Alaska Air Group Reports Third Quarter Results

Alaska Air Group, Inc. today reported a third quarter net income of $79.2 million, or $2.94 per diluted share, compared to net income of $40.7 million, or $1.52 per diluted share, in the third...

Alaska Air Group, Inc. today reported a third quarter net income of $79.2 million, or $2.94 per diluted share, compared to net income of $40.7 million, or $1.52 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2003.

Third quarter results include restructuring charges of $27.5 million ($15.8 million, net of tax, or $0.59 per share) and a large refund of disputed navigation fees paid in prior years totaling $11.0 million ($6.3 million, net of tax, or $0.23 per share). Third quarter results also include $57.2 million ($32.8 million, net of tax, or $1.22 per share) in mark-to-market hedging gains reflecting an increase in the fair value of the company’s current fuel hedge portfolio during the quarter. Without these items, net income would have been $55.9 million, or $2.08 per share during 2004.

"Reporting a profit strengthens our belief that we are on the right track," said Bill Ayer, chairman and chief executive officer. "This relatively strong performance is a tribute to our employees who are taking good care of our customers and to our cost reduction efforts, which are gaining momentum.

"In fact, we achieved the best year-over-year reduction in unit costs excluding fuel and unusual items since initiating cost reduction efforts following September 11, and we continue to outperform the industry in terms of revenue. Still, we are committed to the hard work that remains to transform ourselves from a company that is profitable in a seasonably strong quarter into one that is consistently profitable year in and year out."

Operationally, Alaska Airlines’ passenger traffic in the third quarter increased 10.8 percent on a capacity increase of 5.6 percent. Alaska’s load factor increased 3.5 percentage points to 76.0 percent compared to the same period in 2003. Alaska’s operating revenue per available seat mile (ASM) increased 3.7 percent, while its operating cost per ASM excluding fuel, navigation fee settlement and restructuring charges decreased 6.0 percent. Alaska’s pretax income for the quarter was $106.3 million, compared to $50.1 million in 2003. Excluding the notable items referenced above, Alaska’s pretax income was $72.5 million for the quarter.

Horizon Air’s passenger traffic in the third quarter increased 29.0 percent on an 18.4 percent capacity increase. Horizon’s load factor increased by 5.9 percentage points to 72.4 percent compared to the same period in 2003. Horizon’s operating revenue per ASM and operating cost per ASM excluding fuel both decreased by 11.4 percent. The decrease in Horizon’s revenue per ASM and cost per ASM excluding fuel is largely due to the addition of Horizon’s contract flying for Frontier Airlines. This flying represented 23.1 percent of Horizon’s capacity during the third quarter and 9.2 percent of its passenger revenues. Horizon’s pretax income for the quarter was $24.4 million, compared to a pretax income of $19.5 million in 2003. Excluding the notable items referenced above, Horizon’s pretax income was $17.5 million for the quarter.

Alaska Air Group had cash and short-term investments at September 30, 2004 of approximately $879 million compared to $812 million at December 31, 2003. The company’s debt-to-capital ratio, assuming aircraft operating leases are capitalized at seven times annualized rent, remained constant at 77 percent as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

A summary of financial and statistical data for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air as well as a reconciliation of the reported non-GAAP financial measures can be found on pages 6 to 10.

A conference call regarding the third quarter 2004 results will be simulcast via the internet at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time. It may be accessed through the company’s website at www.alaskaair.com. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available after the conclusion of the call at www.alaskaair.com.

