Today WestJet announced December 2018 traffic results with a load factor of 82.8 per cent, a decrease of 0.8 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 3.4 per cent year over year, while capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 4.5 per cent over the same period. WestJet welcomed an additional 57,000 guests in December, a year over year increase of 2.7 per cent and set a record for guests flown on a single day with over 82,000 guests choosing WestJet on Friday, December 21. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the airline flew a record 6.2 million guests, a year over year increase of 2.9 per cent or approximately 175,000 additional guests. For the full year of 2018, the airline flew a record 25.5 million guests, a year over year increase of 5.6 per cent or approximately 1.4 million additional guests.

"We are very pleased to have welcomed more than 25 million guests on board in 2018 while achieving our highest ever full year load factor," said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. "I want to thank every individual WestJetter for providing our guests with a safe and remarkable travel experience during the busy holiday season."

December 2018 traffic results

Note: All statistics are at a consolidated WestJet group level

In December, WestJet announced its newest WestJet Rewards tier, Platinum, along with enhancements to the Rewards program that will make it easier for members to get even more value from WestJet's loyalty program. For example, WestJet Vacations packages will now count toward qualifying spend to help WestJet Rewards members reach elite tier status faster. Future enhancements to WestJet Rewards are anticipated throughout 2019.

Contributed by WestJet