Alaska Air Group Reports September Operational Results

Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported September operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and on a combined basis. Detailed information is provided...

SEATTLE, Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported September operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and on a combined basis. Detailed information is provided below.

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska reported a 10.4 percent increase in traffic on a 7.2 percent increase in capacity compared to September 2010. This resulted in a 2.4-point increase in load factor to a September record of 83.9 percent. Alaska also reported 91.7 percent of its flights arrived on time, a September record compared to the 90.5 percent reported in September 2010.  

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

September

Year-to-Date

2011

2010

Change

2011

2010

Change

Revenue passenger miles

   RPMs (in millions)

1,807   

1,637   

10.4%   

17,011   

15,124   

12.5%   

Available seat miles

   ASMs (in millions)

2,153   

2,008   

7.2%   

19,991   

18,197   

9.9%   

Passenger load factor

83.9%   

81.5%   

2.4pts   

85.1%   

83.1%   

2.0pts   

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

1,446   

1,340   

7.9%   

13,479   

12,373   

8.9%   

On-time arrivals as reported

to U.S. DOT

91.7%   

90.5%   

1.2pts   

88.5%   

88.8%   

(0.3)pts   

HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported a 16.6 percent decline in traffic on a 20.1 percent decline in capacity compared to September 2010. This resulted in a 3.3-point increase in load factor to a September record of 79.3 percent. Horizon also reported 92.6 percent of its flights arrived on time, a September record compared to the 86.8 percent reported in September 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 its CRJ-700 fleet and a corresponding reduction in the size of Horizon’s operating fleet from 53 aircraft at Sept. 30, 2010, to 48 aircraft at Sept. 30, 2011. This transition was completed in June 2011.  

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

September

Year-to-Date

2011

2010

Change

2011

2010

Change

RPMs (in millions)

161   

193   

(16.6)%   

1,635   

1,857   

(12.0)%   

ASMs (in millions)

203   

254   

(20.1)%   

2,097   

2,461   

(14.8)%   

Passenger load factor

79.3%   

76.0%   

3.3pts   

78.0%   

75.5%   

2.5pts   

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

528   

541   

(2.4)%   

5,020   

5,116   

(1.9)%   

On-time arrivals

92.6%   

86.8%   

5.8pts   

84.8%   

87.2%   

(2.4)pts   

AIR GROUP (including flights operated by third parties)

On a combined basis, Air Group reported a 9.5 percent increase in traffic on a 6.1 percent increase in capacity compared to September 2010. This resulted in a 2.6-point increase in load factor to 83.5 percent. These statistics include flights operated by Alaska and Horizon, and those 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 September 2011 and year-to-date 2011, compared to the prior-year periods:

September

Year-to-Date

2011

2010

Change

2011

2010

Change

RPMs (in millions)

2,007   

1,833   

9.5%   

18,849   

17,013   

10.8%   

ASMs (in millions)

2,404   

2,266   

6.1%   

22,329   

20,709   

7.8%   

Passenger load factor

83.5%   

80.9%   

2.6pts   

84.4%   

82.2%   

2.2pts   

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

2,018   

1,881   

7.3%   

18,707   

17,489   

7.0%   

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.