SEATTLE, March 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported February 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). Winter storms in 2017 significantly impacted the operational performance across the network. Detailed information is provided below.

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 1.7 percent increase in traffic on a 1.2 percent increase in capacity compared to February 2016. Load factor increased 0.3 points to 80.4 percent.

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



                                                   February                                           Year-to-Date

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

    Revenue
     passengers
     (000)                              3,031                     2,980                                      1.7%   6,277    6,050              3.8%

    Revenue
     passenger
     miles RPM
     (000,000)
     "traffic"                           3,511                     3,453                                      1.7%   7,347    7,044              4.3%

    Available seat
     miles ASM
     (000,000)
     "capacity"                          4,366                     4,313                                      1.2%   9,277    8,879              4.5%

    Passenger load
     factor                              80.4%                    80.1%                          0.3 pts           79.2%   79.3%    (0.1) pts

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

ALASKA
Alaska reported a 1.5 percent increase in traffic on a 0.6 percent increase in capacity compared to February 2016. Load factor increased 0.7 points to 81.4 percent. Alaska also reported 77.6 percent of its flights arrived on time in February 2017, compared to 89.3 percent reported in February 2016.

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



                       February        Year-to-Date

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

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)      1,794           1,742               3.0%  3,709    3,553               4.4%

     RPMs
     (000,000)  2,415           2,380               1.5%  5,052    4,871               3.7%

     ASMs
     (000,000)  2,967           2,948               0.6%  6,294    6,076               3.6%

     Passenger
     load
     factor      81.4%          80.7%     0.7 pts        80.3%   80.2%      0.1 pts

     On-
     time
     arrivals
     as
     reported
     to
     U.S.
     DOT         77.6%          89.3%   (11.7) pts       77.6%   88.1%    (10.5) pts

VIRGIN AMERICA
Virgin America traffic increased 2.6 percent on a 3.4 percent increase in capacity compared to February 2016. Load factor decreased 0.7 points to 78.3 percent. Virgin America also reported 64.6 percent of its flights arrived on time in February 2017, compared to 84.6 percent in February 2016.

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



                       February        Year-to-Date

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

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)        553             546               1.3%  1,165    1,107               5.2%

     RPMs
     (000,000)    825             804               2.6%  1,745    1,638               6.5%

     ASMs
     (000,000)  1,053           1,018               3.4%  2,261    2,099               7.7%

     Passenger
     load
     factor      78.3%          79.0%    (0.7) pts       77.2%   78.0%     (0.8) pts

     On-
     time
     arrivals
     as
     reported
     to
     U.S.
     DOT         64.6%          84.6%   (20.0) pts       64.2%   79.3%    (15.1) pts

REGIONAL
Regional traffic increased 0.7 percent on a 0.3 percent decrease in capacity compared to February 2016. Load factor increased 0.8 points to 78.3 percent. Regional also reported 69.6 percent of its flights arrived on time in February 2017, compared to 91.7 percent in February 2016.

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



                         February        Year-to-Date

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

    Revenue
     passengers
     (000)          684             692               (1.2)%   1,403    1,390               0.9%

    RPMs (000,000)   271             269                 0.7%     550      535               2.8%

    ASMs (000,000)   346             347               (0.3)%     722      704               2.6%

    Passenger load
     factor        78.3%          77.5%     0.8 pts           76.2%   76.0%      0.2 pts

    On-time
     arrivals as
     reported to
     U.S. DOT      69.6%          91.7%   (22.1) pts          66.9%   87.9%    (21.0) pts

Alaska Airlines, together with Virgin America and its regional partners, flies 40 million customers a year to 118 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, customers can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide. 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).

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SOURCE Alaska Air Group Inc.