Air Canada and WestJet Airlines Ltd. flew with emptier planes in the first nine months of this year, compared with the same period last year, when the economy was healthier. Air Canada said yesterday that its nine-month load factor, or the proportion of seats filled by paying customers, fell to 81.3 per cent from 81.8 per cent, while its traffic slipped 6.7 per cent to nearly 37 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs). WestJet's nine-month load factor dropped to 78.7 per cent from 80.9 per cent while its traffic declined 0.3 per cent to 10.37 billion RPMs. For September, WestJet's load factor rose to 77.7 per cent from 75.5 per cent as it cut seat capacity by 2.5 per cent to 1.38 billion available seat miles (ASMs). Air Canada, whose statistics include its regional affiliate Jazz, saw its September load factor slide to 79.7 per cent from 79.9 per cent, even though it reduced seat capacity by 2 per cent to 5.23 billion ASMs. AC.B (TSX) fell 4 cents to $1.80. WJA (TSX) fell 17 cents to $11.01.
© The Globe and Mail
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