Alaska Air Group Reports July Operational Results

SEATTLE, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported July operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and on a combined basis. Detailed information is provided below.

Alaska Air Group also reported a significant increase in its bookings near the end of the month after Congress failed to reauthorize funding for the Federal Aviation Administration and certain transportation taxes and fees expired on July 23. Alaska and Horizon immediately passed these savings on to customers. In the first seven days after the expiration, new bookings for the two airlines increased 26 percent compared with the week before the expiration.  

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska reported a 6.8 percent increase in traffic on a 5.5 percent increase in capacity compared to July 2010. This resulted in a 1.1-point increase in load factor to a July record 88.5 percent. Alaska also reported that 90.9 percent of its flights arrived on time in July 2011, compared to the 88.7 percent reported in July 2010.  

The following table shows Alaska‘s operational results for July 2011 and year-to-date 2011, compared to the prior-year periods:

HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported a 23.0 percent decline in traffic on a 22.4 percent decline in capacity compared to July 2010. This resulted in a 0.7-point decrease in load factor to 80.9 percent. Horizon also reported that 88.0 percent of its flights arrived on time in July 2011, compared to the 81.5 percent reported in July 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 and a corresponding reduction in the size of Horizon’s operating fleet from 55 aircraft at July 31, 2010, to 49 aircraft at July 31, 2011. This transition was completed in June.  

The following table shows Horizon’s operational results for July 2011 and year-to-date 2011, compared to the prior-year periods:

AIR GROUP (including flights operated by third parties)

On a combined basis, Air Group reported a 5.5 percent increase in traffic on a 4.1 percent increase in capacity compared to July 2010. This resulted in a 1.2-point increase in load factor to 87.8 percent. These statistics include flights operated by Alaska and Horizon, and under capacity purchase arrangements with SkyWest and a small third-party carrier in the state of Alaska.

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

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve 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 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.