Financial Highlights:
  • Reported net income for the second quarter under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) of $296 million or $2.38 per diluted share, compared to net income of $260 million, or $2.10 per diluted share in 2016. As the acquisition of Virgin America Inc. (“Virgin America”) closed on Dec. 14, 2016, second quarter 2017 information reflects the results of Virgin America, including the impacts associated with purchase accounting. Second quarter 2016 results do not include Virgin America.
  • Reported second quarter net income, excluding merger-related costs and mark-to-market fuel hedging adjustments, of $312 million, compared to $263 million in the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $2.51, compared to $2.12 in the second quarter of 2016. This quarter’s results were in line with First Call analyst consensus estimate of $2.52 per share.
  • Paid $0.30 per-share quarterly cash dividend in the second quarter, a 9% increase over the dividend paid in the second quarter of 2016.
  • Generated approximately $1.1 billion of operating cash flow and used approximately $512 million for capital expenditures, resulting in $572 million of free cash flow in the second quarter of 2017.
  • Held $1.9 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of June 30, 2017.
Operational Highlights:
  • Launched nine new routes during the quarter and announced 10 new routes, including obtaining final approval from the Department of Transportation for three routes to Mexico City.
  • Took delivery of two of five Airbus A321neos scheduled for delivery in 2017, becoming the first airline to operate this aircraft.
  • Began jet service at Horizon with the first flights of the new Embraer 175 jets after taking delivery of the first six of 33 aircraft scheduled for delivery over the next two years.
  • Entered into an agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to amend the eight-year contract with Horizon’s pilots, providing Horizon the ability to attract and retain the best pilots in the regional industry.
  • Added Finnair as a global Mileage Plan partner.
Recognition and Awards
  • Ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers” in 2017 by J.D. Power for the 10th year in a row.
  • Virgin America: Rated Best Domestic Airline in Travel + Leisure “World’s Best Awards” for 10 years in a row.
  • Rated “Best Airline Staff in North America” and “Best Regional Airline in North America” by Skytrax World Airline Awards.
  • Awarded TripAdvisor’s 2017 Travelers’ Choice Award for second-best midsize and low-cost airlines in North America and one of the top 10 best airlines in the world.
  • Ranked among Forbes’ 2017 “America’s Best Employers” for the third year in a row.
  • Certified as a great workplace by Great Place to Work, the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures.
  • Received 16th Diamond Award of Excellence from the Federal Aviation Administration, recognizing both Alaska and Horizon’s aircraft technicians for their commitment to training.
  • Received the 2017 Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company, presented by the Women Corporate Directors Global Institute, recognizing -  diversity among our directors.
  • Ranked among the Fortune 500 for the fourth year in a row.
SEATTLE - Alaska Air Group Inc., (NYSE: ALK) today reported second quarter 2017 GAAP net income of $296 million, or $2.38 per diluted share, compared to $260 million, or $2.10 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2016. Excluding the impact of merger-related costs and mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments, the company reported adjusted net income of $312 million, or $2.51 per diluted share, compared to $263 million, or $2.12 per diluted share, in 2016. “We had a very solid quarter, driven by a growing customer base and strong revenue performance,” said CEO Brad Tilden. “Although we’re dealing with a number of operational challenges, our employees continue to deliver excellent service. We are delighted that Alaska and Virgin America received top honors from J.D. Power* and Travel + Leisure* respectively, each for the 10th consecutive year. I want to congratulate our team for receiving these prestigious awards.” The following table reconciles the company’s reported GAAP net income and earnings per diluted share (“diluted EPS”) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, and 2016 to adjusted amounts:
Three Months Ended June 30,
2017 2016
(in millions, except per-share amounts) Dollars Diluted EPS Dollars Diluted EPS
Reported GAAP net income $ 296 $ 2.38 $ 260 $ 2.10
Mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments 2 0.02 (10) (0.08)
Special items—merger-related costs 24 0.19 14 0.11
Income tax effect on special items and fuel hedge adjustments (10) (0.08) (1) (0.01)
Non-GAAP adjusted net income and per-share amounts $ 312 $ 2.51 $ 263 $ 2.12
Six Months Ended June 30,
2017 2016
Dollars Diluted EPS Dollars Diluted EPS
Reported GAAP net income and diluted EPS $ 395 $ 3.17 $ 444 $ 3.56
Mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments 12 0.10 (12) (0.10)
Special items—merger-related costs 64 0.51 14 0.12
Income tax effect on special items and fuel hedge adjustments (28) (0.22) (1) (0.01)
Non-GAAP adjusted net income and diluted EPS $ 443 $ 3.56 $ 445 $ 3.57
