CALGARY, July 13, 2017 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced June 2017 traffic results with a record load factor of 82.9 per cent, an increase of 2.5 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 8.9 per cent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 5.7 per cent over the same period. For the second quarter of 2017, the airline achieved a record load factor of 82.8 per cent, an increase of 2.0 percentage points year over year, and flew a record 5.9 million guests, a year over year increase of 11.5 per cent or approximately 608,000 additional guests.

"We are very pleased with our record-breaking traffic and load factor as we flew more guests, and achieved new records for both June and the second quarter, while celebrating WestJet Encore's fourth birthday," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "As we transition into the busy summer season, I want to sincerely thank our more than 12,000 WestJetters for their continued passion and commitment to providing our award winning brand of friendly caring service."

In June, WestJet launched the airline's first non-stop flights within the province of Quebec with four flights daily connecting Quebec City and Montreal. This new route is the second of three the airline announced earlier this year – bringing more choice, competition and lower fares to the Quebec market. The routes are part of a significant investment in Quebec's travel and tourism market, with increased service and new routes to and from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and Quebec City, Halifax, and Boston as well as Jean Lesage International Airport and Toronto and Montreal.