SEATTLE, March 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) reported February operational results today for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and on a combined basis. Detailed information is provided below. 

ALASKA AIRLINES - MAINLINE

Alaska reported a 9.7 percent increase in traffic on a 5.8 percent increase in capacity compared to February 2011. This resulted in a 3.0-point increase in load factor to a February record of 84.5 percent. Alaska also reported that a record 89.5 percent of its flights arrived on time in February, compared to the 82.1 percent reported in February 2011.

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

HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported an 11.9 percent decline in February traffic on an 11.3 percent decline in capacity compared to February 2011. This resulted in a 0.5-point decrease in load factor to 76.5 percent. Horizon also reported that a record 92.1 percent of its flights arrived on time in February, compared to the 73.5 percent reported in February 2011. The significant decline in capacity and traffic for Horizon from 2011 is due to the airline's transition out of the CRJ-700 regional jet, which was completed in June 2011, and a corresponding reduction in the size of its operating fleet from 54 aircraft on Feb. 28, 2011, to 48 aircraft on Feb. 29, 2012.

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

AIR GROUP (including flights operated by third parties)

On a combined basis, Air Group reported a 9.3 percent increase in traffic on a 5.7 percent increase in capacity compared to February 2011. This resulted in a 2.7-point increase in load factor to 83.7 percent. These statistics include flights operated by Alaska and those under capacity purchase arrangements, including Horizon, SkyWest and PenAir.

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

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve 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, 2010 and 2011 North America Airline Satisfaction Studies(SM). 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.

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