Airline awarded AA brand rating
CALGARY, March 2, 2015 /CNW/ - WestJet announced today
that Brand Finance, one of the world's leading brand valuation
consultancies, has once again ranked WestJet in the top 100
Canadian brands with a valuation of $629
million USD as of January 1,
2015. The airline's enterprise value, which is the combined
market value of the equity and debt of a business less cash and
cash equivalents, is pegged at more than $3
billion USD. Today's announcement moves WestJet seven spots
up the ranking from last year to 67.
"We are pleased to see we are once again ranked as one of
Canada's most-valued brands," said
Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive
Vice-President, Sales, Marketing and Guest Experience. "A strong
brand value translates into benefits for our guests, our
shareholders and our WestJetters. With respect to our guests, a
strong brand means our strong fundamentals -- based on our cost
structure and our people -- delivers superior value for price
paid. Shareholders, who've watched the price of WestJet shares
more than double since January 1,
2011, have also seen outstanding value. Finally, for
WestJetters, there is enormous pride in working for an enviable
brand and a company that is in a strong position to introduce new
products and grow into new markets. I would like to thank our more
than 10,000 committed and dedicated WestJetters, as well as our
loyal guests who have supported us for the past 19 years."
Brand Finance calculates brand value by determining the
royalties a corporation would have to pay to license its brand if
it did not own it. Similar to a credit rating, brands are also
assigned a rating from AAA+ to D according to strength, risk and
potential of a brand relative to its competitors. Brand Finance is
a London, England-based brand
valuation consultancy, with offices in more than 15 countries. More
information is available at brandfinance.com and
brandirectory.com.
About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most-preferred airline, powered by an
award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the
country's top employers. We offer scheduled service to more
than 85 destinations in North
America, Central America,
the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet
Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every
major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 120
destinations in more than 20 countries. Leveraging WestJet's
extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience,
WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences
with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of
our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights,
vacation packages and more. Our members use WestJet dollars
towards the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on
any day, at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout
periods -- even on seat sales. For more information about
everything WestJet, please visit
www.westjet.com.
Recent recognition includes:
2015/2014 Top 100 Canadian Brands (Brand Finance)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2013 Gold Stevie Award Best Transportation Company (American
Business Awards) 2013 Chairman's Circle Award: WestJet Vacations
(CPSC)
2013 Canada's Most Preferred
Airline (Leger Marketing)
2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive
Employer (Randstad)
2013 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine)
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www.facebook.com/westjet
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www.youtube.com/westjet
Read the WestJet blog at blog.westjet.com
SOURCE WestJet