Alaska Air Group has posted a net profit of $262 million, in the second quarter of 2019, up 36% from the corresponding period last year.
With revenue up, Alaska’s pretax operating profit margin was 15.3%, a 3% improvement on the result a year ago.
Total operating income rose 6% in the quarter, while operating costs rose just 2%, Alaska said.
“Our revenue initiatives and cost-management efforts are paying off,” CEO Brad Tilden said. “We set an ambitious plan and are executing it.”
Having slowed its previously high growth rate last year, Alaska plans to increase capacity in 2020 by 3% to 4%.
Unlike other airlines, Alaska was pretty unaffected by the 737 Max groundings as it wasn't flying the aircraft before the grounding and since then two scheduled Max deliveries have been suspended with one more due in November.