


The move left Horizon with a fleet consisting of a single type of aircraft the De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 turboprop. As part of the agreement, Alaska Air Group managers agreed to sell Horizon's fleet of five Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet aircraft to SkyWest, which used the aircraft to operate six West Coast routes as "Alaska SkyWest". Īlaska Airlines entered into a similar capacity purchase agreement with SkyWest Airlines in May 2011. As part of the change to the new business model, the Horizon Air brand was retired and all Horizon planes were repainted with a co-branded "Alaska Horizon" livery. Under the CPA, Horizon operates and maintains its aircraft, while Alaska Airlines is responsible for scheduling, marketing and pricing all flights. Starting on January 1, 2011, Horizon shifted to a capacity purchase agreement (CPA) business model, which had by that time become the regional airline industry standard. In late 2010, Horizon's parent company, the Alaska Air Group, made the decision to no longer operate Horizon as a separate regional airline. Throughout its history, Horizon has either operated as a standalone carrier or as a regional affiliate of Alaska Airlines, except between 20 when it operated Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft on behalf of Frontier Airlines.ĭe Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 in Alaska Airlines' livery, shortly after the retirement of the Horizon Air brand in 2011
Alaska horizon airlines series#
Twelve aircraft were delivered between November 1993 and November 1995, but they were quickly phased out in late 1997, along with the remaining Metroliners, in favor of fleet standardization to the Dash 8 series of turboprops. In recognition of the order, Dornier painted its second prototype of the 328 in Horizon colors. Horizon was the launch customer for the Dornier 328 turboprop, intending to replace the Metroliners with this new aircraft which promised speed and comfort on par with jetliners. International service was expanded in May 1989 with flights to Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia, using both Dash 8-100s and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprop aircraft.
Alaska horizon airlines code#
In 1988, Horizon signed a code share agreement with Northwest Airlines. The Alaska Air Group continued to operate Horizon as a separately branded airline, with a codesharing agreement with its new sister airline, Alaska, while ending its codeshare with United Airlines. Under the agreement, the Alaska Air Group became the owner of Horizon Air after approval by the Transportation Department in late December. The year before, Alaska had undergone a major corporate restructuring with the airline now being owned by the Alaska Air Group, an airline holding company. Acquisition Īlaska Airlines struck a deal to acquire Horizon Air in November 1986. In January 1986, the airline became an international carrier when it began service to Calgary, Alberta, in association with Cascade Airways.

Merger talks between the two had begun in late 1982.

Late in 1985, Horizon entered into an agreement to purchase their chief competitor in Washington, Cascade Airways, but by early 1986 were released from the agreement. That summer, Horizon entered into its first codeshare agreement with United Airlines, and on September 8, Horizon signed an agreement with de Havilland Canada to begin purchasing the airline's first brand new aircraft, the de Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 twin turboprop. Īn initial public offering occurred in 1985 to secure operating capital, which after only one profitable year since founding, was needed to keep the airline afloat. Horizon Air Fokker F28 at Oakland International Airport in 1995Ī single Fokker F28 Fellowship twin jet, purchased in July 1984 from an African carrier, was the first jet owned by Horizon Air (however, the first jet operated by Horizon was a wet leased Douglas DC-9-10). Horizon also considers the Seattle–Tacoma and Portland airports to be its hubs. The airline is headquartered in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, not far from the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, and the airline's primary maintenance base is at the Portland International Airport. Horizon Air started operations in September 1981, was purchased by the Alaska Air Group in November 1986, and continued to fly as a separately branded airline until 2011, when it shifted to the current capacity purchase agreement business model. Planes operated by Horizon are co-branded as Alaska HORIZON in order to differentiate Horizon's planes from those operated by Alaska's other regional airline partner, SkyWest Airlines. The airline is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Alaska Air Group and it is paid by fellow group member Alaska Airlines to staff, operate and maintain aircraft used on flights that are scheduled, marketed and sold by Alaska Airlines. Horizon Air is an American regional airline headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, United States.
