UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

FORM 10-Q

Commission file number 1-8957

ALASKA AIR GROUP, INC.

19300 International Boulevard, Seattle, Washington 98188
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (206) 392-5040

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes þ No o

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

     The registrant has 27,182,608 common shares, par value $1.00, outstanding at March 31, 2005.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as statements containing the words “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “assume” or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Some of the things that could cause our actual results to differ from our expectations are: changes in our operating costs including fuel, which can be volatile; the competitive environment and other trends in our industry; our ability to meet our cost reduction goals; labor disputes; economic conditions; our reliance on automated systems; actual or threatened terrorist attacks, global instability and potential U.S. military actions or activities; changes in laws and regulations; liability and other claims asserted against us; failure to expand our business; interest rates and the availability of financing; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; changes in our business plans; our significant indebtedness; downgrades of our credit ratings; and inflation. For a discussion of these and other risk factors, see Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2004 on Form 10-K under the caption “Risk Factors.” All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the risk factors discussed therein. These risk factors may not be exhaustive. We operate in a continually changing business environment, and new risk factors emerge from time to time. Management cannot predict such new risk factors, nor can it assess the impact, if any, of such new risk factors on our business or events described in any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform them to actual results. Over time, our actual results, performance or achievements will likely differ from the anticipated results, performance or achievements that are expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such differences might be significant and materially adverse.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ASSETS

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)
Alaska Air Group, Inc.

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
Alaska Air Group, Inc.

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)
Alaska Air Group, Inc.

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (Air Group or the Company) include the accounts of the parent company, Alaska Air Group, Inc., and its principal subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines, Inc. (Alaska) and Horizon Air Industries, Inc. (Horizon), through which the Company conducts substantially all of its operations. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). In preparing these condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent liabilities, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Significant estimates made include assumptions used to record liabilities, expenses and revenues associated with the Company’s Mileage Plan, amounts to be paid to lessors upon aircraft lease terminations, the fair market value of surplus or impaired aircraft, engines and parts, assumptions used in the calculations of pension expense in the Company’s Defined Benefit Plans and the amounts of certain accrued liabilities. Actual results may differ the Company’s estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to conform the prior year’s data to the current format.

Stock Options

The Company applies the intrinsic value method in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, and related Interpretations in accounting for stock options.

The following table represents the pro forma net income (loss) before accounting change and pro forma net loss per share (EPS) had compensation cost for the Company’s stock options been determined in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” In accordance with SFAS No. 123, the fair value of each stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and then amortized ratably over the vesting period.

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During the fourth quarter of 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS 123R, “Share Based Payment: An Amendment of SFAS Nos. 123 and 95”. The new standard requires companies to recognize as expense the fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees as of the grant date. This new standard will apply to both stock options that we grant to employees and our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which features a look-back provision and allows employees to purchase stock at a 15% discount. Our options are typically granted with graded vesting provisions, and we intend to amortize compensation cost over the service period using the straight line method. Due to a recent decision by the Securities and Exchange Commission, implementation of SFAS 123R will be effective January 1, 2006. We intend to use the “modified prospective method” upon adoption whereby previously awarded but unvested equity awards are accounted for in accordance with SFAS 123R and prospective amounts are recognized in the income statement instead of simply being disclosed. Once adopted, we expect our stock based compensation expense, as measured under SFAS 123R, will be approximately $ 6 to $10 million per year on a pre-tax basis.

Note 2. Change in Accounting Principle

Effective January 1, 2005, the Company changed its method of accounting for major airframe and engine overhauls from the capitalize and amortize method to the direct expense method. Under the former method, these costs were capitalized and amortized to maintenance expense over the shorter of the life of the overhaul or the remaining lease term. Under the direct expense method, overhaul costs are expensed as incurred. The Company believes that the direct expense method is preferable because it eliminates the judgment and estimation needed to determine overhaul versus repair allocations in maintenance activities. Additionally, the Company’s approved maintenance program for the majority of its airframes now focuses more on shorter, but more frequent, maintenance visits that result in a higher portion of the work being repair activity. Management also believes that the direct expense method is the predominant method used in the airline industry. Accordingly, effective January 1, 2005, the Company wrote off the net book value of its previously capitalized airframe and engine overhauls for all aircraft in a charge totaling $144.7 million pre-tax ($90.4 million after tax). The Company does not believe disclosing the effect of adopting the direct expense method on net income for the period ended March 31, 2005 provides meaningful information because of changes in the Company’s maintenance program, including the execution of a “power by the hour” maintenance agreement with a third party in late 2004.

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Note 3. Restructuring Charges

During March 2005, the Company notified the Port of Oakland of its decision to terminate the lease for the Oakland hangar as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts. Accordingly, the Company has recorded an impairment charge for the leasehold improvements that will be abandoned as a result of the lease termination. Additionally, the Company has recorded a charge for for certain costs associated with the lease termination.

The following table displays the activity and balance of the asset impairment and lease termination costs components of the Company’s restructuring reserve as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2005 ($ in millions):