This report may contain forward-looking statements that are intended to be subject to the safe harbor protection provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to future events or future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those indicated by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "forecast," "may," "will," "could," "should," "expect," "plan," "believe," "potential" or other similar words indicating future events or contingencies. Some of the things that could cause our actual results to differ from our expectations are: the competitive environment and other trends in our industry; economic conditions; our reliance on automated systems; actual or threatened terrorist attacks, global instability and potential U.S. military involvement; our ability to meet our cost reduction goals; the outcome of contract talks with the Air Line Pilots Association, whether as a result of negotiations or binding arbitration; labor disputes; changes in our operating costs including fuel and insurance; changes in laws and regulations; liability and other claims asserted against us; failure to expand our business; interest rates and the availability of financing; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; changes in our business plans; our significant indebtedness; downgrades of our credit ratings; and inflation. For a discussion of these and other risk factors, review the information under the caption "Business – Business Risks" in Item 1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2003. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the risk factors discussed therein. These risk factors may not be exhaustive. The company operates in a continually changing business environment, and new risk factors emerge from time to time. Management cannot predict such new risk factors, nor can it assess the impact, if any, of such new risk factors on the company’s business or events described in any forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform them to actual results.

                            ALASKA AIR GROUP, INC.

  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
  (In Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

                                           Three Months       Nine Months
                                               Ended             Ended
                                           September 30       September 30

                                           2003    2004      2003     2004
   Operating Revenues:
   Passenger                              $645.8  $706.0  $1,678.2 $1,896.7
   Freight and mail                         22.6    25.5      63.6     68.3
   Other -- net                             33.8    42.3      89.7    105.9
   Total Operating Revenues                702.2   773.8   1,831.5  2,070.9

   Operating Expenses:
   Wages and benefits                      237.9   247.0     697.5    733.9
   Contracted services                      24.4    21.2      74.5     81.7
   Aircraft fuel                            96.8   148.4     270.5    384.8
   Aircraft maintenance                     42.4    37.0     140.2    137.9
   Aircraft rent                            49.2    46.7     146.1    141.5
   Food and beverage service                17.6    14.3      46.6     39.5
   Other selling expenses and
    commissions                             36.1    37.5      99.1    111.5
   Depreciation and amortization            32.7    35.7      98.2    105.8
   Loss (gain) on sale of assets             0.1    (2.8)      0.2     (1.4)
   Landing fees and other rentals           43.3    48.0     120.6    136.2
   Other                                    45.0    48.1     139.3    146.3
   Restructuring charges                      --    27.5        --     27.5
   Impairment of aircraft
    and spare engines                         --      --        --     39.6
   Total Operating Expenses                625.5   708.6   1,832.8  2,084.8
   Operating Income (Loss)                  76.7    65.2      (1.3)   (13.9)

  Nonoperating Income (Expense):
   Interest income                           5.5     7.9      11.5     18.6
   Interest expense                        (13.3)  (13.6)    (38.6)   (38.9)
   Interest capitalized                      0.4     0.5       1.9      1.1
   U.S. government compensation               --      --      71.4       --
   Other -- net                             (1.1)   67.6       8.2     93.8
                                            (8.5)   62.4      54.4     74.6
   Income before income tax                 68.2   127.6      53.1     60.7
   Income tax expense                       27.5    48.4      23.5     25.9
   Net Income                              $40.7   $79.2     $29.6    $34.8

   Basic Earnings Per Share                $1.53   $2.95     $1.11    $1.30
   Diluted Earnings Per Share              $1.52   $2.94     $1.11    $1.29

  Shares used for computation:
     Basic                                26.660  26.862    26.621   26.820
     Diluted                              26.796  26.932    26.680   26.922



                          Alaska Air Group, Inc.

  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

                                              December 31,     September 30,
  (In Millions)                                      2003              2004

   Cash and marketable securities                    $812              $879

   Total current assets                            $1,148            $1,291
   Property and equipment-net                       1,949             1,917
   Other assets                                       162               201
   Total assets                                    $3,259            $3,409

   Current liabilities                             $1,017              $955
   Long-term debt and capital lease
    obligations                                       907             1,008
   Other liabilities and credits                      661               733
   Shareholders' equity                               674               713
   Total liabilities and
    shareholders' equity                           $3,259            $3,409



