Tag Archives: C-GKWJ

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: