SEATTLE, May 3, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) today reported April passenger traffic for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air.

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska Airlines' April traffic increased 2.4 percent to 1.080 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) from 1.054 billion flown a year earlier. Capacity during April was 1.586 billion available seat miles (ASMs), 4.7 percent higher than the 1.515 billion in April 2001.

The passenger load factor (the percentage of available seats occupied by fare paying passengers) for the month was 68.1 percent, compared to 69.6 in April 2001. The airline carried 1,150,000 passengers compared to 1,179,900 in April 2001.

RPMs for the four-month period totaled 4.057 billion, a 2.7 percent increase from the 3.949 billion recorded a year earlier. Capacity for the four months ended April 2002 increased 1.9 percent to 6.053 billion ASMs, compared to 5.943 billion in 2001.

The passenger load factor for the first four months of 2002 was 67.0 percent, compared to 66.5 percent in 2001. The airline carried 4,343,100 passengers compared to 4,377,900 in 2001.

HORIZON AIR

Horizon Air's April traffic decreased 0.1 percent to 111.1 million RPMs from 111.3 million flown a year earlier. Capacity for April was 191.9 million ASMs, 2.3 percent higher than last year's 187.7 million.

The passenger load factor for the month was 57.9 percent, compared to 59.3 percent last April. The airline carried 365,800 passengers compared to 392,900 in April 2001.

RPMs for the four months ended April 2002 totaled 440.3 million, a 1.5 percent decrease from the 447.0 million recorded a year earlier. Capacity for the four-month period decreased 1.1 percent to 723.0 million ASMs, compared to 730.9 million in 2001.

The passenger load factor for the first four months of 2002 was 60.9 percent, compared to 61.2 percent in 2001. The airline carried 1,460,800 passengers, compared to 1,570,300 in 2001.

CONTACT: Alaska Air Group, Inc. Jack Evans, 206/433-3134