Tag Archives: Alaska Horizon

Alaska Airlines to add Portland-Austin and Eugene-San Jose flying this fall

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) CEO Brad Tilden announced yesterday (June 1) during a keynote speech at the JumpStart Air Service Development conference that Alaska will add new flying between Portland, Oregon, and Austin, Texas, and Eugene, Oregon, and San Jose, California, beginning November 5.

“San Jose and Austin are two of our most requested cities from our customers in the Willamette Valley,” said John Kirby, Alaska’s vice president of capacity planning. “We’re excited to add the Live Music Capital of the World to our growing list of destinations from the Rose City, and our new flight to San Jose is our first-ever nonstop from Eugene to the Bay Area. These routes will also connect key tech markets in three states.”

The Portland-Austin flight will be operated for Alaska Airlines by SkyWest Airlines (St. George, Utah), using new 76-seat Embraer 175 jets. The E175 jet features 12 seats in first class and 64 in coach, and with cabin dimensions on par with a 737. Onboard amenities include Wi-Fi Internet access, streaming inflight entertainment and 110 volt power in every first class seat. Food and beverage will include hot meals and picnic packs for purchase, in addition to Northwest microbrews and wine.

The Eugene-San Jose flight will be operated by Alaska’s sister carrier Horizon Air (Alaska Horizon), using a 76-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft. Customers flying on flights operated by Horizon can enjoy free soft drinks and Starbucks coffee, a la cart planeside baggage service, and complimentary Northwest wine and microbrews for passengers 21 years and older.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. As planned, the pictured Bombardier DHC-8-402 (marketed as the Q400) N441QX (msn 4348) with the special University of Alaska Nanooks livery, is now operating in Alaska.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:

Alaska Horizon aircraft slide show:

Alaska SkyWest aircraft slide show:

Horizon Air to operate nonstop Seattle/Tacoma – Helena flights

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) on August 23 is introducing Alaska Horizon (operated by subsidiary Horizon Air) Bombardier Q400 nonstop service from Seattle/Tacoma hub to Helena, Montana. The new route will operate on a daily basis according to Airline Route.

The airline currently serves Helena via a stop in Great Falls.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Alaska Horizon’s (Horizon Air) Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) N443QX (msn 4353) in the special UAA Seawolves – University of Alaska Anchorage college livery taxies to the runway at the Seattle-Tacoma (SeaTac) International Airport (SEA) hub.

Alaska Horizon aircraft slide show:

Alaska Air Group reports record first quarter results

Alaska Air Group, Inc., (Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air) (Seattle/Tacoma) today reported first quarter 2015 GAAP net income of $149 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, compared to $94 million, or $0.68 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2014. Excluding the impact of mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments, the company reported record adjusted net income of $149 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $89 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, in 2014.

“Our record first quarter results reflect lower fuel prices, but more importantly the tremendous loyalty of our customers in Seattle and across our system” said CEO Brad Tilden. “It is gratifying to see such strong growth and financial results given unprecedented competition. I want to thank our incredible employees who continue to rise to the challenge and deliver outstanding experiences to our customers.”

Financial Highlights:

Reported record first quarter net income, excluding special items, of $149 million – a 67% increase over the first quarter of 2014.

Reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.12 per diluted share, a 75% increase over the first quarter of 2014 and ahead of First Call analyst consensus estimate of $1.10 per share.

Earned net income for the first quarter under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $149 million or $1.12 per diluted share, compared to net income of $94 million, or $0.68 per diluted share in 2014.

Recorded $26 million of employee incentive pay in recognition of Air Group employees’ progress on meeting customer service, safety, operational and financial goals.

Increased fuel efficiency (as measured by seat-miles per gallon) by 2.5% compared to the first quarter of 2014, as part of our effort to be the airline leader in environmental stewardship.

Generated record adjusted pretax margin in the first quarter of 18.9% compared to 11.8% in 2014.

Generated 18.8% adjusted pretax margin for the trailing 12-month period ended March 31, 2015, compared to 13.6% for the same period in the prior year.

Achieved trailing 12-month after-tax return on invested capital of 20.1% compared to 14.8% in the 12-month period ended March 31, 2014.

Repurchased 1.6 million shares of common stock for $102 million in the first quarter of 2015, representing 1.2% of the total shares outstanding at the beginning of the year.

Paid a $0.20 per-share quarterly cash dividend on March 10, 2015, a 60% increase over the dividend declared in the first quarter of 2014.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737-890 N535AS (msn 35200) with Split Scimitar Winglets climbs away from Los Angeles International Airport.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:

Alaska Horizon aircraft slide show:

Horizon Air aircraft slide show:

Alaska Airlines to fly from Boise to Spokane

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) will begin daily nonstop service between Boise, Idaho and Spokane, Washington, starting August 24, 2015.

