CALGARY — WestJet continues to post big numbers in 2017, announcing that it reached record net earnings in the third quarter.

According to its Q3 results, the airline had net earnings of $138.4 million, or $1.18 per fully diluted share, compared to $116 million, or $0.97 per fully diluted share in the third quarter of 2016. This represents a 19.4% and 21.6% increase, respectively.

“Today we reported our 50th consecutive profitable quarter, which included record earnings, margin expansion, positive year over year RASM growth, and improved return on invested capital, as we achieved the highest ever quarterly load factor in our 21-year history and flew an all-time quarterly record number of guests,” said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky.

Saretsky also noted WestJet’s recent strategic initiatives, including the launching of Swoop in Summer 2018 as well as Boeing Dreamliner service starting in 2019. He said these initiatives “give us great confidence in our ability to deliver sustainable profitable growth and earnings expansion.”