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Alaska Air Group Reports September Operational Results

SEATTLE, Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported September operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and on a combined basis. Detailed information is provided below.

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska reported a 10.4 percent increase in traffic on a 7.2 percent increase in capacity compared to September 2010. This resulted in a 2.4-point increase in load factor to a September record of 83.9 percent. Alaska also reported 91.7 percent of its flights arrived on time, a September record compared to the 90.5 percent reported in September 2010.

The following table shows Alaska's operational results for September 2011 and year-to-date 2011, compared to the prior-year periods:


September

Year-to-Date

2011

2010

Change

2011

2010

Change

Revenue passenger miles





RPMs (in millions)

1,807

1,637

10.4%

17,011

15,124

12.5%

Available seat miles





ASMs (in millions)

2,153

2,008

7.2%

19,991

18,197

9.9%

Passenger load factor

83.9%

81.5%

2.4pts

85.1%

83.1%

2.0pts

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

1,446

1,340

7.9%

13,479

12,373

8.9%

On-time arrivals as reported





to U.S. DOT

91.7%

90.5%

1.2pts

88.5%

88.8%

(0.3)pts

HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported a 16.6 percent decline in traffic on a 20.1 percent decline in capacity compared to September 2010. This resulted in a 3.3-point increase in load factor to a September record of 79.3 percent. Horizon also reported 92.6 percent of its flights arrived on time, a September record compared to the 86.8 percent reported in September 2010. The significant decline in capacity and traffic for Horizon from the prior year is due primarily to the completion of Horizon's transition out of its CRJ-700 fleet and a corresponding reduction in the size of Horizon's operating fleet from 53 aircraft at Sept. 30, 2010, to 48 aircraft at Sept. 30, 2011. This transition was completed in June 2011.

The following table shows Horizon's operational results for September 2011 and year-to-date 2011, compared to the prior-year periods:


September

Year-to-Date

2011

2010

Change

2011

2010

Change

RPMs (in millions)

161

193

(16.6)%

1,635

1,857

(12.0)%

ASMs (in millions)

203

254

(20.1)%

2,097

2,461

(14.8)%

Passenger load factor

79.3%

76.0%

3.3pts

78.0%

75.5%

2.5pts

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

528

541

(2.4)%

5,020

5,116

(1.9)%

On-time arrivals

92.6%

86.8%

5.8pts

84.8%

87.2%

(2.4)pts

AIR GROUP (including flights operated by third parties)

On a combined basis, Air Group reported a 9.5 percent increase in traffic on a 6.1 percent increase in capacity compared to September 2010. This resulted in a 2.6-point increase in load factor to 83.5 percent. These statistics include flights operated by Alaska and Horizon, and those under capacity purchase arrangements with SkyWest and a small third-party carrier in the state of Alaska.

The following table shows the operational results for September 2011 and year-to-date 2011, compared to the prior-year periods:


September

Year-to-Date

2011

2010

Change

2011

2010

Change

RPMs (in millions)

2,007

1,833

9.5%

18,849

17,013

10.8%

ASMs (in millions)

2,404

2,266

6.1%

22,329

20,709

7.8%

Passenger load factor

83.5%

80.9%

2.6pts

84.4%

82.2%

2.2pts

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

2,018

1,881

7.3%

18,707

17,489

7.0%

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 North America Airline Satisfaction Studies(SM). For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Air Group Inc.