Announces Intent To Begin Service By Summer 2009

Scheduled airline service may soon return to a Seattle, WA suburb. Horizon Air, regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, announced it week it will pursue plans to introduce daily air service from Paine Field (PAE) near Everett, WA before next summer.

The announcement comes after a 6-0 vote last month by the Everett City Council in favor of a resolution supporting scheduled commercial flights at Paine Field.

Horizon is considering flights to Portland and Spokane, with schedules timed to facilitate same-day business trips between the cities -- a possible boon for Boeing workers in the area. Snohomish County travelers could also fly out of Paine Field and connect in Portland to a variety of other destinations.

"Rather than suffer on the I-5 slog or endure tedious hours on I-90, Snohomish County residents would be able to travel between these three Northwest regions much more quickly with Horizon Air from Paine Field," said Dan Russo, Horizon’s vice president of marketing and communications.

Horizon would operate the flights with its 76-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprops, which the carrier notes are among the quietest commercial aircraft in the world... a factor the airline hopes will go far in easing concerns of nearby residents. Horizon says the Q400 also burns 30 percent less fuel and produces 30 percent lower emissions than a similar-size jet.

The airline last considered Paine Field-Portland flights in 1998, at that time using 37-seat Q200s. The airline eventually opted not to pursue the plan and instead focused on building more flight activity at its Seattle hub with the larger Q400s.

Before making a final decision on whether to provide the new service, Horizon says it needs to secure a cost-effective lease agreement at the airport related to the terminal facilities necessary for check-in, screening of passengers and baggage, and flight boarding.

In other words... the onus is now on Everett officials, to make Horizon's plans as financially attractive to the airline as possible.

FMI: www.alaskaair.com, www.painefield.com