Real Estate

The Motley Fool

Alaska Air Group Tops Estimates in Q2

July 28, 2025

11:15 AM

6 min read

AI Enhanced

investmentfinancial

Key Takeaways

Alaska Air Group (ALK 0. 80%), the parent company behind Alaska Airlines and now Hawaiian Airlines, reported results for Q2 2025 on July 23, 2025, amid ongoing market uncertainty. Furthermore,...

Article Overview

Quick insights and key information

Reading Time

6 min read

Estimated completion

Note: Analysts' consensus estimates vided by FactSet

Q2 2024 Forma results for EPS and adjusted EPS do not include Hawaiian Air results; therefore, year-over-year comparisons are not applicable

CASMex = Cost per ASM, ex-fuel, special, freighter

Overview and Strategic FocusAlaska Air Group operates passenger and cargo airline services throughout North America and, after acquiring Hawaiian Airlines, across transpacific and interisland Hawaii routes

It manages three segments: Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and regional operations, serving millions of passengers each year

Its strategic model emphasizes efficiency, network scale, and customer-focused features, such as an extensive loyalty gram and premium cabin offerings

In recent years, the has focused intensely on integrating Hawaiian Airlines—a move aimed at expanding its domestic and international reach

Furthermore, Key success factors include operational reliability, strong cost management, and leveraging alliances the oneworld partnership

However, Investments in fuel-efficient aircraft and premium cabins have also supported Alaska's efforts to imve fitability and passenger appeal in a competitive market (an important development), in this volatile climate

Quarter Highlights: Integration, Revenue Trends, and Operational MetricsThe period stood out for the gress made integrating Hawaiian Airlines

The acquisition marked a defining move, contributing meaningfully to the company’s financial results

On a forma basis, Hawaiian’s adjusted pretax margin imved by 11 percentage points from the prior year, with Hawaiian’s adjusted pretax margin surpassed breakeven for the first time since 2019

At the same time, Work to combine operating platforms and loyalty grams has begun, with full integration planned, with a target of $1 billion in incremental fit from the acquisition by 2027, considering recent developments

Network expansion continued, highlighted by the announcement of Alaska Air Group’s first transatlantic route (Seattle–Rome, starting May 2026) and the launch of Seattle–Tokyo, the airline’s first international long-haul flight from Seattle (this bears monitoring)

These steps complement expanded commercial partnerships: for example, a new agreement with Philippine Airlines and expanded benefits with Qantas (quite telling)

Notably, 49% of revenue came from outside the main cabin, reflecting both the premium duct’s 5% year-over-year revenue growth and cargo revenue grew 34% year-over-year

Furthermore, The loyalty gram continued to generate strong results, with a 5% year-over-year increase in cash remuneration and accolades such as being ranked the best U

Airline rewards gram, in light of current trends

In contrast, Financially, total operating revenue of $3. 70 billion (GAAP) rose 2% year over year on a forma basis, in light of current trends

Nevertheless, Passenger revenue (GAAP) reached $3 (remarkable data)

Furthermore, 36 billion, up 1% versus forma Q2 2024, and loyalty gram revenue climbed 3% to $210 million

On the cost side, operating expenses excluding fuel increased 6%, Wages and benefits increased 49% year-over-year

Additionally, However, Aircraft maintenance costs increased 86% year-over-year

The fuel cost per gallon dropped to $2

The company repurchased 8. 7 million s for $428 million

Additionally, No major operational disruptions were reported during the quarter

However, Hawaiian Airlines experienced a cybersecurity incident, but operations were unaffected

At the same time, Alaska Air Group’s cost per available seat mile, excluding fuel and special items—a key airline efficiency metric known as CASMex—was 10. 90¢, up 10. 2% from the prior year, matching the company's forecast, in light of current trends

This increase was driven by union labor agreements and increased expenses from fleet and real estate (noteworthy indeed)

Additionally, The company’s adjusted pretax margin fell to 8 (noteworthy indeed), given current economic conditions

On the other hand, 0%, compared to 10, in light of current trends

Additionally, 3% in Q2 2024, reflecting these cost challenges as well as slight pressure on revenue yields despite strong sales in premium and cargo operations

However, The period also marked significant gains in labor relations

However, Alaska Air Group ratified a four-year collective bargaining agreement with Horizon mechanics and reached a tentative agreement covering other employee groups, in this volatile climate

Looking Ahead: Guidance and Strategic PrioritiesLooking to the third quarter, management vided guidance for adjusted earnings per in the range of $1 (quite telling). 40, which includes an expected negative impact of $0. 10 on adjusted earnings per from an IT outage in July

Capacity, measured in available seat miles, is anticipated to decrease around 1% from the prior year on a forma basis, reflecting careful management as demand trends are monitored, in today's financial world

Revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is expected to be generally flat to up a low-single-digit percentage

For fiscal 2025, Alaska Air Group expects capacity growth of 2% for fiscal 2025, with revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is expected to be flat to up low single digits and CASMex is expected to rise by a mid-single-digit percentage

The evidence shows company reaffirmed full-year adjusted earnings per guidance of greater than $3 (fascinating analysis)

Moreover, Looking forward, investors will be watching continued execution on integration milestones with Hawaiian Airlines, gress toward the corporation’s $1 billion fit expansion target by 2027, and trends in operating costs—especially labor and maintenance

Management reports a recent imvement in demand and bookings and expects cost performance to imve in the fourth quarter

Additionally, repurchase activity and the health of the balance sheet, including $2. 1 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of June 30, remain central components of the outlook

ALK does not currently pay a dividend

Nevertheless, Revenue and net income presented using U

Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) unless otherwise noted.

More insights from FinancialBooklet

real-estate

Ghislaine Maxwell interview released by DOJ; Epstein procurer questioned about Trump

The Trump administration has been criticized for reneging on promises to release files about sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

CNBC

real-estate

Trump says furniture tariffs are coming later this year

Stocks for some furniture and home goods companies, including Wayfair, RH and Williams-Sonoma, tumbled after the market close, following Trump's post.

CNBC