SEATTLE, June 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported May and year-to-date operational results on a consolidated basis, for its mainline operations operated by subsidiaries Alaska Airlines, Inc. (Alaska) and Virgin America Inc. (Virgin America), and for its regional flying operated by subsidiary Horizon Air Industries, Inc. (Horizon) and third-party regional carriers SkyWest Airlines and Peninsula Airlines (Regional).

Air Group's acquisition of Virgin America took place on Dec.14, 2016. Operational results below include Virgin America results from pre-acquisition periods for comparison.

AIR GROUP
On a combined basis for all operations, Air Group reported a 7.6 percent increase in traffic on a 5.9 percent increase in capacity compared to May 2016. Load factor increased 1.4 points to 86.5 percent.

The following table shows the operational results for May and year-to-date, compared to the prior-year periods((1)):



                       May             Year-to-Date

                  2017       2016    Change            2017     2016     Change
                  ----       ----    ------            ----     ----     ------

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)      3,793      3,574              6.1%  17,483   16,595             5.4%

     Revenue
     passenger
     miles
     RPM
     (000,000)
     "traffic"   4,500      4,181              7.6%  20,554   19,400             5.9%

     Available
     seat
     miles
     ASM
     (000,000)
     "capacity"  5,202      4,914              5.9%  24,616   23,430             5.1%

     Passenger
     load
     factor      86.5%     85.1%  1.4 pts           83.5%   82.8%    0.7 pt



    (1)     2016 information has
     been adjusted to include
     Virgin America operating
     results for comparison.

ALASKA
Alaska reported a 9.6 percent increase in traffic on a 6.7 percent increase in capacity compared to May 2016. Load factor increased 2.2 points to 87.6 percent. Alaska also reported 82.6 percent of its flights arrived on time in May 2017, compared to 90.3 percent reported in May 2016.

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



                       May              Year-to-Date

                  2017       2016     Change            2017     2016       Change
                  ----       ----     ------            ----     ----       ------

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)      2,276      2,087               9.1%  10,434    9,743               7.1%

     RPMs
     (000,000)  3,071      2,803               9.6%  14,148   13,260               6.7%

     ASMs
     (000,000)  3,505      3,284               6.7%  16,729   15,866               5.4%

     Passenger
     load
     factor      87.6%     85.4%   2.2 pts           84.6%   83.6%      1.0 pt

     On-
     time
     arrivals
     as
     reported
     to
     U.S.
     DOT         82.6%     90.3%  (7.7) pts          79.9%   88.5%    (8.6) pts

VIRGIN AMERICA
Virgin America traffic increased 2.6 percent on a 3.5 percent increase in capacity compared to May 2016. Load factor decreased 0.7 points to 85.4 percent. Virgin America also reported 58.7 percent of its flights arrived on time in May 2017, compared to 76.7 percent in May 2016.

The following table shows Virgin America operational results for May and year-to-date, compared to the prior-year periods:



                       May              Year-to-Date

                  2017       2016     Change            2017     2016       Change
                  ----       ----     ------            ----     ----       ------

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)        706        703               0.4%   3,222    3,130               2.9%

     RPMs
     (000,000)  1,090      1,062               2.6%   4,866    4,671               4.2%

     ASMs
     (000,000)  1,276      1,233               3.5%   5,929    5,680               4.4%

     Passenger
     load
     factor      85.4%     86.1%   (0.7) pt          82.1%   82.2%     (0.1) pt

     On-
     time
     arrivals
     as
     reported
     to
     U.S.
     DOT         58.7%     76.7%  (18.0) pts         63.4%   77.0%    (13.6) pts

REGIONAL
Regional traffic increased 7.3 percent on a 6.0 percent increase in capacity compared to May 2016. Load factor increased 0.9 points to 80.5 percent. Regional also reported 86.4 percent of its flights arrived on time in May 2017, compared to 91.7 percent in May 2016.

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



                      May              Year-to-Date

                 2017       2016     Change            2017     2016       Change
                 ----       ----     ------            ----     ----       ------

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)       811        784               3.4%   3,827    3,722               2.8%

     RPMs
     (000,000)   339        316               7.3%   1,540    1,469               4.8%

     ASMs
     (000,000)   421        397               6.0%   1,958    1,884               3.9%

     Passenger
     load
     factor     80.5%     79.6%    0.9 pt           78.7%   78.0%      0.7 pt

     On-
     time
     arrivals
     as
     reported
     to
     U.S.
     DOT        86.4%     91.7%  (5.3) pts          78.4%   89.0%    (10.6) pts

Alaska Airlines, together with Virgin America and its regional partners, flies 40 million guests a year to 119 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States and to Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Cuba. With Alaska and Alaska Global Partners, guests can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America" in the J.D. Power North America Satisfaction Study for 10 consecutive years from 2008 to 2017. Alaska Mileage Plan ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Airline Loyalty Rewards Programs" in the J.D. Power 2016 Airline Loyalty/Rewards Program Satisfaction Report for the last three consecutive years. Learn more about Alaska's award-winning service and unmatched reliability at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alaska-air-group-reports-may-2017-operational-results-300470807.html

SOURCE Alaska Air Group