Alaska Air Group Reports April Operational Results

SEATTLE, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported April operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and on a combined basis. Detailed information is provided below.

ALASKA AIRLINES – MAINLINE

Alaska reported a 6.3 percent increase in traffic on a 3.1 percent increase in capacity compared to April 2011. This resulted in a 2.5-point increase in load factor to a record 87.4 percent. Alaska also reported 90.6 percent of its flights arrived on time in April, compared to the 89.5 percent reported in April 2011.

The following table shows Alaska‘s operational results for April and year-to-date 2012, compared to the prior-year periods:

HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported a 13.4 percent decline in April traffic on a 13.1 percent decline in capacity compared to April 2011. This resulted in a 0.2-point decrease in load factor to 76.4 percent. Horizon also reported a record 94.0 percent of its flights arrived on time in April, compared to the 85.9 percent reported in April 2011. 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 regional jet and a corresponding reduction in the size of Horizon’s operating fleet from 53 aircraft at April 30, 2011, to 48 aircraft at April 30, 2012. This transition was completed in June 2011.

The following table shows Horizon’s operational results for April and year-to-date 2012, compared to the prior-year periods:

AIR GROUP (including flights operated by third parties)

On a combined basis, Air Group reported a 6.3 percent increase in traffic on a 3.2 percent increase in capacity compared to April 2011. This resulted in a 2.5-point increase in load factor to a record 86.4 percent. These statistics include flights operated by Alaska and those under capacity purchase agreements, including Horizon, SkyWest and PenAir.

The following table shows the operational results for April and year-to-date 2012, compared to the prior-year periods:

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. 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.