Porter, WestJet set record July load factors

Porter Airlines carried more than 240,000 passengers in July, the most for any month in its history, while also setting a record July load factor of 70.1%. Passenger numbers increased 19.7% from the previous year. Figures for the month show 130.7 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs) and 91.6 million Revenue Passenger Miles (RPMs). ASMs grew 12.9% from 115.8 million and RPMs increased 18.3% from 77.4 million last year. “The peak summer travel season is meeting our expectations with strong demand projected for coming months,”said Porter president Robert Deluce. (http://www.flyporter.com) Meanwhile, WestJet has reported July traffic results with a record load factor of 85.3%. Revenue passenger miles, or traffic, increased 6.6% year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles, grew 2% over the same period. The airline flew nearly 126,000 more guests this July compared to July of last year. “Demand remains strong and momentum continues at WestJet with another record load factor and strong year-over-year traffic growth,”commented WestJet president Gregg Saretsky. In July, WestJet released its winter 2012-2013 flight schedule, which included four new sun destinations. The new Caribbean destinations are Antigua and Barbuda and Curacao, both from Toronto. The airline’s newest Mexican destination is Manzanillo, via Calgary. The airline also announced its first destination in Central America, offering twice weekly service to Liberia, Costa Rica. (http://www.westjet.com)