Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK)

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) took off like a rocket last year as the economic downturn sent many airlines into a tailspin, According to Investors.com. The parent of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air saw 2009 profits soar 1,942% to $2.45 a share from the previous year's 12 cents a share, it reported on Jan. 28. It was the sixth straight year Alaska showed a profit on an adjusted basis.
"Our profitability was driven by significant reductions in fuel costs and an aggressive reallocation of flying to new markets in our system," said Chief Financial Officer Glenn Johnson. Alaska Airlines capacity was reduced by 4.4% last year. As it reduced capacity to Mexico, it shifted capacity to new markets like Austin, Texas, and Atlanta. It also expanded service to Hawaii from Oakland, Calif., and Portland, Ore. "It's very important to have the right capacity in the right markets," said Johnson

Feb 25 · 2:28:00 PM · Source: http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.a
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by Steve Wieczorek