WestJet reports September 2010 load factor of 75.5 percent

Airline flew an additional 49,000 guests this September compared to last

October 5, 2010

WestJet today announced September 2010 traffic results with a load factor of 75.5 percent. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 8.8 per cent year over year. Capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 11.9 per cent over the same period.

'Overall, we are pleased with both our September and third quarter traffic results. We continue to prudently expand our network, positioning us well for the future. We are also positive about the upward recovery we are experiencing,' said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky.

This month's load factor, although down 2.2 points from last year, is above the historical average for the month of September. 'Moreover, we flew an additional 49,000 guests for the month while we continued to expand our network with growth of 11.9 per cent,' added Gregg Saretsky. In the third quarter, WestJet's load factor was flat year over year on 11. 7 per cent increased capacity growth.

'Our ability to deliver on our growth plans is because of the hard work and support of WestJetters. I thank all 7,900 of them for their care, energy and commitment to our guests and business,' said Gregg Saretsky.

West Jet recently received results from the Harris/Decima EquiTrend study that showed WestJet has the highest brand equity of the airlines included in the study. The online survey was conducted in August 2010 and included interviews with over 15,000 Canadians who validated the work WestJetters do to earn such an impressive result.

'Caring WestJetters represent the value in our brand and these results show that Canadians appreciate them for it,' said Gregg Saretsky.

WestJet recently implemented a code-share arrangement with Cathay Pacific, its first in a series of code-share arrangements with major international airlines. Under the agreement, Cathay Pacific's 'CX' code will be placed on WestJet flights between Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg and the Hong Kong carrier's two Canadian gateways, Toronto and Vancouver. Code-share bookings are available for travel from October 20, 2010.

'This is a major milestone for WestJet in achieving its vision to become one of the five most successful airlines in the world, and it was enabled through our investment in the SabreSonic reservation system and the hard work of WestJetters across the organization,' concluded Gregg Saretsky.

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