Alaska Air sees 50% fuel-cost recovery in Q3 as bookings hold up

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

ALK

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- Alaska Air Group ALK.N expects to recover about half of its higher fuel costs through fares and other revenue in the third quarter at current prices, after recouping "very little" of the increase in the second quarter, a senior finance executive told Reuters on Tuesday.

Ryan St. John, Alaska Air's vice president of finance, planning and investor relations, said the carrier's exposure to elevated Singapore refining margins had limited its ability to offset the second-quarter fuel hit. He said September and October bookings were "just as strong" as summer despite higher fares, but fuel-price volatility had prompted Alaska Air not to restore full-year guidance.