Alaska Air Group Reports April Traffic

Alaska Air Group, Inc. today reported April operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines (Alaska) and Horizon Air (Horizon).

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska reported an increase in load factor to 78.9 percent in April 2009, compared to 76.9 percent in April 2008, on an 8.3 percent decline in available seat miles (ASMs) compared to the prior-year period. Alaska also reported that 84.3 percent of its flights arrived on time in April 2009, a 2.7-point increase compared to the 81.6 percent reported in April 2008. The following tables show the operational results for April 2009 and for the first four months of 2009, compared to the prior-year periods:

                                  April                  Year-to-Date
                                  -----                  ------------
                          2009    2008   Change     2009     2008   Change
  Revenue passenger miles
   RPMs (000,000)         1,475   1,567  (5.9)%    5,653    6,092   (7.2)%
  Available seat  miles
   ASMs (000,000)         1,868   2,036  (8.3)%    7,388    8,120   (9.0)%
  Passenger load factor    78.9%   76.9%  2.0pts    76.5%   75.0%    1.5pts
  Revenue passengers
   (000)                  1,280   1,415  (9.5)%    4,854    5,495  (11.7)%
  On-time arrivals as
   Reported to U.S. DOT    84.3%   81.6%  2.7pts    75.5%    77.3%  (1.8)pts




  HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported a load factor of 69.2 percent in April 2009, which is unchanged from April 2008, on a 13.1 percent decline in capacity compared to the prior-year period. Horizon reported that 89.9 percent of its flights arrived on time in April 2009, a 0.4-point decrease compared to the 90.3 percent reported in April 2008. The following tables show the operational results for April 2009 and for the first four months of 2009, compared to the prior-year periods:

                              April                 Year-to-Date
                              -----                 ------------
                        2009  2008  Change     2009      2008   Change
  RPMs (000,000)         184   212    (13.1)%   709       871    (18.6)%
  ASMs (000,000)         267   307    (13.1)% 1,054     1,249    (15.6)%
  Passenger load factor 69.2% 69.2%   0.0pts   67.3%     69.7% (2.4)pts
  Revenue passengers
   (000)                 530   589    (10.0)% 2,077     2,441    (14.9)%
  On-time arrivals      89.9% 90.3% (0.4)pts   83.4%     83.0%   0.4pts

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group , 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 (tie)" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 North America Airline Satisfaction Study(SM). For reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: maria.koenig@alaskaair.com

SOURCE: Alaska Air Group, Inc.