Alaska Air Group Reports April Traffic

SEATTLE, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported April passenger traffic for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines (Alaska) and Horizon Air (Horizon).

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska's April traffic increased 3.4 percent to 1.567 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) from 1.515 billion flown a year earlier. Capacity during April was 2.036 billion available seat miles (ASMs), 3.4 percent higher than the 1.970 billion in April 2007.

The passenger load factor (the percentage of available seats occupied by fare-paying passengers) for the month was 76.9 percent, which remained unchanged from April 2007. The airline carried 1,415,200 passengers, compared to 1,447,800 in April 2007.

RPMs for the four-month period totaled 6.092 billion, a 9.2 percent increase from the 5.581 billion recorded a year earlier. Capacity for the four months ended April 2008 increased 6.0 percent to 8.120 billion ASMs, compared to 7.664 billion in 2007.

The passenger load factor for the first four months of 2008 was 75.0 percent, compared to 72.8 percent in 2007. The airline carried 5,495,000 passengers, compared to 5,310,300 in 2007.

HORIZON AIR

Horizon's April traffic decreased 6.9 percent to 212.3 million RPMs from 228.1 million flown a year earlier. Capacity during April was 306.9 million ASMs, 3.8 percent lower than the 319.0 million in April 2007.

The passenger load factor for the month was 69.2 percent, compared to 71.5 percent in April 2007. The airline carried 589,300 passengers, compared to 587,900 in April 2007.

RPMs for the four-month period totaled 870.7 million, a 1.8 percent increase from the 855.0 million recorded a year earlier. Capacity for the four months ended April 2008 increased 0.4 percent to 1.249 billion ASMs, compared to 1.244 billion in 2007.

The passenger load factor for the first four months of 2008 was 69.7 percent, compared to 68.7 percent in 2007. The airline carried 2,441,000 passengers, compared to 2,197,000 in 2007.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air together serve 93 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. For reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.