WestJet announces April load factor of 81.2 per cent

Airlines revenue passenger miles increase 5.5 per cent

WestJet today announced April traffic results with a load factor of 81.2 per cent. Revenue passenger miles (RPM) increased 5.5 per cent year over year and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASM), grew 7.2 per cent over the same period.

"Given the difficult economic environment, we are positive about our April traffic results," commented Sean Durfy, WestJet President and CEO. "These results, which benefited from Easter travel, were driven by our network expansion into sun destinations and significant support from WestJet Vacations in filling seats."

Transat confirms customers have been freed following a hostage-taking in Jamaica

Transat confirms that its customers, as well as the crew aboard CanJet Flight 918, have been freed after being involved in a hostage-taking that began on April 19 at 11:30 p.m. ADT on the tarmac at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. All passengers and crew are safe and sound and no one was injured during the operation.

CanJet Flight 918 was en route from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Montego Bay and Santa Clara, Cuba.

Automated Flight Information Reporting System Enters Commercial Service in China

Shanghai Airlines ("SAL") has reported to AMA that its second afirs(TM)-equipped Boeing 767 has completed a successful entry into service on February 4, 2009 The maiden flight of the first system was from Shanghai to Saipan on December 27th,2008, and afirs(TM) system performed flawlessly. The second installation was completed at the Boeing China Modification Facility in Shanghai. Mr. Ding Xing Guo, Vice President of Flight Operations for SAL stated, "It is very important that our crews have continuous voice contact with our operations center to support each flight. The afirs system provides that continuous contact with a quality and clarity of the voice communications that is crystal clear".

WestJet announces record January load factor of 76.8 per cent

Airline reports a 10.3 per cent increase in revenue passenger miles

WestJet today announced strong January traffic results with a record January load factor of 76.8 per cent. Revenue passenger miles (RPM) increased 10.3 per cent year over year and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASM), grew 9.4 per cent over the same period.

"We are pleased with our increased load factor for the month of January," commented Sean Durfy, WestJet President and CEO. "Our traffic results demonstrate the success of our efforts to continue to profitably grow. With over 35,000 more guests coming onboard this January compared to last, we are further penetrating all the markets we serve.