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Alaska Air Group Reports August Operational Results

SEATTLE, Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported August operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and on a combined basis. Detailed information is provided below.

ALASKA AIRLINES - MAINLINE
Alaska reported an 8.1 percent increase in traffic on a 7.4 percent increase in capacity compared to August 2011. This resulted in a 0.6-point increase in load factor to an all-time monthly record of 88.9 percent. Alaska also reported 89.3 percent of its flights arrived on time in August, compared to the 90.8 percent reported in August 2011.

The following table shows Alaska's operational results for August and year-to-date 2012, compared to the prior-year periods:

August

Year-to-Date

2012

2011

Change

2012

2011

Change

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

1,756

1,698

3.4%

12,552

12,033

4.3%

Revenue passenger miles

    RPM (in millions)

2,276

2,105

8.1%

16,452

15,204

8.2%

Available seat miles

    ASM (in millions)

2,561

2,385

7.4%

18,864

17,838

5.8%

Passenger load factor

88.9%

88.3%

0.6 pts

87.2%

85.2%

2.0 pts

On-time arrivals as reported

    to U.S. DOT

89.3%

90.8%

(1.5) pts

87.9%

88.1%

(0.2) pts

HORIZON AIR
Horizon reported a 5.2 percent increase in traffic on a 5.2 percent increase in capacity compared to August 2011. This resulted in a 0.1-point increase in load factor to an August record 83.1 percent. Horizon also reported a record 93.9 percent of its flights arrived on time in August, compared to the 92.7 percent reported in August 2011.

The following table shows Horizon's operational results for August and year-to-date 2012, compared to the prior-year periods:

August

Year-to-Date

2012

2011

Change

2012

2011

Change

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

636

610

4.3%

4,506

4,492

0.3%

RPMs (in millions)

201

191

5.2%

1,391

1,473

(5.6)%

ASMs (in millions)

242

230

5.2%

1,777

1,893

(6.1)%

Passenger load factor

83.1%

83.0%

 0.1 pts

78.3%

77.8%

0.5 pts

On-time arrivals

93.9%

92.7%

 1.2 pts

91.6%

83.9%

7.7 pts

The year-to-date decline in capacity and traffic for Horizon from the prior year is due primarily to the completion of Horizon's transition out of the CRJ-700 regional jet. This transition was completed in June 2011.

AIR GROUP (including flights operated by third parties)
On a combined basis, Air Group reported a 7.8 percent increase in traffic on a 7.1 percent increase in capacity compared to August 2011. This resulted in a 0.6-point increase in load factor to a record 88.4 percent. These statistics include flights operated by Alaska and those under capacity purchase agreements, including Horizon, SkyWest and PenAir.

The following table shows the operational results for August and year-to-date 2012, compared to the prior-year periods:

August

Year-to-Date

2012

2011

Change

2012

2011

Change

Revenue passengers (in thousands)

2,448

2,358

3.8%

17,455

16,689

4.6%

RPMs (in millions)

2,524

2,342

7.8%

18,178

16,842

7.9%

ASMs (in millions)

2,855

2,666

7.1%

21,030

19,927

5.5%

Passenger load factor

88.4%

87.8%

 0.6 pts

86.4%

84.5%

1.9 pts

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 has ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction StudySM for five consecutive years from 2008 to 2012. 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.

Bobbie Egan, Media Relations Manager,+1-206-392-5134; Chris Berry, Managing Director of Investor Relations, +1-206-392-5260