SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 2003--Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) today reported April passenger traffic for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air.

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska Airlines' April traffic increased 4.0 percent to 1.123 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) from 1.080 billion flown a year earlier. Capacity during April was 1.636 billion available seat miles (ASMs), 3.2 percent higher than the 1.586 billion in April 2002.

The passenger load factor (the percentage of available seats occupied by fare paying passengers) for the month was 68.6 percent, compared to 68.1 percent in April 2002. The airline carried 1,159,800 passengers compared to 1,150,000 in April 2002.

RPMs for the four-month period totaled 4.266 billion, a 5.1 percent increase from the 4.057 billion recorded a year earlier. Capacity for the four months ended April 2003 increased 4.8 percent to 6.345 billion ASMs, compared to 6.053 billion in 2002.

The passenger load factor for the first four months of 2003 was 67.2 percent, compared to 67.0 percent in 2002. The airline carried 4,417,800 passengers compared to 4,343,100 in 2002.

HORIZON AIR

Horizon Air's April traffic increased 8.0 percent to 120.0 million RPMs from 111.1 million flown a year earlier. Capacity for April was 204.2 million ASMs, 6.4 percent higher than last year's 191.9 million.

The passenger load factor for the month was 58.7 percent, compared to 57.9 percent last April. The airline carried 361,500 passengers compared to 365,800 in April 2002.

RPMs for the four months ended April 2003 totaled 477.4 million, an 8.4 percent increase from the 440.3 million recorded a year earlier. Capacity for the four-month period increased 13.4 percent to 819.8 million ASMs, compared to 723.2 million in 2002.

The passenger load factor for the first four months of 2003 was 58.2 percent, compared to 60.9 percent in 2002. The airline carried 1,449,800 passengers, compared to 1,460,900 in 2002.

    CONTACT: Alaska Air Group, Inc. Jack Evans, 206/433-3134

    SOURCE: Alaska Air Group, Inc.