WestJet cuts carry-on baggage allowance

WestJet Airlines Ltd. announced Tuesday it is making changes to reduce what its passengers can bring aboard flights.

After April 4, travellers will only be allowed one piece of carry-on luggage and one personal item.

The airline had previously allowed passengers to bring two carry-on items and a personal item.

Carry-on luggage includes items such as suitcases, backpacks or bags and must fit a specific sizing device.

Personal items include smaller things such as small purses, laptop bags or child restraint devices. For parents travelling with infants a diaper bag is also permitted over and above the carry-on allowance.

Items that don't fit the size requirements will have to be checked at the baggage counter before departure and picked up at a carousel after landing.

Demand strong in February

Also Tuesday, WestJet reported it carried about 1.4 million passengers last month, up 5.5 per cent from the same time last year.

On a more technical basis, WestJet's passenger traffic increased by 7.3 per cent in terms of revenue passenger miles.

WestJet says demand last month grew faster than the capacity added to its main service for flights within Canada and some international destinations.

That resulted in a record February load factor of 86.1 per cent for the Calgary-based company, which is preparing to launch a second airline called Encore.