WestJet's load factor unchanged in February

Calgary-based WestJet's planes flew 82.5 per cent full in February, the airline reported Wednesday.

That was almost unchanged from January's load factor of 82.6.

The airline reported that 68,000 more passengers flew with the airline compared with the same period in 2009.That was a nine per cent increase in what's referred to as revenue seat miles in the industry.

"While our first quarter is traditionally a weaker period for domestic travel, directing the majority of new capacity towards our international expansion is allowing us to partially offset this seasonality," CEO Sean Durphy said in a statement.

"We are seeing continual demand for our growing number of popular vacation destinations, demonstrating the ongoing benefit of our seasonal deployment strategy," he said.

Last month'sWinter Olympicshelped WestJet. Vancouver International Airport had the busiest day in its history on March 1, the day after the Games ended. WestJet's manager of public relations, Robert Palmer, told CBC News that day it carried about 13 per cent more people and increased the number of flightsby between five to 10 per cent.

WestJet reported its 19th straight profitable quarter last month despite a 64 per cent drop in earnings from the same period a year earlier.