              Alaska Airlines Financial and Statistical Data

                           Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended
                              September 30               September     30
  Financial Data
   (in millions):                          %                           %
                          2003    2004   Change     2003      2004   Change
  Operating Revenues:
  Passenger              $532.5  $576.6    8.3%  $1,380.1  $1,545.8   12.0%
  Freight and mail         21.4    24.5   14.5%      59.8      65.3    9.2%
  Other -- net             31.4    40.1   27.7%      83.0      99.0   19.3%
  Total Operating
   Revenues               585.3   641.2    9.6%   1,522.9   1,710.1   12.3%

  Operating Expenses:
  Wages and benefits      198.7   207.3    4.3%     578.7     611.8    5.7%
  Contracted services      20.5    17.8  -13.2%      60.9      70.3   15.4%
  Aircraft fuel            83.3   130.2   56.3%     232.2     336.4   44.9%
  Aircraft maintenance     35.2    27.1  -23.0%     117.7     111.3   -5.4%
  Aircraft rent            31.1    28.1   -9.6%      92.8      85.5   -7.9%
  Food and beverage
   service                 17.0    13.7  -19.4%      44.8      37.9  -15.4%
  Other selling expenses
   and commissions         43.4    35.9  -17.3%     109.0     101.1   -7.2%
  Depreciation and
   amortization            29.7    32.0    7.7%      87.8      95.2    8.4%
  Loss on sale of assets    0.8    (2.5)     NM       1.3      (0.6)     NM
  Landing fees and other
   rentals                 33.6    37.6   11.9%      93.5     106.1   13.5%
  Other                    34.5    37.1    7.5%     102.9     111.0    7.9%
  Restructuring charges     --     27.5  100.0%       --       27.5      NM
  Impairment of aircraft    --       --    0.0%       --       36.8      NM
  Total Operating
   Expenses               527.8   591.8   12.1%   1,521.6   1,730.3   13.7%

  Operating Income
   (Loss)                  57.5    49.4  -14.1%       1.3     (20.2)     NM

  Interest income           4.6     8.4              10.3      20.0
  Interest expense        (11.2)  (11.6)            (33.9)    (33.1)
  Interest capitalized      0.2     0.4               1.3       0.7
  U.S. government
   compensation              --      --              52.8        --
  Other -- net             (1.0)   59.7               7.3      82.9
                           (7.4)   56.9              37.8      70.5

  Income Before Income
   Tax                    $50.1  $106.3  112.2%     $39.1     $50.3   28.7%



  Operating Statistics:
  Revenue passengers (000)  4,280   4,589     7.2%  11,335  12,296     8.5%
  RPMs (000,000)            4,126   4,571    10.8%  10,946  12,255    12.0%
  ASMs (000,000)            5,693   6,012     5.6%  15,611  16,825     7.8%
  Passenger load factor     72.5%   76.0%  3.5 pts   70.1%   72.8%  2.7 pts
  Yield
   per
   passenger
   mile (in cents)          12.91   12.62    -2.2%   12.61   12.61    0.0%
  Operating revenue per
   ASM (in cents)           10.28   10.66     3.7%    9.76   10.16    4.1%
  Operating expenses per
   ASM (a) (in cents)        9.27    9.84     6.1%    9.75   10.28    5.4%
  Operating expenses per
   ASM excluding fuel,
   navigation fee
   settlement,
   restructuring and
   impairment
   charges (a)  (in cents)   7.81    7.35    -6.0%    8.26    7.95    -3.9%
  Raw fuel cost
   per gallon (a) (in cents) 95.2   139.6    46.6%    97.0   129.8    33.8%
  GAAP fuel cost per
   gallon (a) (in cents)     90.5   135.9    50.2%    91.5   125.7    37.4%
  Economic fuel cost per
   gallon (a) (in cents)     88.7   127.0    43.2%    89.6   121.3    35.4%
  Fuel gallons
  (000,000)                  92.0    95.8     4.1%   253.9   267.6     5.4%
  Average number of
   employees               10,114  10,201     0.9%  10,079  10,147     0.7%
  Aircraft utilization
   (blk hrs/day)             11.1    11.8     6.3%    10.6    11.1     4.7%
  Operating fleet at
   period-end                 109     107    -1.8%     109     107    -1.8%

