Despite increased competition from Delta, Alaska Airlines’ traffic and passenger numbers increase but the load factor drops

Alaska Air Group Inc. (Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air) (Seattle/Tacoma) despite increased competition, especially from Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) at its Seattle/Tacoma hub, has managed to increase its traffic and passenger numbers for the first nine months of 2014, mostly through its vigorous expansion. However the number of passengers has not kept up with the expansion and this has lead to a lower load factor.

The Group reported September and year-to-date operational results for its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and on a combined basis. Detailed information is provided below.

Air Group:

On a combined basis, Air Group reported a 9.0 percent increase in traffic on a 9.9 percent increase in capacity compared to September 2013. This resulted in a 0.7 point decrease in load factor to 81.9 percent. These statistics include flights operated by Alaska and those under capacity purchase agreements, including Horizon, SkyWest and PenAir.

The following table shows the operational results for September and year-to-date 2014, compared to the prior-year periods:

The Group and Alaska Airlines:

Alaska Horizon – Horizon Air:

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737-890 N569AS (msn 35184) in the 75th Anniversary retrojet scheme arrives in Las Vegas.

Alaska Airlines: