats in Plus on WestJet’s Boeing 767 aircraft will be wider than the airline’s current seats, with an aisle separating each set of two seats. The airline is upgrading meal options for guests in Plus to include a premium boxed meal on longer 737 flights and premium hot meals served on 767 flights, both with complimentary beverages.