  NM = Not Meaningful

  (a) See Note A on Page 8



                  Horizon Air Financial and Statistical Data

                              Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended
                                 September 30            September 30
                                                  %                       %
  Financial Data (in
   millions):                  2003    2004   Change   2003    2004   Change
  Operating Revenues:
  Passenger                  $127.2  $134.5    5.7%  $326.8  $360.4   10.3%
  Freight and mail              1.2     1.0  -16.7%     3.8     3.0  -20.9%
  Other - net                   4.3     3.8  -11.6%    11.7    10.9   -6.8%
  Total Operating Revenues    132.7   139.3    5.0%   342.3   374.3    9.3%

  Operating Expenses:
  Wages and benefits           39.2    39.7    1.3%   118.8   122.1    2.8%
  Contracted services           5.7     5.0  -12.3%    18.4    15.4  -16.3%
  Aircraft fuel                13.5    18.2   34.8%    38.3    48.4   26.4%
  Aircraft maintenance          7.2     9.9   37.5%    22.5    26.6   18.2%
  Aircraft rent                18.1    18.6    2.8%    53.3    56.0    5.1%
  Food and beverage service     0.6     0.6    0.0%     1.8     1.6  -11.1%
  Other selling expenses and
   commissions                  6.6     6.7    1.5%    18.8    19.9    5.9%
  Depreciation and
   amortization                 2.7     3.4   25.9%     9.5     9.7    2.1%
  Gain on sale of assets       (0.7)   (0.3)     NM    (1.1)   (0.8)     NM
  Landing fees and other
   rentals                     10.3    11.0    6.8%    28.2    31.2   10.6%
  Other                         9.7     9.7    0.0%    32.6    32.0   -1.8%
  Impairment of
   aircraft and
   spare engines                --       --    0.0%     --      2.8      NM
  Total Operating Expenses    112.9   122.5    8.5%   341.1   364.9    7.0%

  Operating Income             19.8    16.8  -15.2%     1.2     9.4      NM

  Interest income               0.2     0.3             0.5     0.9
  Interest expense             (0.6)   (0.9)           (1.9)   (3.2)
  Interest capitalized          0.2     0.1             0.6     0.4
  Government compensation        --      --             18.6     --
  Other - net                  (0.1)    8.1             0.9    11.2
                               (0.3)    7.6            18.7     9.3

  Income Before Income Tax    $19.5   $24.4   25.1%   $19.9   $18.7   -5.9%

  Operating Statistics:
  Revenue passengers (000)     1,376  1,641    19.3%  3,671  4,362    18.8%
  RPMs (000,000)                 466    601    29.0%  1,224  1,586    29.6%
  ASMs (000,000)                 701    830    18.4%  1,950  2,314    18.7%
  Passenger load factor        66.5%  72.4%  5.9 pts  62.8%  68.5%  5.7 pts
  Yield per
   passenger mile (in cents)   27.29  22.38   -18.0%  26.70  22.73   -14.9%
  Operating revenue
   per ASM (in cents)          18.93  16.78   -11.4%  17.56  16.18    -7.9%
  Operating expenses
   per ASM (a) (in cents)      16.11  14.76    -8.4%  17.49  15.77   -10.0%
  Operating expenses
   per ASM excluding
   fuel and impairment
   charges (a) (in cents)       14.18 12.57   -11.4%  15.53  13.56   -12.7%
  Raw fuel cost
   per gallon (a) (in cents)    98.6  143.8    46.0%  100.2  134.1    33.8%
  GAAP fuel cost
   per gallon (a) (in cents)    93.1  140.0    50.3%   94.1  130.1    38.3%
  Economic fuel
   cost per
   gallon (a) (in cents)        90.3  131.2    45.2%   91.9  125.8    36.8%
  Fuel gallons (000,000)        14.5   13.0   -10.3%   40.7   37.2    -8.6%
  Average number
   of employees                3,368  3,439     2.1%  3,375  3,399     0.7%
  Aircraft utilization
   (blk hrs/day)                 8.2    8.7     6.1%    7.9    8.3     5.1%
  Operating fleet
   at period-end                  61     65     6.6%     61     65     6.6%

