Tag Archives: 34151

WestJet denies flight 254 from Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta was hijacked

WestJet (Calgary) has issued this statement:

WestJet can confirm that a rumor that WestJet flight 2154 from Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, was hijacked on January 10 is completely false.

The rumor stemmed from a tweet by a flight-tracking website that the aircraft operating the flight was transmitting a hijack code via its transponders. However, at this point in time, WestJet has no evidence that such a code was ever transmitted. Both the flight crew and local air traffic control confirm that no such code was ever sent or received, and testing on the aircraft’s transponder shows it is (and was) functionally normally. WestJet cannot speak to rumour, speculation or comments that suggest otherwise.

The aircraft arrived in Puerto Vallarta as scheduled and is now operating its scheduled flight back to Canada. WestJet would like to thank everyone for their concern for our guests and crew during this incident.

Copyright Photo: Chris Sands/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8CT C-GKWJ (msn 34151) with Aviation Partners Boeing Split Scimitar Winglets arrives back at the Calgary home.

WestJet aircraft slide show:

WestJet gets approval for passenger PEDs during all phases of flight

WestJet (Calgary) yesterday (June 2) announced that guests now have full access to their personal electronic devices (PEDs) during all phases of flight, including taxi-in and out, take-off and landing in non-transmitting or flight mode, starting immediately.

The move follows a recent Transport Canada exemption that enables airlines, once they have met all necessary safety conditions, to provide guests with access to PEDs such as cameras, electronic games and tablet computers. WestJet has completed comprehensive testing to ensure its fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft is proven safe and does not cause interference with navigation or communication systems on the aircraft. Testing is now underway on WestJet Encore’s growing fleet of Bombardier Q400s.

WestJet:

WestJet reports 3Q net earnings of C$65.1 million

WestJet (Calgary) today announced its third quarter 2013 results, with net earnings of $65.1 million, or $0.50 per diluted share. This compares with the net earnings of $70.6 million, or $0.52 per diluted share reported in the third quarter of 2012. Based on the trailing twelve months, the airline achieved a return on invested capital of 13.8 per cent, compared with the 14.4 per cent reported in the previous quarter, and one of the best third quarters in WestJet history.

“We had a strong third quarter in which we flew a record number of guests, exceeded our 12 per cent ROIC target for the fifth consecutive quarter, and reached our initial business transformation initiative milestone one year early by implementing and identifying various opportunities which we believe will result in approximately $100 million in future cost savings in 2014,” said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. “With the market launch of our Plus product in August, we are now providing our business and leisure guests with even more flexibility, comfort and convenience, and my thanks go to WestJetters for their ongoing efforts to take care of our guests.”


	Q3 13	Q3 12	Change	YTD 2013	YTD 2012	Change
Net earnings (millions)	$65.1	$70.6	(7.8%)	$200.9	$181.4	10.7%
Diluted earnings per share	$0.50	$0.52	(3.8%)	$1.51	$1.33	13.5%
Total revenues (millions)	$924.8	$866.5	6.7%	$2,735.8	$2,566.8	6.6%
Operating margin	10.7%	12.5%	(1.8 pts)	10.9%	11.1%	(0.2 pts)
ASMs (billions)	6.109	5.498	11.1%	18.029	16.576	8.8%
RPMs (billions)	5.059	4.654	8.7%	14.823	13.770	7.6%
Load factor	82.8%	84.6%	(1.8 pts)	82.2%	83.1%	(0.9 pts)
Segment guests	4,940,943	4,611,315	7.1%	13,927,538	13,109,328	6.2%
Yield (cents)	18.28	18.62	(1.8%)	18.46	18.64	(1.0%)
RASM (cents)	15.14	15.76	(3.9%)	15.17	15.48	(2.0%)
CASM (cents)	13.52	13.80	(2.0%)	13.52	13.77	(1.8%)

During the third quarter, WestJet continued the roll-out of WestJet Encore, beginning service to Brandon, Manitoba on September 3 and announcing Terrace, B.C. as a new community that will welcome its first Encore flight on November 25, 2013. WestJet Encore also added new non-stop routes joining the dots in WestJet’s network, including flights between Winnipeg and Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Regina and between Vancouver and Kamloops, B.C. “We are very pleased with the overwhelming community support WestJet Encore has received, as we give even more Canadians access to lower fares, stimulate demand in smaller communities, and repeat WestJet’s success in the regional space,” said Gregg Saretsky.

In the third quarter, WestJet entered into a definitive purchase agreement for 65 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with deliveries scheduled from 2017 through 2027. This order will enable the airline to enhance its inflight guest experience, support its low-cost business model, and contribute to its profitable growth by utilizing a lower operating cost aircraft that is expected to reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions by 13 per cent, as compared with the most fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft currently available.

