SEATTLE, Jun 5, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) today reported May passenger traffic for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air.

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska Airlines' May traffic increased 1.7 percent to 1.077 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) from 1.059 billion flown a year earlier. Capacity during May was 1.640 billion available seat miles (ASMs), 6.1 percent higher than the 1.546 billion in May 2001.

The passenger load factor (the percentage of available seats occupied by fare-paying passengers) for the month was 65.7 percent, compared to 68.5 in May 2001. The airline carried 1,168,200 passengers, compared to 1,195,500 in May 2001.

RPMs for the five-month period totaled 5.135 billion, a 2.5 percent increase from the 5.009 billion recorded a year earlier. Capacity for the five months ended May 2002 increased 2.7 percent to 7.693 billion ASMs, compared to 7.488 billion in 2001.

The passenger load factor for the first five months of 2002 was 66.7 percent, compared to 66.9 percent in 2001. The airline carried 5,511,200 passengers, compared to 5,573,400 in 2001.

HORIZON AIR

Horizon Air's May traffic increased 3.9 percent to 125.2 million RPMs from 120.4 million flown a year earlier. Capacity for May was 209.0 million ASMs, 7.4 percent higher than last year's 194.6 million.

The passenger load factor for the month was 59.9 percent, compared to 61.9 percent last May. The airline carried 393,500 passengers, compared to 420,600 in May 2001.

RPMs for the five months ended May 2002 totaled 565.5 million, a 0.3 percent decrease from the 567.4 million recorded a year earlier. Capacity for the five-month period increased 0.7 percent to 932.1 million ASMs, compared to 925.6 million in 2001.

The passenger load factor for the first five months of 2002 was 60.7 percent, compared to 61.3 percent in 2001. The airline carried 1,854,300 passengers, compared to 1,990,800 in 2001.

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