SEATTLE, Feb. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported January 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 significantly impacted the operational performance across the network in January 2017. 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 comparative purposes.

AIR GROUP
On a combined basis, Air Group reported a 6.9 percent increase in traffic on a 7.6 percent increase in capacity compared to January 2016. Load factor decreased 0.5 points to 78.1 percent. These statistics include flights operated by Alaska, Virgin America, Horizon, and those under third-party capacity purchase agreements.

The following table shows the operational results for January, compared to the prior-year period((1)):



                                      January

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

    Revenue passengers (000)    3,246          3,070           5.7%

    Revenue passenger miles RPM
     (000,000) "traffic"        3,837          3,590           6.9%

    Available seat miles ASM
     (000,000) "capacity"       4,911          4,565           7.6%

    Passenger load factor       78.1%         78.6%  (0.5) pts



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

ALASKA
Alaska reported a 5.9 percent increase in traffic on a 6.4 percent increase in capacity compared to January 2016. Load factor decreased 0.3 points to 79.3 percent. Alaska also reported 77.7 percent of its flights arrived on time in January, compared to 87.0 percent reported in January 2016.

The following table shows Alaska's operational results for January, compared to the prior-year period:



                                       January

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

    Revenue passengers (000)     1,915          1,811           5.7%

    RPMs (000,000)               2,638          2,491           5.9%

    ASMs (000,000)               3,327          3,128           6.4%

    Passenger load factor        79.3%         79.6%  (0.3) pts

    On-time arrivals as reported
     to U.S. DOT                 77.7%         87.0%  (9.3) pts

VIRGIN AMERICA
Virgin America traffic increased 10.3 percent on an 11.9 percent increase in capacity compared to January 2016. Load factor decreased 1.0 point to 76.2 percent. Virgin America also reported 62.9 percent of its flights arrived on time in January, compared to 74.5 percent in January 2016.

The following table shows Virgin America operational results for January compared to the prior-year period:



                                       January

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

    Revenue passengers (000)       612            561             9.1%

    RPMs (000,000)                 920            834            10.3%

    ASMs (000,000)               1,208          1,080            11.9%

    Passenger load factor        76.2%         77.2%   (1.0) pt

    On-time arrivals as reported
     to U.S. DOT                 62.9%         74.5%  (11.6) pts

REGIONAL
Regional traffic increased 5.3 percent on a similar increase in capacity compared to January 2016. Load factor was flat at 74.2 percent. Regional also reported 64.1 percent of its flights arrived on time in January, compared to 84.0 percent in January 2016.

The following table shows regional operational results for January compared to the prior-year period:



                                       January

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

    Revenue passengers (000)       719            698            3.0%

    RPMs (000,000)                 279            265            5.3%

    ASMs (000,000)                 376            357            5.3%

    Passenger load factor        74.2%         74.2%     - pts

    On-time arrivals as reported
     to U.S. DOT                 64.1%         84.0%  (19.9) 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.