With the addition of Spokane, Alaska Airlines now flies to eight destinations from Boise: Lewiston, Idaho, Portland, Oregon, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Jose, California, Seattle/Tacoma and Spokane.

The new flight, which is just under 70 minutes, will be operated by Horizon Air (Alaska Horizon) (Seattle/Tacoma) for Alaska Airlines using 76-seat Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Alaska Horizon (Horizon Air) Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) N422QX (msn 4150) climbs away from the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:

Alaska Horizon aircraft slide show:

Alaska Airlines to take another look at flying to Everett after Snohomish County approves a Paine Field terminal

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) is taking another look at possibly serving Paine Field near Everett, Washington (north of Seattle) after the Snohomish County council approved the construction of a passenger terminal. Paine Field is also the home of Boeing’s 747/777/787 assembly plant.

The Snohomish County Council has approved a two-gate passenger terminal at PAE. The building will be leased to Propeller Airports (New York). The facility once built, could handle up to 23 flights a day according to KING 5.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Meanwhile Alaska Airlines is now taking a new look at PAE for possible service probably by Horizon Air (Alaska Horizon) following this vote according to Puget Sound Business Journal.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Horizon Air (Alaska Horizon) Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) N452QX (msn 4459) taxies to the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in the special “Employee Powered” livery featuring the signatures of employees.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:

Alaska Horizon aircraft slide show:

Alaska Air Group to reward its employees with a 9%+ bonus

Alaska Air Group (Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air) (Seattle/Tacoma) had a good financial year in 2014. The group is now rewarding its employees and has issued this statement:

Employees at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are receiving annual bonuses today of more than 9 percent of their annual pay, or more than five weeks’ pay for most workers. The bonus is in addition to the approximately $1,000 in 2014 monthly bonuses that most employees earned for achieving on-time and customer satisfaction goals.

The combined monthly and annual bonuses amounted to nearly $116 million, the highest in Alaska’s history, and are part of the company’s incentive-based pay program.

“We’re really excited to reward our employees for all the great work they’ve done this year,” said Tammy Young, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of human resources. “This is the sixth year in a row Alaska and Horizon employees have exceeded their payout targets for performance-based pay.”

Nearly $51 million in annual bonuses — 55 percent of the total — is being paid to nearly 6,000 Alaska and Horizon employees in the Puget Sound area. Another $12 million is being paid to 2,122 employees in the Portland, Oregon, area, while $9 million is going to workers throughout the state of Alaska.

Bonuses in Alaska Air Group’s Performance Based Pay Plan are determined by meeting specific company-wide goals for safety, customer satisfaction, cost control and profit that are approved annually by the board of directors. Since the inception of the program in 2003, Alaska has paid employees $624 million in combined incentive-based pay and monthly bonuses.

As part of its philosophy to provide employees with rewarding careers and good retirement benefits, Alaska Air Group has contributed $620 million over the past 6 years to its defined benefit pension plans, which were fully funded in 2013.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-990 ER N469AS (msn 41702) prepares to land in Anchorage.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Alaska-Airlines

Horizon Air converts two Bombardier Q400 options into firm orders

Horizon Air Industries, Inc. (Horizon Air) (Alaska Horizon) (Seattle/Tacoma) has converted two of seven previously acquired Bombardier DHC-8-402 (marketed as the Q400 NextGen) aircraft options to firm orders. The airline retains its options on another five Q400 NextGen aircraft. Horizon Air and its sister carrier, Alaska Airlines are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group.

Horizon Air’s Q400 aircraft are equipped with Head-up Guidance Systems (HGS) for all-weather operations, Wide Area Augmentation Systems (WAAS) with approach guidance (LPV) for ILS-like landing minima at remote runways and RNP AR 0.1 to fly curved approaches to airports in difficult terrain.

Established in 1981, Horizon Air was acquired in 1986 by Alaska Air Group, Inc., the parent company of Alaska Airlines. At its start, the airline operated two aircraft and served three destinations in Washington state. Today, Horizon flies its 76-seat Q400 aircraft on behalf of Alaska Airlines and serves 43 cities in the western United States, Canada and Mexico. Horizon Air, which is also a codeshare partner of American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, operates both the longest (Seattle to Fresno, 748 miles/1,204 km) and shortest (Pullman to Lewiston, 26 miles/42 km) turboprop routes currently being served by regional carriers in the U.S.

In 2014, Bombardier and Horizon Air signed a five-year heavy maintenance agreement whereby Bombardier will perform heavy maintenance tasks for the airline’s fleet of Q400 aircraft at Bombardier’s service center in Tuscon, Arizona.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) N448QX (msn 4409) arrives in Anchorage, Alaska.

