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Alaska AIR Group, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net loss of $76 million: The company reported a GAAP net loss of $76 million, or $0.68 per share, and a GAAP pretax margin of (5.3)%. Adjusted net loss was $102 million, or $0.92 per share. Source
  • Revenue up 10% on 1% capacity: Total operating revenue rose 10% to $4.1 billion. Capacity grew 1.0%, unit revenue rose 8.6%, and passenger revenue rose 9%. Source
  • June returned to profitability: Yields improved through the quarter. Management said June produced double-digit unit revenue growth and double-digit pretax profit margins. Source
  • Hawai'i storms cut unit revenue: March rainstorms in Hawai'i reduced system unit revenue by about 3 points, above the 2 points originally expected. Spring break travel was affected. Source
  • Fuel cost up $600 million: Economic fuel cost was $4.43 per gallon, up 85%, adding about $600 million of incremental fuel cost. Aircraft fuel expense was $1,305 million against $700 million. Source
  • Available liquidity of $3.8 billion: Available liquidity was $3.8 billion, including unrestricted cash, marketable securities and undrawn credit facilities. Source

“Our second quarter results were defined by a fuel spike outside our control - but underneath it, this company is executing better than ever,”

CEO Ben Minicucci

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Capacity (ASMs) Sourcethird quarter 2026Up 2% to 3% year-over-yearNew
Economic fuel cost per gallon Sourcethird quarter 2026$3.75New
Adjusted earnings (loss) per share Sourcethird quarter 2026$0.00 to $1.00New
Non-operating expense (EPS assumption) Sourcethird quarter 2026Approximately $60 millionNew
Tax rate (EPS assumption) Sourcethird quarter 2026Approximately 35%New
Shares outstanding (EPS assumption) Sourcethird quarter 2026Approximately 113.5 millionNew
Hawai'i unit revenue headwind Sourcethird quarter 20262-3 pointsNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Third quarter guidance for capacity, unit revenue, unit costs, fuel and EPS was provided. The first quarter release had suspended full-year guidance.
  • New: Launched transatlantic service from Seattle to Rome, London and Reykjavik. Source
  • New: Completed the move to a single passenger service system across Alaska and Hawaiian, consolidating reservation and customer service platforms. Source
  • New: Hawaiian Airlines joined the oneworld alliance. Source
  • New: Agreed to add four 737-800 freighter aircraft to Alaska's cargo fleet. Source
  • New: Shane Tackett was elected President and Chief Financial Officer of Alaska Airlines. Source
  • New: Mike Sievert, Vice Chairman and former CEO of T-Mobile, was appointed to the Air Group board of directors. Source

Second quarter results and drivers

  • Net loss of $76 million: The company reported a GAAP net loss of $76 million, or $0.68 per share, and a GAAP pretax margin of (5.3)%. Adjusted net loss was $102 million, or $0.92 per share. Source
  • Revenue up 10% on 1% capacity: Total operating revenue rose 10% to $4.1 billion. Capacity grew 1.0%, unit revenue rose 8.6%, and passenger revenue rose 9%. Source
  • June returned to profitability: Yields improved through the quarter. Management said June produced double-digit unit revenue growth and double-digit pretax profit margins. Source
  • Premium, cargo and corporate grew faster: Premium revenue, cargo revenue and managed corporate revenue all grew faster than system growth, according to management. Source

Hawai'i disruption and demand

  • Hawai'i storms cut unit revenue: March rainstorms in Hawai'i reduced system unit revenue by about 3 points, above the 2 points originally expected. Spring break travel was affected. Source
  • Demand outside Hawai'i held up: Management said demand outside Hawai'i remained resilient across the network. Source
  • Bookings returning to normal levels: Hawai'i loads are recovering, and new bookings are at system-level yields. Management said this shows demand returning to historical levels in September. Source

“Absent the fuel headwind, we would have delivered a solidly profitable quarter.”

