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Alaska Air Group Reports November Operational Results

SEATTLE, Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported November operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and on a combined basis. Detailed information is provided below.

ALASKA AIRLINES - MAINLINE
Alaska reported a 9.4 percent increase in traffic on a 9.4 percent increase in capacity compared with November 2011. This resulted in a flat year-over-year load factor of 86.4 percent. Alaska also reported 87.3 percent of its flights arrived on time in November, compared with the 84.8 percent reported in November 2011.

The following table shows Alaska's operational results for November and year-to-date 2012, compared with the prior-year periods: 

November

Year-to-Date


2012

2011

Change

2012

2011

Change

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

1,495

1,433

4.3%

16,977

16,325

4.0%

Revenue passenger miles
     RPM (in millions)

2,015

1,842

9.4%

22,311

20,645

8.1%

Available seat miles

    ASM (in millions)

2,333

2,133

9.4%

25,740

24,297

5.9%

Passenger load factor

86.4%

86.4%

—

86.7%

85.0%

 1.7 pts

On-time arrivals as reported to U.S. DOT

87.3%

84.8%

  2.5 pts

87.9%

88.4%

(0.5) pts

HORIZON AIR
Horizon reported an 8.1 percent increase in traffic on a 7.9 percent increase in capacity compared with November 2011. This resulted in a 0.5-point increase in load factor to a record 79.8 percent. Horizon also reported a record 89.8 percent of its flights arrived on time in November, compared with the 88.9 percent reported in November 2011.

The following table shows Horizon's operational results for November and year-to-date 2012, compared with the prior-year periods:

November

Year-to-Date


2012

2011

Change

2012

2011

Change

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

569

526

8.2%

6,195

6,079

1.9%

RPMs (in millions)

174

161

8.1%

1,910

1,961

(2.6)%

ASMs (in millions)

219

203

7.9%

2,443

2,510

(2.7)%

Passenger load factor

79.8%

79.3%

  0.5 pts

78.2%

78.1%

   0.1 pts

On-time arrivals

89.8%

88.9%

  0.9 pts

91.5%

85.8%

   5.7 pts

The year-to-date decline in capacity and traffic for Horizon from the prior year is due primarily to the completion of Horizon's transition out of the CRJ-700 regional jet. This transition was completed in June 2011.

AIR GROUP (including flights operated by third parties)
On a combined basis, Air Group reported a 9.3 percent increase in traffic on a 9.1 percent increase in capacity compared with November 2011. This resulted in a 0.2-point increase in load factor to a record 85.8 percent. These statistics include flights operated by Alaska and those under capacity purchase agreements, including Horizon, SkyWest and PenAir.

The following table shows the operational results for November and year-to-date 2012, compared with the prior-year periods:

November

Year-to-Date


2012

2011

Change

2012

2011

Change

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

2,112

2,002

5.5%

23,715

22,696

4.5%

RPMs (in millions)

2,231

2,041

9.3%

24,683

22,883

7.9%

ASMs (in millions)

2,599

2,383

9.1%

28,716

27,139

5.8%

Passenger load factor

85.8%

85.6%

  0.2 pts

86.0%

84.3%

  1.7 pts

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves 95 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines has ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction StudySM for five consecutive years from 2008 to 2012. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Air Group Inc.

Bobbie Egan, Media Relations Manager, +1-206-392-5134; Chris Berry, Managing Director of Investor Relations, +1-206-392-5260