Alaska Air Group Inc. (Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air) (Seattle/Tacoma) today reported fourth quarter 2013 GAAP net income of $78 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $44 million, or $0.61 per diluted share in 2012. Excluding mark-to-market fuel hedge gains of $2 million ($1 million after tax, or $0.01 per diluted share), the company reported record fourth quarter 2013 net income of $77 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, compared to net income excluding mark-to-market fuel hedge losses of $50 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, in 2012.

The company reported full-year 2013 GAAP net income of $508 million, compared to $316 million in the prior year. Excluding the impact of the items noted in the table below, the company reported record net income of $383 million, or $5.40 per diluted share for 2013, compared to net income of $339 million, or $4.73 per diluted share in 2012. This marks the fourth  year in a row the company has exceeded its goal of a 10 percent return on invested capital.

The following table reconciles the company’s adjusted net income and earnings per diluted share (EPS) during the full year and fourth quarters of 2013 and 2012 to amounts as reported in accordance with GAAP:

Financial Highlights:

• Record fourth quarter net income, excluding special items, of $77 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, compared to $50 million, or $0.70 per diluted share in 2012. This quarter’s results compare to a First Call analyst consensus estimate of $1.07 per share.
• Record full-year net income, excluding special items, of $383 million, or $5.40 per diluted share, compared to$339 million, or $4.73 per diluted share in 2012.
• Net income for the fourth quarter under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $78 million, or$1.11 per diluted share, compared to net income of $44 million, or $0.61 per diluted share in 2012. Full-year GAAP net income of $508 million, or $7.16 per diluted share, compared to net income of $316 million, or $4.40per diluted share in 2012.
• Air Group employees earned $105 million in incentive pay in 2013, or nearly five weeks of pay for most employees. Over the last four years, employees have earned more than $357 million in incentive pay, averaging 8.8% of annual pay for most employees.
• Achieved return on invested capital of 13.6% in 2013, compared to 13% in 2012.
• Lowered adjusted debt-to-total capitalization ratio to 35% as of Dec. 31, 2013.
• Fully funded the company’s defined benefit pension plans in 2013.
• Held $1.3 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of Dec. 31, 2013.
• Repurchased 2,492,093 shares of common stock for approximately $159 million in 2013. Since 2007, Air Group has used $478 million to repurchase 21 million shares.
• Modified  affinity card agreement with Bank of America and extended through 2017, estimated to generate $55 million in additional cash flows annually.
• Received a credit rating upgrade from Standard and Poor’s to “BB+” with a stable outlook.

Other Highlights and Achievements:

• Ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers” by J.D. Power for the sixth year in a row.
• Ranked as the best U.S. major airline by The Wall Street Journal’s “Middle Seat” scorecard.
• Named Airline Industry Leader in the 2013 Temkin Customer Service Rankings.
• Held the top spot in U.S. Department of Transportation on-time performance among major U.S. airlines for the 12 months ended November 2013.
• Alaska Airlines received the FAA’s “Diamond Certificate of Excellence” award for the 12th consecutive year; and Horizon Air received the certificate for the 12th time in the last 14 years.
• Improved employee productivity in 2013 by 4.0% compared to 2012.
• Signed five-year collective bargaining agreements with Alaska pilots and Horizon flight attendants.
• Named most fuel-efficient airline in the U.S. in a report released by the International Council on Clean Transportation.
• Donated $7.6 million to more than 1,300 charitable organizations, including support for the grand opening of Aviation High School in Seattle and other educational efforts. Our employees also volunteered more than 10,500 hours of community service.
• Signed an exclusive multi-year partnership with Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson, and named him our “Chief Football Officer.”

New routes:

• New routes launched and announced in the fourth quarter are as follows:

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-990 N318AS (msn 30018) in the “We’re Going to Disneyland Resort” special livery arrives in Los Angeles.

Alaska Airlines: 

Alaska Horizon: 

Horizon Air: