Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air Employees Receive Nearly Five Weeks Extra Pay in Bonuses

SEATTLE, Jan. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Following Thursday's record  fourth quarter and full-year earnings announcement, employees at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air today are receiving bonuses of more than nine percent of their annual pay, or nearly five weeks additional pay, for most workers. For the past seven years, employees have received an average annual bonus equal to approximately one month's pay.

The company's annual bonus, called Performance Based Pay (PBP), is determined by meeting or exceeding specific company-wide goals for safety, customer satisfaction, cost control and profit. The PBP bonus is in addition to the approximately $1,100 in 2015 operational bonuses that most employees earned for achieving monthly on-time and customer satisfaction goals. The combined monthly and annual 2015 bonuses, paid to employees, totals $120 million.

"Our hardworking employees go beyond every day to deliver an outstanding on-time and hassle-free experience for our customers," said Tammy Young, vice president of human resources. "We're thrilled to make the same commitment to them with a prompt delivery of their well-earned annual bonus."

Nearly $56 million in annual bonuses — 57 percent of the total — is being paid to Alaska and Horizon employees in the Puget Sound area. Another $14 million is being paid to employees in the Portland, Oregon area, while $8 million is going to employees throughout the state of Alaska.

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves more than 100 cities through an expansive network in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America" in the J.D. Power North America Airline Satisfaction Study for eight consecutive years from 2008 to 2015. Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan also ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Airline Loyalty Rewards Programs" in the J.D. Power 2014 and 2015 Airline Loyalty/Rewards Program Satisfaction Report. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Air Group