ALASKA AIR GROUP, INC. 
By SEATTLE, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported April 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 a 6.3 percent increase in traffic on a 3.1 percent increase in capacity compared to April 2011. This resulted in a 2.5-point increase in load factor to a record 87.4 percent. Alaska also reported 90.6 percent of its flights arrived on time in April, compared to the 89.5 percent reported in April 2011.
The following table shows Alaska's operational results for April and year-to-date 2012, compared to the prior-year periods:
April Year-to-Date
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2012 2011 Change 2012 2011 Change
---- ---- ------ ---- ---- ------
Revenue
passengers (in
thousands) 1,514 1,470 3.0% 5,789 5,577 3.8%
Revenue
passenger miles 1,986 1,869 6.3% 7,623 7,149 6.6%
RPM (in
millions)
Available seat
miles 2,272 2,203 3.1% 8,847 8,555 3.4%
ASM (in
millions)
Passenger load
factor 87.4% 84.9% 2.5 pts 86.2% 83.6% 2.6 pts
On-time
arrivals as
reported 90.6% 89.5% 1.1 pts 86.1% 84.9% 1.2 pts
to U.S. DOT
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HORIZON AIR
Horizon reported a 13.4 percent decline in April traffic on a 13.1 percent decline in capacity compared to April 2011. This resulted in a 0.2-point decrease in load factor to 76.4 percent. Horizon also reported a record 94.0 percent of its flights arrived on time in April, compared to the 85.9 percent reported in April 2011. The significant 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 and a corresponding reduction in the size of Horizon's operating fleet from 53 aircraft at April 30, 2011, to 48 aircraft at April 30, 2012. This transition was completed in June 2011.
The following table shows Horizon's operational results for April and year-to-date 2012, compared to the prior-year periods:
April Year-to-Date
----- ------------
2012 2011 Change 2012 2011 Change
---- ---- ------ ---- ---- ------
Revenue
passengers (in
thousands) 531 547 (2.9)% 2,114 2,192 (3.6)%
RPMs (in
millions) 162 187 (13.4)% 644 750 (14.1)%
ASMs (in
millions) 212 244 (13.1)% 846 986 (14.2)%
Passenger load
factor 76.4% 76.6% (0.2) pts 76.1% 76.1% (0.0) pts
On-time arrivals 94.0% 85.9% 8.1 pts 89.6% 79.1% 10.5 pts
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AIR GROUP (including flights operated by third parties)
On a combined basis, Air Group reported a 6.3 percent increase in traffic on a 3.2 percent increase in capacity compared to April 2011. This resulted in a 2.5-point increase in load factor to a record 86.4 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 April and year-to-date 2012, compared to the prior-year periods:
April Year-to-Date
2012 2011 Change 2012 2011 Change
Revenue
passengers
(in
thousands) 2,094 2,017 3.8% 8,089 7,770 4.1%
RPMs
(in
millions) 2,189 2,060 6.3% 8,421 7,914 6.4%
ASMs
(in
millions) 2,533 2,455 3.2% 9,877 9,567 3.2%
Passenger
load
factor 86.4% 83.9% 2.5 pts 85.3% 82.7% 2.6 pts
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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. 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.
