Horizon Air Bombardier CRJ700 (CL-600-2C10) N602QX (msn 10010) (University of Washington Huskies) SFO (Mark Durbin), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (Seattle), the parent of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, today (April 22) reported first quarter 2010 net income of $5.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $19.2 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2009. Excluding mark-to-market fuel hedge losses of $12.5 million ($7.8 million after tax or $0.21 per diluted share), the company reported first quarter 2010 net income of $13.1 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, compared to a net loss excluding special items of $25.4 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2009.

In other news, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air announced expanded service to Hawaii and Mexico and new service between San Jose, CA., and Los Angeles.

Alaska Airlines will inaugurate daily service between San Diego and Kahului, Maui, beginning on October 1, and daily seasonal service between San Diego and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, starting on November 12, 2010. It will also begin seasonal flying between Portland, OR, and Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, four times a week starting on November 12. Additionally, it will add a second flight between Seattle/Tacoma and Kona that will operate thrice weekly from November 11 to April 10, 2011.

These new flights are in addition to the new daily service between Portland and Honolulu the carrier announced last week.

Copyright Photo: Mark Durbin. Horizon Air is gradually phasing out its Bombardier CRJ700s. CRJ700 (CL-600-2C10) N602QX (msn 10010) beautifully departs from the runway at San Francisco on a clear day. The jetliner carries the special University of Washington Huskies motif.