* Alaska Airlines: highest in airline customer satisfaction among traditional carriers in the J.D. Power 2008-2017 North America Airline Satisfaction Study. Virgin America: “Top Domestic Airline” 2017 in Travel + Leisure “World’s Best Awards”. Statistical data, as well as a reconciliation of the reported non-GAAP financial measures, can be found in the accompanying tables. A glossary of financial terms can be found on the last page of this release. A conference call regarding the second quarter results will be simulcast online at 8:30 a.m. Pacific time on July 26, 2017. It can be accessed through the company’s website at www.alaskaair.com/investors. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available after the conclusion of the call. References in this news release to “Air Group,” “company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Alaska Air Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified. Alaska Airlines, Inc., Horizon Air Industries, Inc., and Virgin America Inc. are referred to as “Alaska,” “Horizon,” and “Virgin America” respectively, and together as our “airlines.” This news release may contain forward-looking statements subject to the safe harbor protection provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual outcomes to be materially different from those indicated by any forward-looking statements. For a comprehensive discussion of potential risk factors, see Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2016, as well as in other documents filed by the Company with the SEC after the date thereof. Some of these risks include general economic conditions, increases in operating costs including fuel, competition, labor costs and relations, our indebtedness, inability to meet cost reduction goals, seasonal fluctuations in our financial results, an aircraft accident, changes in laws and regulations and risks inherent in the achievement of anticipated synergies and the timing thereof in connection with the acquisition of Virgin America. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the risk factors discussed therein. We operate in a continually changing business environment, and new risk factors emerge from time to time. Management cannot predict such new risk factors, nor can it assess the impact, if any, of such new risk factors on our business or events described in any forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform them to actual results. Over time, our actual results, performance or achievements will likely differ from the anticipated results, performance, or achievements that are expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such differences might be significant and materially adverse. Alaska Airlines, together with Virgin America and its regional partners, flies 40 million guests a year to 118 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States and to Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Cuba. With Alaska and Alaska Global Partners, guests can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide. Alaska Airlines ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America” in the J.D. Power North America Satisfaction Study for 10 consecutive years from 2008 to 2017. Alaska Mileage Plan ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Airline Loyalty Rewards Programs” in the J.D. Power 2016 Airline Loyalty/Rewards Program Satisfaction Report for the last three consecutive years. Learn more about Alaska’s award-winning service and unmatched reliability at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
Alaska Air Group, Inc.
As the acquisition closed on December 14, 2016, amounts presented below include Virgin America results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 but not for the prior periods.
Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
(in millions, except per-share amounts) 2017 2016 Change(a) 2017 2016 Change(a)
Operating Revenues:
Passenger
Mainline $ 1,556 $ 1,036 50 % $ 2,828 $ 1,963 44 %
Regional 251 227 11 % 463 433 7 %
Total passenger revenue 1,807 1,263 43 % 3,291 2,396 37 %
Freight and mail 32 27 19 % 56 51 10 %
Other—net 263 204 29 % 504 394 28 %
Total Operating Revenues 2,102 1,494 41 % 3,851 2,841 36 %
Operating Expenses:
Wages and benefits 469 332 41 % 917 668 37 %
Variable incentive pay 27 32 (16) % 58 64 (9) %
Aircraft fuel, including hedging gains and losses 344 201 71 % 683 368 86 %
Aircraft maintenance 96 65 48 % 183 133 38 %
Aircraft rent 69 26 165 % 134 55 144 %
Landing fees and other rentals 99 63 57 % 214 143 50 %
Contracted services 77 60 28 % 158 120 32 %
Selling expenses 97 55 76 % 178 104 71 %
Depreciation and amortization 90 92 (2) % 180 180 — %
Food and beverage service 50 31 61 % 95 62 53 %
Third-party regional carrier expense 27 24 13 % 54 47 15 %
Special items—merger-related costs 24 14 71 % 64 14 357 %
Other 140 81 73 % 274 175 57 %
Total Operating Expenses 1,609 1,076 50 % 3,192 2,133 50 %
Operating Income 493 418 18 % 659 708 (7) %
Nonoperating Income (Expense):
Interest income 9 7 16 13
Interest expense (26) (9) (51) (22)
Interest capitalized 4 7 8 15
Other—net (1) (3) (1) (2)
Total Nonoperating Income (Expense) (14) 2 (28) 4
Income Before Income Tax 479 420 631 712
Income tax expense 183 160 236 268
Net Income $ 296 $ 260 $ 395 $ 444
Basic Earnings Per Share: $ 2.40 $ 2.11 $ 3.19 $ 3.58
Diluted Earnings Per Share: $ 2.38 $ 2.10 $ 3.17 $ 3.56
Shares Used for Computation:
Basic 123.573 123.250 123.534 123.900