Alaska Air’s Losses Narrow as Traffic Rises

Alaska Air Group Inc.’s fourth-quarter loss narrowed to $20.8 million as passenger traffic at its Alaska Airlines unit, rose from a year earlier.

The net loss shrank to 78 cents a share from $43.1 million, or $1.62, the company said. Revenue rose 15% to $604.9 million from $527.7 million.

Shares of Alaska Air Group, which also includes commuter carrier Horizon Air, fell $2.10, or 7.3%, to $26.61 on the New York Stock Exchange.

For 2003, Alaska Air Group had net income of $8.8 million, or 33 cents a share, up a net loss of $118.6 million, or $4.47, in 2002. Sales rose 9.5% to $2.44 billion from $2.22 billion.