CEO Ben Minicucci

Fuel and unit cost trend

  • Fuel cost up $600 million: Economic fuel cost was $4.43 per gallon, up 85%, adding about $600 million of incremental fuel cost. Aircraft fuel expense was $1,305 million against $700 million. Source
  • Non-fuel unit costs up 6.5%: Non-fuel unit costs rose 6.5% on 1% capacity growth. Management described this as better than prior guidance. Source
  • Transitory items added 2.5 points: The cost increase included a one-time employee recognition award, a headwind from prior-year aircraft sale gains, and crew training for the widebody ramp. Source

Products, routes and fleet

  • Loyalty cash remuneration up 19%: Loyalty cash remuneration rose 19% year-over-year, which management described as robust performance. Source
  • Domestic routes expanded: New domestic service includes Santa Rosa routes, the return of Seattle to Long Beach, Honolulu to Burbank, Spokane and Boise, and more Honolulu to Las Vegas flying. Source
  • Portland lounge doubled in size: The newest Alaska Lounge at Portland International Airport is twice the size of the previous Portland lounge, which management said reflects continued investment in premium travel. Source
  • 737 cabin retrofits finished: The 737 cabin retrofits are complete, adding expanded first and premium class seating and refreshed interiors. Source
  • Aircraft deliveries in quarter: The company took delivery of six 737-8 aircraft and two E175 aircraft, and added one E175 under the SkyWest capacity purchase agreement. Source
  • Premium check-in opened in Seattle: A new premium check-in experience in Seattle serves business class Suites guests and Atmos Titanium members. Source

“I have never been more confident in our people, our plan, and the long-term earnings power of Alaska Air Group.”

CEO Ben Minicucci

Liquidity, debt and capital

  • Operating cash flow over six months: Operating cash flow was $606 million for the first six months of 2026. The second quarter alone was $185 million, per the cash flow table. Source
  • Available liquidity of $3.8 billion: Available liquidity was $3.8 billion, including unrestricted cash, marketable securities and undrawn credit facilities. Source
  • $1 billion raised in quarter: Second quarter financing comprised $500 million of 6.5% senior unsecured notes and $500 million of term loans secured by Atmos Rewards assets. Source
  • Unencumbered assets near $20 billion: About $20 billion of unencumbered assets at June 30, 2026, including 131 aircraft and the unencumbered portion of loyalty program assets. Source
  • Leverage metric method changed: Adjusted net debt to EBITDAR was 4.8x at June 30, 2026, against 2.9x at December 31, 2025. Debt-to-capitalization including leases was 65%, against 59%. Source
  • Adjusted capital spending lower: Adjusted capital expenditures were $564 million for the first six months, against $748 million a year earlier. Source

Integration, people and recognition

  • 75,000 Atmos points to employees: Employees received 75,000 Atmos Rewards points for the single passenger service system and integration effort. The recognition cost is listed among transitory items. Source
  • Average headcount up 1.4%: Average full-time equivalent employees were 31,726 in the second quarter, up 1.4%, and 31,596 for the first half, up 3.5%. Source
  • APEX awards for cabin and Wi-Fi: Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines won APEX Best Awards for cabin service and Wi-Fi, according to the company. Source

Coming up, as management said on 21 July 2026

  • Freighters enter service 2027: The four 737-800 freighter aircraft are expected to enter service in the first half of 2027. Source
  • Seattle lounge opens 2027: The new Seattle Alaska Lounge is set to open in 2027 across two floors, with showers, premium bars and dining. Source
  • Liquidity to return toward midpoint: Once fuel stabilizes and earnings improve, excess liquidity will go to debt paydown and return liquidity to the midpoint of the target range. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volumes (RPMs) Source20,011 million RPMs, down 0.8%
Capacity (ASMs) Source24,306 million ASMs, up 1.0%
Yield Source18.21 cents, up 9.6%
Revenue per unit (RASM) Source16.72 cents, up 8.6%
Fuel cost per gallon Source$4.43, up 85.4%
Fuel gallons Source295 million gallons, up 0.7%
Fleet Source422 aircraft, up 13

Risks management discussed

  • External: Fuel prices are described as elevated and unpredictable, and the company raised financing in response. Source
  • External: Historic March rainstorms in Hawai'i reduced unit revenue and affected April spring break travel. Source
  • Financial: The company raised $1 billion of financing to bolster liquidity to the top of its target range. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The first quarter release expected unit costs to turn down in the second half to low single-digit growth. The third quarter guidance given is low to mid single digits.
  • Met: The first quarter release said Europe service would begin in spring 2026. This release reports transatlantic flights launched.
  • Met: The first quarter release said Hawaiian was scheduled to join oneworld in spring 2026. This release reports it joined.
  • Met: The first quarter release expected full retrofit completion by summer. This release reports the 737 cabin retrofits completed.
  • Not stated: The first quarter release included a 2-point Hawai'i headwind for the second quarter. This release reports about 3 points, modestly above that expectation.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.