Alaska posts unusual 1Q profits

Its quarterly profit may only be USD5.3 million but Alaska Air Group (including Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air) outpaced its peers just by being profitable. This was especially significant given the USD19.2 million loss in 1Q2009 and the USD27.1 million headwinds resulting from additional fuel costs. Indeed, it is only the third time the company has posted a first quarter adjusted profit in 11 years - and the best since 1999.