Alaska Air Group Reports June Operational Results

Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported June operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. ALASKA AIRLINES Alaska reported a 7.9 percent increase in traffic...

SEATTLE, July 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported June operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air.

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska reported a 7.9 percent increase in traffic on a 6.8 percent increase in capacity compared to June 2010. This resulted in a 0.9-point increase in load factor to a June record 85.4 percent. Alaska also reported that 91.4 percent of its flights arrived on time in June 2011, compared to the 89 percent reported in June 2010.  

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

June

Year-to-Date

2011

2010

Change

2011

2010

Change

Revenue passenger miles

   RPMs (in millions)

1,978

1,832

7.9%

10,976

9,544

15.0%

Available seat miles

   ASMs (in millions)

2,315

2,167

6.8%

13,055

11,653

12.0%

Passenger load factor

85.4%

84.6%

0.9pts

84.1%

81.9%

2.2pts

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

1,580

1,501

5.3%

8,640

7,811

10.6%

On-time arrivals as reported

to U.S. DOT

91.4%

89.0%

2.4pts

87.1%

88.5%

(1.4)pts

HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported a 24.5 percent decline in traffic on a 23.2 percent decline in capacity compared to June 2010. This resulted in a 1.3-point decrease in load factor to 77.8 percent.  Horizon also reported that 88.1 percent of its flights arrived on time in June 2011, compared to the 87.5 percent reported in June 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. This transition was completed in June. Alaska is now contracting with SkyWest Airlines to provide regional jet flying in seven markets. Traffic and capacity information for the SkyWest flying is included in the consolidated statistics below.  

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

June

Year-to-Date

2011

2010

Change

2011

2010

Change

RPMs (in millions)

172

228

(24.5)%

1,097

1,189

(7.7)%

ASMs (in millions)

221

288

(23.2)%

1,433

1,626

(11.9)%

Passenger load factor

77.8%

79.1%

(1.3)pts

76.5%

73.1%

3.4pts

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

557

613

(9.2)%

3,296

3,289

0.2%

On-time arrivals

88.1%

87.5%

0.6pts

81.8%

89.4%

(7.6)pts

AIR GROUP

On a combined basis, Air Group capacity increased by 4.8 percent to 2,573 million ASMs, while traffic increased 6.0 percent to 2,183 million RPMs, resulting in a 0.9-point increase in combined load factor. These statistics include flights operated by SkyWest for Alaska under their capacity purchase arrangement, but exclude flying operated by other third party carriers.

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. 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 alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Air Group Inc.