SEATTLE, Nov. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc. today reported October 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.

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 an 11 percent increase in traffic on an 11.6 percent increase in capacity compared to October 2016. Load factor decreased 0.4 points to 83.8 percent.

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



                       October              Year-to-Date

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

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)      3,623          3,436               5.4%  36,686   35,001              4.8%

     Revenue
     passenger
     miles
     RPM
     (000,000)
     "traffic"   4,367          3,935              11.0%  43,438   40,605              7.0%

     Available
     seat
     miles
     ASM
     (000,000)
     "capacity"  5,211          4,671              11.6%  51,380   48,219              6.6%

     Passenger
     load
     factor      83.8%         84.2%  (0.4) pts          84.5%   84.2%    0.3 pts


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

ALASKA
Alaska reported a 9.3 percent increase in traffic on a 10.6 percent increase in capacity compared to October 2016. Load factor decreased 1 point to 83.8 percent. Alaska also reported 86 percent of its flights arrived on time in October 2017, compared to 87.6 percent reported in October 2016.

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



                       October              Year-to-Date

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

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)      2,111          1,949               8.3%  21,805   20,381               7.0%

     RPMs
     (000,000)  2,832          2,591               9.3%  29,414   27,359               7.5%

     ASMs
     (000,000)  3,379          3,056              10.6%  34,501   32,272               6.9%

     Passenger
     load
     factor      83.8%         84.8%   (1.0) pt          85.3%   84.8%     0.5 pts

     On-
     time
     arrivals
     as
     reported
     to
     U.S.
     DOT         86.0%         87.6%  (1.6) pts          82.4%   88.4%    (6.0) pts

VIRGIN AMERICA
Virgin America traffic increased 14.2 percent on a 13.4 percent increase in capacity compared to October 2016. Load factor increased 0.6 points to 85 percent. Virgin America also reported 73.3 percent of its flights arrived on time in October 2017, compared to 76.2 percent in October 2016.

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



                       October              Year-to-Date

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

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)        752            685               9.8%   6,934    6,713               3.3%

     RPMs
     (000,000)  1,176          1,030              14.2%  10,639   10,131               5.0%

     ASMs
     (000,000)  1,383          1,220              13.4%  12,658   12,041               5.1%

     Passenger
     load
     factor      85.0%         84.4%   0.6 pts           84.0%   84.1%    (0.1) pts

     On-
     time
     arrivals
     as
     reported
     to
     U.S.
     DOT         73.3%         76.2%  (2.9) pts          67.8%   76.5%    (8.7) pts

REGIONAL
Regional traffic increased 14.3 percent on a 13.7 percent increase in capacity compared to October 2016. Load factor increased 0.5 points to 80 percent. Alaska's regional partners also reported 81.3 percent of its flights arrived on time in October 2017, compared to 85.5 percent in October 2016.

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



                      October              Year-to-Date

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

     Revenue
     passengers
     (000)       760            802             (5.2)%   7,947    7,907               0.5%

     RPMs
     (000,000)   359            314              14.3%   3,385    3,115               8.7%

     ASMs
     (000,000)   449            395              13.7%   4,221    3,906               8.1%

     Passenger
     load
     factor     80.0%         79.5%   0.5 pts           80.2%   79.7%     0.5 pts

     On-
     time
     arrivals
     as
     reported
     to
     U.S.
     DOT        81.3%         85.5%  (4.2) pts          79.6%   87.3%    (7.7) pts

Alaska Airlines, together with Virgin America and its regional partners, flies 40 million guests a year to more than 115 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States and to Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica. 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. Learn more about Alaska's award-winning service 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.