Alaska Air Group Reports February Traffic

Alaska Air Group, Inc. today reported February passenger traffic for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines (Alaska) and Horizon Air (Horizon).

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska’s February traffic increased 13.5 percent to 1.419 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) from 1.250 billion flown a year earlier. Capacity during February was 1.935 billion available seat miles (ASMs), 9.4 percent higher than the 1.769 billion in February 2007.

The passenger load factor (the percentage of available seats occupied by fare-paying passengers) for the month was 73.3 percent, compared to 70.7 percent in February 2007. The airline carried 1,287,400 passengers, compared to 1,197,800 in February 2007.

RPMs for the two-month period totaled 2.830 billion, an 11.7 percent increase from the 2.534 billion recorded a year earlier. Capacity for the two months ended February 2008 increased 7.7 percent to 3.985 billion ASMs, compared to 3.699 billion in 2007.

The passenger load factor for the first two months of 2008 was 71.0 percent, compared to 68.5 percent in 2007. The airline carried 2,542,800 passengers, compared to 2,414,200 in 2007.

HORIZON AIR

Horizon’s February traffic increased 4.7 percent to 211.8 million RPMs from 202.2 million flown a year earlier. Capacity during February was 297.7 million ASMs, 1.3 percent higher than the 293.9 million in February 2007.

The passenger load factor for the month was 71.1 percent, compared to 68.8 percent in February 2007. The airline carried 606,100 passengers, compared to 513,000 in February 2007.

RPMs for the two-month period totaled 416.9 million, a 5.9 percent increase from the 393.6 recorded a year earlier. Capacity for the two months ended February 2008 increased 3.1 percent to 614.8 million ASMs, compared to 596.1 million in 2007.

The passenger load factor for the first two months of 2008 was 67.8 percent, compared to 66.0 percent in 2007. The airline carried 1,192,100 passengers, compared to 1,014,600 in 2007.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air together serve 92 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. 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.