CALGARY - WestJet (TSX:WJA) said Monday that its flights had fewer empty seats in September compared with a year ago as the airline cut capacity compared with the same month last year.
"While the demand environment remained a challenge, our strategic capacity management, strengthening sales channels and strong brand helped us end the quarter on a positive note," WestJet president and CEO Sean Durfy said.
"With the third quarter of 2009 coming to an end, we anticipate a year-over-year revenue per available seat mile decline of 15 to 17 per cent for the period - this is slightly better than our original expectations."
The Calgary-based airline reported a load factor - or proportion of seats filled -of 77 per cent for September, up from 75.5 per cent a year ago.
Revenue passenger miles increased 0.4 per cent year over year, while capacity, measured in available seat miles, fell 2.5 per cent over the same period.
WestJet operates a fleet of 81 aircraft with scheduled service to 66 cities in North America and the Caribbean.
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