WestJet's February load factor was almost unchanged from February 2008.WestJet's February load factor was almost unchanged from February 2008. (Canadian Press)

Growth in travel to sun destinations helped WestJet hold the percentage of available seats filled by passengers almost steady in February, the company said Wednesday.

The Calgary-based discount airline said its load factor was 82.6 per cent, down from 82.8 per cent in February 2008.

"We have become the preferred choice of travellers to the sun destinations we serve" in Mexico and the Caribbean, president Sean Durfy said in a news release.

However, pricing is highly competitive and Easter will be in the second quarter this year. Those factors will squeeze first-quarter revenue by 10 to 12 per cent per available seat mile (ASM), he said. ASM is a measure of capacity — how many seats were available for sale.

WestJet said its February ASM was up by 5.7 per cent from February 2008.

Its revenue passenger miles — the number of seats sold times the distance flown — increased 5.5 per cent year-over-year.

While revenue is under pressure, some costs are also falling, "due primarily to declines in fuel costs," Durfy said, and that will partly offset the drop in revenue per available seat mile.