Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air 2009 Annual Report Download - page 101

PART I
ITEM 1. OUR BUSINESS
We are a Delaware corporation incorporated in
1985 and we have two principal subsidiaries:
Alaska Airlines, Inc. (Alaska) and Horizon Air
Industries, Inc. (Horizon). Through these
subsidiaries, we provide passenger air service to
more than 22 million passengers per year to
more than 90 destinations. We also provide
freight and mail services, primarily to and within
the state of Alaska and on the West Coast.
Although Alaska and Horizon both operate as
airlines, their business plans, competition, and
economic risks differ substantially. Alaska is a
major airline that operates an all-jet fleet with an
average passenger trip length in 2009 of 1,180
miles. Horizon is a regional airline, operates
turboprop and jet aircraft, and its average
passenger trip length for 2009 was 356 miles.
Individual financial information about Alaska and
Horizon is in Note 13 to the consolidated
financial statements and throughout this report,
specifically in “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.”
Both of our airlines continue to distinguish
themselves from competitors by providing award-
winning customer service and differentiating
amenities. Our outstanding employees and
excellent service in the form of advance seat
assignments, expedited check-in with Airport of
the Future®, web check-in, flight alerts, an award-
winning frequent flyer program, well-maintained
aircraft, a first-class section aboard Alaska
aircraft, and other amenities are regularly
recognized by independent studies, awards, and
surveys of air travelers. For example, Alaska has
ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among
Traditional Network Carriers” in both 2009 and
2008 by J.D. Power and Associates and won the
“Program of the Year” Freddie award for 2008
and 2007 for our Mileage Plan program. Horizon
won the 2007 “Regional Airline of the Year” from
Air Transport World. We are very proud of these
awards and we continue to strive to have the
best customer service in the industry.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION
Our filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including our annual report on Form
10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current
reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those
reports are available on our website at
www.alaskaair.com, free of charge, as soon as
reasonably practicable after the electronic filing
of these reports with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The information
contained on our website is not a part of this
annual report on Form 10-K.
ALASKA RANKED “HIGHEST IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AMONG
TRADITIONAL NETWORK CARRIERS” IN BOTH 2009 AND 2008 BY J.D.
POWER AND ASSOCIATES. HORIZON WON THE 2007 “REGIONAL AIRLINE
OF THE YEAR” FROM AIR TRANSPORT WORLD.
OUR AIRLINES
ALASKA
Alaska Airlines is an Alaska corporation that was
organized in 1932 and incorporated in 1937. We
offer extensive north/south service within the
western U.S., Canada and Mexico, and passenger
and dedicated cargo services to and within the
state of Alaska. We also provide long-haul east/
west service to Hawaii and twelve cities in the
mid-continental and eastern U.S., primarily from
Seattle, where we have our largest concentration
of departures; although we do offer long-haul
departures from other cities as well.
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ŠForm 10-K