SEATTLE, Jul 3, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) today reported June passenger traffic for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines' June traffic increased 3.2 percent to 1.215 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) from 1.177 billion flown a year earlier.

Capacity during June was 1.703 billion available seat miles (ASMs), 5.0 percent higher than the 1.622 billion in June 2001.

The passenger load factor (the percentage of available seats occupied by fare paying passengers) for the month was 71.3 percent, compared to 72.5 in June 2001. The airline carried 1,298,000 passengers compared to 1,322,200 in June 2001.

RPMs for the six-month period totaled 6.349 billion, a 2.7 percent increase from the 6.185 billion recorded a year earlier. Capacity for the six months ended June 2002 increased 3.1 percent to 9.396 billion ASMs, compared to 9.111 billion in 2001.

The passenger load factor for the first six months of 2002 was 67.6 percent, compared to 67.9 percent in 2001. The airline carried 6,809,200 passengers compared to 6,895,600 in 2001.

Horizon Air

Horizon Air's June traffic increased 9.4 percent to 137.9 million RPMs from 126.0 million flown a year earlier. Capacity for June was 205.9 million ASMs, 6.7 percent higher than last year's 193.0 million.

The passenger load factor for the month was 67.0 percent, compared to 65.3 percent last June. The airline carried 432,700 passengers compared to 436,500 in June 2001.

RPMs for the six months ended June 2002 totaled 703.4 million, a 1.4 percent increase from the 693.4 million recorded a year earlier. Capacity for the six-month period increased 1.7 percent to 1.138 billion ASMs, compared to 1.119 billion in 2001.

The passenger load factor for the first six months of 2002 was 61.8 percent, compared to 62.0 percent in 2001. The airline carried 2,287,000 passengers, compared to 2,427,400 in 2001.

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