WestJet planes slightly fuller in February

WestJet Airlines (WJA-T) said it flew more passengers in February versus a year earlier, especially on transborder and international routes.

Canada's second-biggest airline says its load factor -- the percentage of available seats filled with paying customers -- rose to 83.6 percent last month from 82.5 percent in February, 2010.

The low-cost airline said revenue passenger miles, or traffic, rose 12.2 percent to 1.36 billion, year-over-year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles, was up 10.7 percent to 1.63 billion, over the same period.

WestJet, which entered a code-share agreement with American Airlines early this week, said overall consumer demand has been strong and business bookings continue to show strength, moving forward in 2011.