With the impact on demand caused by the summer flooding in Calgary, Alberta and the surrounding communities behind the airline, WestJet expects continued strong traffic and revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2013. The airline anticipates its 2013 fourth quarter RASM to be roughly flat as compared to the same period in the prior year.

The airline expects jet fuel costs to range between 90 and 92 cents per liter for the fourth quarter of 2013, representing a down 1.0 to up 1.0 per cent year-over-year change. For the full year 2013, the airline now expects CASM, excluding fuel and employee profit share, to be down approximately 0.5 per cent year-over-year.

WestJet:

WestJet reports a record net profit in the second quarter

WestJet (Calgary) announced its 33^rd consecutive quarter of profitability, with record second quarter net earnings of $44.7 million (all figures in CA dollars) , or $0.34 per diluted share. This compares with the net earnings of $42.5 million , or $0.31 per diluted share reported in the second quarter of 2012. These results include $8.4 million of one-time pre-tax transition costs associated with WestJet’s business transformation initiative. Based on the trailing twelve months, the airline achieved a return on invested capital of 14.4 per cent, up from the 14.3 per cent reported in the previous quarter.

Operating highlights (stated in Canadian dollars)

	Q2 2013	Q2 2012	Change	Year-to- date 2013	Year-to- date 2012	Change
Net earnings (millions)	$44.7	$42.5	5.2%	$135.8	$110.8	22.6%
Diluted earnings per share	$0.34	$0.31	9.7%	$1.02	$0.81	25.9%
Total revenues (millions)	$843.7	$809.3	4.3%	$1,810.9	$1,700.2	6.5%
Operating margin	7.9%	8.7%	(0.8 pts)	11.0%	10.4%	0.6 pts
ASMs (available seat miles) (billions)	5.888	5.389	9.3%	11.920	11.079	7.6%
RPMs (revenue passenger miles) (billions)	4.675	4.395	6.4%	9.763	9.116	7.1%
Load factor	79.4%	81.6%	(2.2 pts)	81.9%	82.3%	(0.4 pts)
Segment guests	4,493,271	4,267,598	5.3%	8,986,595	8,498,013	5.7%
Yield (revenue per revenue passenger mile) (cents)	18.05	18.41	(2.0%)	18.55	18.65	(0.5%)
RASM (revenue per available seat mile) (cents)	14.33	15.02	(4.6%)	15.19	15.35	(1.0%)
CASM (cost per available seat mile) (cents)	13.20	13.71	(3.7%)	13.52	13.76	(1.7%)
CASM, excluding fuel and employee profit share (cents)*	9.06	9.12	(0.7%)	9.00	9.03	(0.3%)

*Refer to reconciliations in the accompanying tables for further information regarding calculations.

In the second quarter, WestJet successfully launched WestJet Encore, Canada’s newest regional airline with its first two new Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen aircraft. WestJet’s new regional airline will provide more Canadians with access to WestJet’s low fares and caring guest experience, while enhancing the airline’s value to the business market. “We are pleased with initial results in both the local market and the significant connecting traffic flows from the new regional service,” said Gregg Saretsky.

WestJet expects to continue its strong traffic and revenue growth in the third quarter of 2013. The airline anticipates its 2013 third quarter RASM, as compared to the same period in the prior year, to experience a similar level of year-over-year percentage decline as the second quarter of 2013, primarily as a result of increased capacity associated with higher utilization, the reconfiguration of WestJet’s Boeing 737-800 fleet, and the ramping up of WestJet Encore. June and July traffic experienced some booking weakness due to the impact of flooding in Calgary and the surrounding communities.

The airline expects jet fuel costs to range between 90 and 92 cents per litre for the third quarter of 2013, representing a flat to up two per cent year-over-year increase. In terms of CASM, excluding fuel and employee profit share, WestJet expects it to be down 0.5 to down 1.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2013.

For the full year 2013, the airline now expects CASM, excluding fuel and employee profit share, to be down 0.5 to down 1.0 per cent year-over-year primarily as a result of cost reductions achieved and anticipated through its previously announced company-wide business transformation initiative.

For the full-year 2014, the airline anticipates system-wide capacity growth between four and six per cent. “The flexibility we have built into our fleet plan through lease renewal options and our ability to deploy a mix of Boeing 737 and Bombardier Q400 aircraft allows us to tailor capacity and continue our profitable growth while aligning with market conditions,” noted Gregg Saretsky.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. WestJet is reconfiguring its Boeing 737-800 fleet. Boeing 737-8CT C-GKWJ (msn 34151) taxies to the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.

WestJet: