WestJet touts success despite fuel increases

WestJet CFO Vito Culmone touted WestJet's success to investors at last week's Dahlman Rose Transportation conference, saying all metrics were ahead of last year. He reported August posted a record load factor at 83.3% while overall revenue passenger miles rose 7.7% and year-to-date revenue passenger miles (RPMs) were up over 9%. Mr Culmone also echoed peers speaking at the conference that forward bookings remain healthy and its capacity increases continued to be absorbed by the market.

As with is low-cost counterparts south of the border, WestJet is in a growth mode, improving its footprint in Eastern Canada as well as in the trans-border and near international markets. More than half its service is to destinations outside of Canada. That shifts higher in the winter when it increases service to sun destinations and then switches back in summer when about 75% of capacity is in Canada.