  NM = Not Meaningful

  (a) See Note A

  Note A:
   Pursuant to Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are providing disclosure of the
   reconciliation of reported non-GAAP financial measures to their most
   directly comparable financial measures reported on a GAAP basis. The
   non-GAAP financial measures provide management the ability to measure and
   monitor our performance both with and without the cost of aircraft fuel
   (including the gains and losses associated with out fuel hedging program
   where appropriate), restructuring charges, aircraft impairment charges,
   government compensation in 2003 and a large refund in 2004 of disputed
   navigation fees paid in prior years (of which $7.7 million was recorded
   in operating expenses and $3.3 million was recorded in non-operating
   income).Because the cost and availability of aircraft fuel are subject to
   many economic and political factors beyond our control and we record
   changes in the fair value of our hedge portfolio in our income statement,
   it is our view that the measurement and monitoring of performance without
   fuel is important. In addition, we believe the disclosure of financial
   performance without impairment and restructuring charges, government
   compensation and the navigation fees refunded in 2004 is useful to
   investors.  Finally, these non-GAAP financial measures are also more
   comparable to financial measures reported to the Department of
   Transportation by other major network airlines.

   The following tables reconcile our non-GAAP financial measures to the
   most directly comparable GAAP financial measures for both Alaska
   Airlines, Inc. and Horizon Air Industries, Inc.:

  Alaska Airlines, Inc.:

                                      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
  ($ in millions)                         September 30,        September 30,

  Unit cost reconciliations:               2003    2004      2003      2004
  Operating expenses                     $527.8  $591.8  $1,521.6  $1,730.3
  ASMs (000,000)                          5,693   6,012    15,611    16,825
  Operating expenses
   per ASM (in cents)                      9.27   9.84       9.75     10.28

  Operating expenses                     $527.8  $591.8  $1,521.6  $1,730.3
  Less: aircraft fuel                     (83.3) (130.2)   (232.2)   (336.4)
  Less: impairment of aircraft               --      --        --     (36.8)
  Less: restructuring charges                --   (27.5)       --     (27.5)
  Add: navigation fee settlement             --     7.7        --       7.7
  Operating expense excluding fuel,
   navigation fee settlement, impairment
   and restructuring charges             $444.5  $441.8  $1,289.4  $1,337.3
  ASMs (000,000)                          5,693   6,012    15,611    16,825
  Operating expense per ASM excluding
   fuel, navigation fee settlement,
   impairment and restructuring
   charges (in cents)                      7.81    7.35     8.26      7.95

  Aircraft fuel reconciliations:
  Fuel expense before hedge activities
   ("raw fuel")                           $87.6  $133.7    $246.2    $347.4
  Fuel gallons (000,000)                   92.0    95.8     253.9     267.6
  Raw fuel cost
   per gallon (in cents)                   95.2   139.6      97.0     129.8

  Fuel expense before hedge activities
   ("raw fuel")                           $87.6  $133.7    $246.2    $347.4
  Less: gains on settled
   hedges included
   in fuel expense                         (4.3)   (3.5)    (14.0)    (11.0)
  GAAP fuel expense                       $83.3  $130.2    $232.2    $336.4
  Fuel gallons (000,000)                   92.0    95.8     253.9     267.6
  GAAP fuel cost
   per gallon (in cents)                   90.5   135.9      91.5     125.7

