Calgary-based WestJet reported on Tuesday that its first quarter net earnings of $45.6 million, or 40 cents per fully diluted share, rose by 33.4 per cent.

That compared with net earnings of $34.2 million, or 30 cents per fully diluted share, in the first quarter of 2018.

The airline’s revenue also was up 5.5 per cent year over year to $1.26 billion.

Ed Sims
President and CEO of Westjet

“We remain confident in our strategic direction and continue to see positive trends as a result of our prudent growth and the strategic initiatives we are undertaking,” said Ed Sims, WestJet president and CEO, in a news release.

“I want to thank all of our guests for their continued loyalty and all WestJetters for their ongoing commitment to providing an award-winning service through a busy first quarter.”

On May 6, WestJet’s board of directors declared a cash dividend of 14 cents per common voting share and variable voting share for the second quarter of 2019, to be paid on June 28, 2019, to shareholders of record on June 12, 2019.

– Mario Toneguzzi

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