Alaska Air Group Reports April Operational Results

SEATTLE, May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported April operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines (Alaska) and Horizon Air (Horizon).

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska reported an 18.1 percent increase in traffic on a 15.3 percent increase in capacity, resulting in a 2.0-point increase in load factor to a record 84.9 percent. Alaska also reported that 89.5 percent of its flights arrived on time in April, a 1.4-point decrease compared to the 90.9 percent reported in April 2010.

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

                                    April                 Year-to-Date
                                    -----                 ------------
                             2011   2010  Change     2011    2010   Change
                             ----   ----  ------     ----    ----   ------
    Revenue passenger miles
        RPMs (in millions)  1,869  1,583      18.1% 7,149   6,055      18.1%
    Available seat miles
        ASMs (in millions)  2,203  1,910      15.3% 8,555   7,451      14.8%
    Passenger load factor    84.9%  82.9%   2.0pts   83.6%   81.3%   2.3pts
    Revenue passengers (in
     thousands)             1,470  1,302      12.9% 5,577   4,943      12.8%
    On-time arrivals as
     reported
      to U.S. DOT            89.5%  90.9% (1.4)pts   84.9%   87.6% (2.7)pts
      -----------            ----   ----  --------   ----    ----  --------

HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported a 4.2 percent decline in traffic on a 10.3 percent decline in capacity compared to April 2010, resulting in a 4.8-point increase in load factor to a record 76.6 percent. Horizon also reported that 85.9 percent of its flights arrived on time in April 2011, a 4.1-point decrease compared to the 90.0 percent reported in April 2010.

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

                                  April                 Year-to-Date
                                  -----                 ------------
                           2011  2010   Change    2011   2010    Change
                           ----  ----   ------    ----   ----    ------
    RPMs (in millions)      187   195     (4.2)%   750    762       (1.5)%
    ASMs (in millions)      244   272    (10.3)%   986  1,065       (7.4)%
    Passenger load factor  76.6% 71.8%   4.8pts   76.1%  71.5%     4.6pts
    Revenue passengers (in
     thousands)             547   538       1.7% 2,192  2,122         3.3%
    On-time arrivals       85.9% 90.0% (4.1)pts   79.1%  89.1%  (10.0)pts
    ----------------       ----  ----  --------   ----   ----   ---------

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve 90 cities throughout Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska. 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.