  GAAP fuel expense                       $83.3  $130.2    $232.2    $336.4
  Less: Gains on settled
   hedges included
   in nonoperating
   income(expense)                         (1.7)   (8.5)     (4.6)    (11.7)
  Adjusted fuel                            81.6   121.7     227.6     324.7
  Fuel gallons (000,000)                   92.0    95.8     253.9     267.6
  Economic fuel cost
   per gallon (in cents)                   88.7   127.0      89.6     121.3

  Mark-to-market gains included in
   non-operating income
   related to hedges
   that settle in future periods            --    $50.3       --      $70.4

  Reconciliation to GAAP pretax income
   (loss):
  Pretax income (loss) excluding
   impairment and restructuring charges,
   navigation fee settlement,
   government comp and
   mark-to-market hedging gains           $50.1   $72.5    ($13.7)    $33.2
  Less: impairment of aircraft               --      --        --     (36.8)
  Less: restructuring charges                --   (27.5)       --     (27.5)
  Add: government compensation               --      --      52.8        --
  Add: mark-to-market hedging gains
   included
   in nonoperating income
   (expense)                                 --    50.3        --      70.4
  Add: navigation fee settlement             --    11.0        --      11.0
  Pretax income (loss) reported GAAP
   amounts                                $50.1  $106.3     $39.1     $50.3



   Horizon Air Industries, Inc.
                                     Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
   ($ in millions)                        September 30,     September 30,

  Unit cost reconciliations:               2003     2004     2003     2004
  Operating expenses                     $112.9   $122.5   $341.1   $364.9
  ASMs (000,000)                            701      830    1,950    2,314
  Operating expenses
   per ASM (in cents)                     16.11    14.76    17.49    15.77

  Operating expenses                     $112.9   $122.5   $341.1   $364.9
  Less: aircraft fuel                     (13.5)   (18.2)   (38.3)   (48.4)
  Less: impairment of aircraft               --       --       --     (2.8)
  Operating expense excluding fuel and
   impairment charge                      $99.4   $104.3   $302.8   $313.7
  ASMs (000,000)                            701      830    1,950    2,314
  Operating expense per ASM
   excluding fuel
   and impairment
   charge (in cents)                      14.18    12.57    15.53    13.56

  Aircraft fuel reconciliations:
  Fuel expense before hedge activities
   ("raw fuel")                           $14.3    $18.7    $40.8    $49.9
  Fuel gallons (000,000)                   14.5     13.0     40.7     37.2
  Raw fuel cost
   per gallon (in cents)                   98.6    143.8    100.2    134.1

  Fuel expense before hedge activities
   ("raw fuel")                           $14.3    $18.7    $40.8    $49.9
  Less: gains on settled hedges
   included in fuel expense                (0.8)    (0.5)    (2.5)    (1.5)
  GAAP fuel expense                       $13.5    $18.2    $38.3    $48.4
  Fuel gallons (000,000)                   14.5     13.0     40.7     37.2
  GAAP fuel cost
   per gallon (in cents)                   93.1    140.0     94.1    130.1

  GAAP fuel expense                       $13.5    $18.2    $38.3    $48.4
  Less: Gains on settled hedges
   included in nonoperating

   income (expense)                        (0.3)    (1.2)    (0.8)    (1.6)
  Adjusted fuel                            13.2     17.0     37.5     46.8
  Fuel gallons (000,000)                   14.5     13.0     40.7     37.2
  Economic fuel cost per
   gallon (in cents)                       90.3    131.2     91.9    125.8

  Mark-to-market gains (losses)
   included in non-operating income
   related to hedges that settle in
   future periods                           --      $6.9      --      $9.6

  Reconciliation to GAAP pretax income
   (loss):
  Pretax income (loss) excluding
   impairment charge, government

   comp and mark-to-market hedging
   gains                                  $19.5    $17.5     $1.3    $11.9
  Less: impairment of aircraft and
   related spare parts                       --       --       --     (2.8)
  Add: government compensation               --       --     18.6       --
  Add: mark-to-market hedging gains
   included
   in nonoperating
   income (expense)                          --      6.9       --      9.6
  Pretax income (loss) reported GAAP
   amounts                                $19.5    $24.4    $19.9    $18.7