Alaska Horizon aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Alaska-Horizon-Horizon-Air

Alaska Air Group reports 4Q GAAP net income of $148 million and $605 million for 2014, its best quarter/year ever

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air) (Seattle/Tacoma) today reported fourth quarter 2014 GAAP net income of $148 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $78 million, or $0.56 per diluted share in 2013. Excluding mark-to-market fuel hedge gains of $6 million ($4 million after tax, or $0.03 per diluted share), a benefit related to the curtailment of certain postretirement benefit plans and a one-time gain associated with the settlement of a legal matter for $30 million in aggregate ($19 million after tax, or $0.14 per diluted share), the company reported record fourth quarter 2014 net income of $125 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, compared to net income, excluding mark-to-market fuel hedge gains, of $77 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, in 2013.

The company reported full-year 2014 GAAP net income of $605 million, compared to $508 million in the prior year. Excluding the impact of the items noted in the table below, the company reported record net income of $571 million, or $4.18 per diluted share for 2014, compared to net income of $383 million, or $2.70 per diluted share in 2013.

This is a company record for earnings for the fourth quarter and any year.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-890 N525AS (msn 35692) with Aviation Partners Boeing Split Scimitar Winglets climbs away from the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Alaska-Airlines

Alaska Horizon today starts Las Vegas-Mammoth Lakes flights

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) inaugurates new Alaska Horizon (Horizon Air) (Seattle/Tacoma) seasonal service between Las Vegas and Mammoth Lakes, California, today (January 15). Mammoth Lakes is a popular ski destination and close to Yosemite National Park.

Alaska’s nonstop flight from Las Vegas to Mammoth Lakes will operate on Mondays and Thursdays between January 15 and April 6, 2015.

Alaska Airlines also provides year-round flights to Mammoth Lakes from Los Angeles and winter seasonal flights from San Diego.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Alaska Horizon’s (Horizon Air) Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) N403QX (msn 4037) arrives in Las Vegas in the special college Montana State Bobcats color scheme.

Alaska Horizon aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Alaska-Horizon-Horizon-Air

Alaska Air Group reports a third quarter GAAP net profit of $198 million

Alaska Air Group, Inc., (Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air) (Seattle/Tacoma) today reported third quarter 2014 GAAP net income of $198 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, compared to $289 million, or $2.04 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2013. Excluding the impact of mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments and a one-time special revenue item in the prior year, the company reported record adjusted net income of $200 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $157 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, in 2013.

“This was our best quarterly result ever” said CEO Brad Tilden. “I want to thank our 13,000 employees who are keeping a focus on playing our game, and working hard every day to run a great operation, keep fares low, and deliver award winning service to our customers. All of us at Alaska would like to thank our customers for their continued loyalty.”

Financial Highlights:

Reported record third quarter net income, excluding special items, of $200 million – a 27% increase over the third quarter of 2013.
Reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.47 per diluted share, a 32% increase over the third quarter of 2013 and ahead of First Call analyst consensus estimate of $1.42 per share.
Earned net income for the third quarter under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $198 million or $1.45 per diluted share, compared to net income of $289 million, or $2.04 per diluted share in 2013.
Recorded $84 million of incentive pay through the first nine months of 2014. This includes each Air Group employee earning at least $800 by meeting or exceeding monthly customer satisfaction and operational performance goals and tracking to earn above-target payouts for full-year goals.
Increased fuel efficiency (as measured by seat-miles per gallon) by 2.8% as part of our effort to be the airline leader in environmental stewardship.
Grew passenger revenues by 7%, compared to the third quarter of 2013.
Generated record adjusted pretax margin in the third quarter of 21.8% compared to 18.4% in 2013.
Generated 15.9% pretax margin for the trailing 12-month period ended Sept. 30, 2014, compared to 11.7% for the same period in the prior year.
Achieved trailing 12-month after-tax return on invested capital of 17.2% compared to 13.0% in the 12-month period ended Sept. 30, 2013.
Repurchased 3.4 million shares of common stock for $159 million in the third quarter of 2014, and 5.3 million shares for $242 million in the first nine months of 2014, representing 3.8% of the total shares outstanding at the beginning of the year.
Paid a $0.125 per-share quarterly cash dividend on September 4, bringing total dividend payments so far this year to $51 million.
Generated $1 billion in operating cash flows for the 12-months ended Sept. 30, 2014, generating $321 million of free cash flows.
Lowered adjusted debt-to-total-capitalization ratio to 31%.
Held $1.3 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of Sept. 30, 2014.
Became one of only two U.S. airlines with investment grade credit ratings.