WestJet carries more passengers in January

Calgary-based WestJet flew fuller planes in January, the airline reported Wednesday.

Its average load factor, a measure of how many seats were occupied on each flight, rose 9.7 per cent over the same period a year earlier, to 78.8 per cent. The increase is a January record for the airline.

Capacity, measured in available seat miles, grew 6.9 per cent over the same period, it said.

"As we continue to endure the challenges of an uncertain economy, we are happy to be starting 2010 on the right foot," WestJet CEO Sean Durfy said in a statement.

"These great traffic results help illustrate the success of our seasonal deployment strategy and the continuing strength of WestJet Vacations and the WestJet brand."

WestJet reports its fourth-quarter results on Feb. 17.