  Air Group Net Income and EPS Reconciliation:
   The following table summarizes Alaska Air Group, Inc.'s net income and
   diluted earnings per share during 2003 and 2004 excluding restructuring
   and impairment charges, navigation fee settlement, the second and third
   quarter of 2004 hedging mark-to-market gains, government compensation and
   as reported in accordance with GAAP (in millions except per share
   amounts):

                                         Three Months Ended September 30,
                                              2003              2004
                                                 Diluted           Diluted
                                        Dollars    EPS    Dollars    EPS
  Net income and diluted
   EPS excluding
   mark-to-market hedging
   gains, navigation fee
   settlement and
   restructuring charges                   $40.7    $1.52    $55.9    $2.08
  Mark-to-market
   hedging gains,
   net of tax                                --       --     32.8     1.22
  Navigation fee settlement                  --       --      6.3     0.23
  Restructuring charge, net of tax           --       --    (15.8)   (0.59)
  Reported GAAP amounts                   $40.7    $1.52    $79.2    $2.94




                                        Nine Months Ended September 30,
                                              2003             2004
                                                 Diluted          Diluted
                                        Dollars    EPS    Dollars   EPS
  Net income (loss) and diluted EPS
   excluding mark-to-market hedging
   gains, navigation fee settlement,
   restructuring charges, government
   compensation and impairment charge    ($14.7)  ($0.55)  $24.7   $0.92
  Government compensation, net of tax      44.3     1.66      --     --
  Navigation fee settlement                  --       --     6.3    0.23
  Mark-to-market hedging gains, net of
   tax                                       --       --    45.9    1.71
  Impairment charge, net of tax              --       --   (26.3)  (0.98)
  Restructuring charge, net of tax           --       --   (15.8)  (0.59)
  Reported GAAP amounts                   $29.6    $1.11   $34.8   $1.29



  Forecasted Financial Measures
   During our quarterly earnings conference call, we expect to discuss
   forward-looking forecasted unit cost information for the fourth quarter
   of 2004.  This forecasted unit cost information includes non-GAAP unit
   cost estimates which are summarized in the following table together with
   the most directly comparable GAAP unit cost for both Alaska Airlines,
   Inc. and Horizon Air Industries, Inc.:

                                      Q4 2004           Year Ending 2004
                                   Alaska   Horizon   Alaska    Horizon
                                  Airlines    Air     Airlines     Air
  Forecast of cost per
   available seat mile,
   excluding fuel, navigation fee
   settlement, restructuring
   and impairment charges
   (in cents)                        7.9     14.4       7.9       13.8

  Forecast of fuel
   cost per available
   seat mile
   (See Note 1) (in cents)           2.7      2.8      2.2         2.2

  Forecast of restructuring
   charge per available
   seat mile
   (See Note 2)                      0.5       --      0.2          --

  Impairment of aircraft
   and spare engines                  --       --      0.2         0.1
  Forecast of total
   operating cost per
   available seat mile,
   as reported
   on a GAAP
   basis (cents)                    11.1     17.2     10.5        16.1

  Forecast of available
   seat miles
   (000,000)                       5,461      769   22,285       3,083

  Forecast fuel
   consumption
   (000,000)                        86.2     12.3     353.8       49.5



  Note 1:  Our forecast of fuel costs is based on anticipated gallons
   consumed and estimated fuel cost per gallon of $1.74 for Alaska and $1.78
   for Horizon. Given the volatility of fuel prices, readers should be
   cautioned that actual fuel expense will likely differ from the forecast
   above.

  Note 2:  Our forecast of restructuring costs is based on an estimated
   fourth quarter restructuring charge of $25 million.  We expect the actual
   charge to be $24-$28 million.

SOURCE: Alaska Airlines

CONTACT: Brad Tilden, +1-206-392-5362, or Lou Cancelmi, +1-206-392-5170,
both of Alaska Airlines