Alaska Air March Traffic, Capacity Rise - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK) reported a 5.5 percent increase in consolidated traffic for the month of March 2017 on a 5.7 percent increase in capacity compared to the year-ago period. However, passenger load factor decreased 0.2 points to 85.4 percent.

The company noted that winter storms in 2017 significantly impacted the year-to-date operational performance across the network.

Consolidated traffic, measured in revenue passenger miles, rose 5.5 percent in March to 4.37 billion from 4.14 billion a year ago. Capacity, measured in available seat miles, grew 5.7 percent to 5.12 billion from 4.84 billion last year.

Alaska Airlines reported a 6.8 percent increase in traffic for March on a 6.9 percent increase in capacity compared to March 2016. Load factor decreased 0.1 points to 86.7 percent. Load factor edged down 0.1 points to 86.7 percent.

Virgin America traffic increased 2.4 percent on a 2.9 percent increase in capacity compared to March 2016. Load factor decreased 0.5 points to 83.3 percent. Air Group's acquisition of Virgin America took place on December 14, 2016.

Regional traffic increased 3.1 percent on a 4.0 percent decrease in capacity compared to March 2016. Load factor decreased 0.7 points to 80.1 percent.