SEATTLE, Jan. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported December and year-end 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 an 8.4 percent increase in traffic on a 9.9 percent increase in capacity compared with December 2011. This resulted in a 1.1-point decrease in load factor to 86.3 percent. Alaska also reported 83.3 percent of its flights arrived on time in December, compared with 85.4 percent in December 2011. For all of 2012, Alaska reported a record load factor of 86.6 percent and carried a record 18.5 million passengers.

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

HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported a 5.3 percent increase in December traffic on a 4.6 percent increase in capacity compared with December 2011. This resulted in a 0.7-point increase in load factor to a December record of 79.4 percent and full-year record of 78.3 percent. Horizon also reported 85.2 percent of its flights arrived on time in December, compared with 90.2 percent in December 2011.

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

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 an 8.1 percent increase in traffic on a 9.0 percent increase in capacity compared with December 2011. This resulted in a 0.7-point decrease in load factor to 85.7 percent. These statistics include flights operated by Alaska and those under capacity purchase arrangements, including Horizon, SkyWest and a small third-party carrier in the state of Alaska.

The following table shows the operational results for December and full-year 2012, compared with the prior-year periods:

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 Study^SM 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 Airlines

Bobbie Egan, Media Relations Manager, +1-206-392-5101; Chris Berry, Managing Director of Investor Relations, +1-206-392-5260