Alaska Air Group Reports September Traffic

Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported September operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines (Alaska) and Horizon Air (Horizon). ALASKA AIRLINES Alaska reported a 12.9...

SEATTLE, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported September operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines (Alaska) and Horizon Air (Horizon).

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska reported a 12.9 percent increase in traffic on a 7.8 percent increase in capacity, resulting in a 3.6-point increase in load factor to 81.5 percent. Alaska also reported that 90.5 percent of its flights arrived on time in September 2010, a 0.5-point increase compared to the 90.0 percent reported in September 2009.

The following table shows the operational results for September 2010 and for the first nine months of 2010, compared to the prior-year periods:

September

Year-to-Date

2010

2009

Change

2010

2009

Change

Revenue passenger miles

   RPMs (in millions)

1,637

1,450

12.9%

15,124

13,812

9.5%

Available seat miles

   ASMs (in millions)

2,008

1,862

7.8%

18,197

17,469

4.2%

Passenger load factor

81.5%

77.9%

3.6pts

83.1%

79.1%

4.0pts

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

1,340

1,235

8.6%

12,373

11,796

4.9%

On-time arrivals as reported

to U.S. DOT

90.5%

90.0%

0.5pts

88.8%

81.9%

6.9pts

HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported a 2.9 percent decline in traffic on a 5.9 percent decline in capacity compared to September 2009, resulting in a 2.4-point increase in load factor to 76.1 percent.  Horizon also reported that 86.8 percent of its flights arrived on time in September 2010, a 4.5-point decrease compared to the 91.3 percent reported in September 2009.

The following table shows the operational results for September 2010 and for the first nine months of 2010, compared to the prior-year periods:

September

Year-to-Date

2010

2009

Change

2010

2009

Change

RPMs (in millions)

193

199

(2.9)%

1,857

1,799

3.2%

ASMs (in millions)

254

270

(5.9)%

2,461

2,470

(0.4)%

Passenger load factor

76.1%

73.7%

2.4pts

75.5%

72.8%

2.7pts

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

541

556

(2.6)%

5,116

5,055

1.2%

On-time arrivals

86.8%

91.3%

(4.5)pts

87.2%

86.4%

0.8pts

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 and 2010 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.