WestJet flies less full in September

WestJet Airlines planes flew less full in September, the airline reported Wednesday.

The carrier reported a load factor of 74.7 per cent compared with 75.5 per cent in September a year ago as increases in seat sales fell behind expanded capacity.

WestJet’s traffic, as measured by revenues passenger miles, increased 6.9 per cent while capacity grew eight per cent.

"September traffic fell slightly short of our capacity growth despite increased fare sale activity. Forward bookings, however, remain healthy," Gregg Saretsky said in a statement.

Overall, the airline flew 76,000 more passengers last month.

For the third quarter ended Sept. 30, WestJet's load factor was 80.1 per cent, compared with 79.6 per cent a year earlier. Traffic grew 7.7 per cent while capacity was up 7.13 per cent.

Cameron Doerksen, an analyst with National Bank Financial, said the traffic growth was weaker than expected, possibly pointing towards softening demand.

Porter reports record September

Porter Airlines’ September traffic reached a record 212,000 revenue passenger miles, as its planes flew 68 per cent full, a gain of 12.2 percentage points.

Traffic from its hub at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, on one of the islands off Toronto's lakeshore, increased nearly 47 per cent while capacity grew 20 per cent.

September is typically a slower month for Porter, as the market changes from summer leisure travel to fall business travel.

"The ability to maintain load factor within one per cent from August is impressive and a good sign as we enter the year's last quarter," said CEO Robert Deluce.

Air Canada was expected to report its September traffic numbers later Wednesday.