Alaska Air Group Reports June Operational Results

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Jul 01, 2011, 06:01 ET

SEATTLE, July 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported June operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air.

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska reported a 7.9 percent increase in traffic on a 6.8 percent increase in capacity compared to June 2010. This resulted in a 0.9-point increase in load factor to a June record 85.4 percent. Alaska also reported that 91.4 percent of its flights arrived on time in June 2011, compared to the 89 percent reported in June 2010.

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

	June			Year-to-Date
	2011	2010	Change	2011	2010	Change
Revenue passenger miles
RPMs (in millions)	1,978	1,832	7.9%	10,976	9,544	15.0%
Available seat miles
ASMs (in millions)	2,315	2,167	6.8%	13,055	11,653	12.0%
Passenger load factor	85.4%	84.6%	0.9pts	84.1%	81.9%	2.2pts
Revenue passengers (in thousands)	1,580	1,501	5.3%	8,640	7,811	10.6%
On-time arrivals as reported
to U.S. DOT	91.4%	89.0%	2.4pts	87.1%	88.5%	(1.4)pts

HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported a 24.5 percent decline in traffic on a 23.2 percent decline in capacity compared to June 2010. This resulted in a 1.3-point decrease in load factor to 77.8 percent. Horizon also reported that 88.1 percent of its flights arrived on time in June 2011, compared to the 87.5 percent reported in June 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 the CRJ-700 fleet. This transition was completed in June. Alaska is now contracting with SkyWest Airlines to provide regional jet flying in seven markets. Traffic and capacity information for the SkyWest flying is included in the consolidated statistics below.

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

	June			Year-to-Date
	2011	2010	Change	2011	2010	Change
RPMs (in millions)	172	228	(24.5)%	1,097	1,189	(7.7)%
ASMs (in millions)	221	288	(23.2)%	1,433	1,626	(11.9)%
Passenger load factor	77.8%	79.1%	(1.3)pts	76.5%	73.1%	3.4pts
Revenue passengers (in thousands)	557	613	(9.2)%	3,296	3,289	0.2%
On-time arrivals	88.1%	87.5%	0.6pts	81.8%	89.4%	(7.6)pts

AIR GROUP

On a combined basis, Air Group capacity increased by 4.8 percent to 2,573 million ASMs, while traffic increased 6.0 percent to 2,183 million RPMs, resulting in a 0.9-point increase in combined load factor. These statistics include flights operated by SkyWest for Alaska under their capacity purchase arrangement, but exclude flying operated by other third party carriers.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve more than 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 alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Air Group Inc.