SEATTLE, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported March 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 year-to-date 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 5.5 percent increase in traffic on a 5.7 percent increase in capacity compared to March 2016. Load factor decreased 0.2 points to 85.4 percent.

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



                                                          March             Year-to-Date

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

    Revenue passengers (000)                        3,741        3,551               5.4%  10,018    9,600             4.4%

    Revenue passenger miles RPM (000,000) "traffic" 4,369        4,142               5.5%  11,707   11,186             4.7%

    Available seat miles ASM (000,000) "capacity"   5,116        4,840               5.7%  14,394   13,719             4.9%

    Passenger load factor                           85.4%       85.6%  (0.2) pts          81.3%   81.5%    (0.2) pts



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

ALASKA
Alaska reported a 6.8 percent increase in traffic on a 6.9 percent increase in capacity compared to March 2016. Load factor decreased 0.1 point to 86.7 percent. Alaska also reported 79.8 percent of its flights arrived on time in March 2017, compared to 86.4 percent reported in March 2016.

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



                       March             Year-to-Date

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

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)      2,242        2,090               7.3%  5,951    5,642              5.5%

     RPMs
     (000,000)  3,039        2,845               6.8%  8,091    7,716              4.9%

     ASMs
     (000,000)  3,504        3,278               6.9%  9,799    9,354              4.8%

     Passenger
     load
     factor      86.7%       86.8%  (0.1) pt          82.6%   82.5%     0.1 pt

     On-
     time
     arrivals
     as
     reported
     to
     U.S.
     DOT         79.8%       86.4%  (6.6) pts         78.4%   87.5%    (9.1) pts

VIRGIN AMERICA
Virgin America traffic increased 2.4 percent on a 2.9 percent increase in capacity compared to March 2016. Load factor decreased 0.5 points to 83.3 percent. Virgin America also reported 65.5 percent of its flights arrived on time in March 2017, compared to 73.8 percent in March 2016.

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



                       March             Year-to-Date

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

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)        668          659               1.4%  1,833    1,766               3.8%

     RPMs
     (000,000)  1,000          977               2.4%  2,736    2,615               4.6%

     ASMs
     (000,000)  1,200        1,166               2.9%  3,461    3,265               6.0%

     Passenger
     load
     factor      83.3%       83.8%  (0.5) pts         79.1%   80.1%     (1.0) pt

     On-
     time
     arrivals
     as
     reported
     to
     U.S.
     DOT         65.5%       73.8%  (8.3) pts         64.7%   77.4%    (12.7) pts

REGIONAL
Regional traffic increased 3.1 percent on a 4.0 percent increase in capacity compared to March 2016. Load factor decreased 0.7 points to 80.1 percent. Regional also reported 84.2 percent of its flights arrived on time in March 2017, compared to 87.5 percent in March 2016.

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



                      March             Year-to-Date

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

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)       831          802               3.6%  2,234    2,192               1.9%

     RPMs
     (000,000)   330          320               3.1%    880      855               2.9%

     ASMs
     (000,000)   412          396               4.0%  1,134    1,100               3.1%

     Passenger
     load
     factor     80.1%       80.8%  (0.7) pts         77.6%   77.7%     (0.1) pt

     On-
     time
     arrivals
     as
     reported
     to
     U.S.
     DOT        84.2%       87.5%  (3.3) pts         72.6%   89.0%    (16.4) 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. Alaska Mileage Plan ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Airline Loyalty Rewards Programs" in the J.D. Power 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).

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SOURCE Alaska Air Group Inc.