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Alaska Airlines Sets Historical Record with 3rd Quarter Operational Performance

SEATTLE - Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) Oct. 5 reported September operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines (Alaska) and Horizon Air (Horizon).

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska reported an increase in load factor to 77.9 percent in September 2009, compared to 75.8 percent in September 2008, on a 1.4 percent decline in available seat miles (ASMs) compared to the prior-year period. Alaska also reported that 90.0 percent of its flights arrived on time in September 2009, capping off the strongest third quarter operational performance in the airline's history. The following tables show the operational results for September 2009 and for the first nine months of 2009, compared to the prior-year periods:

2009

September2008



Change

2009

Year-to-Date2008

Change

Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (000,000) 1,450


1,430 1.4%

13,812

14,410

(4.1)%

Available seat miles
(ASMs) (000,000)

1,862



1,888



(1.4)%



17,469



18,628



(6.2)%

Passenger load factor 77.9%

75.8%

2.1pts

79.1%

77.4%

1.7pts

Revenue passengers (000) 1,235

1,295

(4.7)%

11,796

13,037

(9.5)%

On-time arrivals as reported to U.S. DOT 90.0%

87.8%

2.2pts

81.9%

79.3%

2.6pts


HORIZON AIR

Horizon reported an increase in load factor to 73.7 percent in September 2009, compared to 72.6 percent in September 2008, on a 2.6 percent decline in capacity compared to the prior-year period. Horizon reported that 91.3 percent of its flights arrived on time in September 2009, a 0.3-point decrease compared to the 91.6 percent reported in September 2008. The following tables show the operational results for September 2009 and for the first nine months of 2009, compared to the prior-year periods:

2009

September2008



Change

2009

Year-to-Date2008

Change

RPMs (000,000) 199

201

(1.1)%

1,799

2,074

(13.3)%

ASMs (000,000)

270



277



(2.6)%



2,470



2,831



(12.8)%

Passenger load factor 73.7%

72.6%

1.1pts

72.8%

73.3%

(0.5)pts

Revenue passengers (000) 556

584

(4.9)%

5,055

5,754

(12.1)%

On-time arrivals 91.3%

91.6%

(0.3)pts

86.4%

85.1%

1.3pts


Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 and 2009 North America Airline Satisfaction StudiesSM. For reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.