Alaska Air Group Reports May Traffic

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

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska reported a decrease in load factor to 76.8 percent in May 2009, compared to 77.8 percent in May 2008, on a 6.3 percent decline in available seat miles (ASMs) compared to the prior-year period. Alaska also reported that 85.7 percent of its flights arrived on time in May 2009, a 5.3-point increase compared to the 80.4 percent reported in May 2008. The following tables show the operational results for May 2009 and for the first five months of 2009, compared to the prior-year periods:

                                  May                 Year-to-Date
                                  ---                 ------------
                        2009    2008    Change    2009     2008   Change
  Revenue passenger miles
    RPMs (000,000)     1,495   1,617    (7.5)%   7,148    7,710   (7.3)%
  Available seat  miles
    ASMs (000,000)     1,947   2,078    (6.3)%   9,336   10,198   (8.5)%
  Passenger load
   factor               76.8%   77.8%   (1.0)pts  76.6%    75.6%   1.0pts
  Revenue passengers
   (000)               1,298   1,472   (11.8)%   6,152    6,967  (11.7)%
  On-time arrivals
   as reported to
   U.S. DOT             85.7%   80.4%    5.3pts   77.7%    77.9%  (0.2)pts

  HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported a decrease in load factor to 71.7 percent in May 2009, compared to 73.6 percent in May 2008, on a 12.9 percent decline in capacity compared to the prior-year period. Horizon reported that 87.8 percent of its flights arrived on time in May 2009, a 0.3-point decrease compared to the 88.1 percent reported in May 2008. The following tables show the operational results for May 2009 and for the first five months of 2009, compared to the prior-year periods:

                               May                  Year-to-Date
                               ---                  ------------
                        2009  2008  Change     2009    2008   Change
  RPMs (000,000)       199    234   (15.1)%     907   1,105   (17.9)%
  ASMs (000,000)       277    318   (12.9)%   1,331   1,567   (15.1)%
  Passenger load
   factor             71.7%  73.6%   (1.9)pts  68.2%   70.5%   (2.3)pts
  Revenue passengers
   (000)               555    647   (14.2)%   2,632   3,087   (14.8)%
  On-time arrivals    87.8%  88.1%   (0.3)pts  84.3%   84.0%    0.3pts

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. 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.