Horizon Air

{{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Short description|Regional airline in the western United States}} {{about|the airline based in the United States|the Australia-based airline|Horizon Airlines (Australia)}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox airline | airline = Horizon Air | logo = Horizon Air Logo.svg | image = N638QX @ LAX, 2023-11-05.jpg | caption = Embraer 175 operated on behalf of Alaska Airlines | IATA = QX | ICAO = QXE | callsign = HORIZON AIR<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aircraft Company/Telephony/Three−Letter Designator Encode |url=https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/cnt_html/chap3_section_1.html |access-date=Nov 24, 2023 |publisher=FAA.gov}}</ref> | founded = {{start date and age|1981|05|}} | commenced = {{start date and age|1981|09|01}} | ceased = | bases = | hubs = {{ubl|class=nowrap | Portland (OR) | Seattle/Tacoma}} | aoc = QXEA002A<ref>{{Cite web |title=Federal Aviation Administration – Airline Certificate Information – Detail View |url=http://av-info.faa.gov/detail.asp?DSGN_CODE=QXEA&OPER_FAR=121&OPER_NAME=HORIZON+AIR+INDUSTRIES+INC |access-date=May 17, 2017 |publisher=Av-info.faa.gov}}</ref> | frequent_flyer = Atmos Rewards | alliance = {{nowrap|Oneworld (affiliate)}} | fleet_size = 47 | destinations = 46 | parent = Alaska Air Group | headquarters = SeaTac, Washington, U.S. | key_people = {{unbulleted indent list | Ben Minicucci (Alaska Air Group CEO) | Andy Schneider (Horizon Air CEO and President)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alaska Air Group announces leadership transitions at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air|date=September 26, 2025 |url=https://news.alaskaair.com/company/alaska-air-group-announces-leadership-transitions-at-alaska-airlines-and-horizon-air/ |access-date=Oct 3, 2025 |publisher=AlaskaAir.com}}</ref>}} | num_employees = 3,337 (2024) }} thumb|right|Horizon Air General Office

'''Horizon Air''' is an American regional airline headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, United States, within the Seattle metropolitan area. It 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. Planes operated by Horizon are co-branded as {{Nowrap|'''Alaska {{small|Horizon}}'''}} to differentiate Horizon's planes from those operated by Alaska's other regional airline partner, SkyWest Airlines.

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.

The airline is headquartered in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, not far from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, and the airline's primary maintenance base is at Portland International Airport. Horizon also considers Seattle–Tacoma and Portland airports its hubs.

== History == Horizon Air was formed in May 1981 by Milt Kuolt, Joe Clark, and Bruce McCaw, with initial plans to fly to Hawaii but later changed to serve Washington state.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gates |first=Dominic |date=March 31, 2020 |title=Aviation pioneer Joe Clark, an innovator and serial entrepreneur, dies at 78 |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/obituary-aviation-pioneer-joe-clark-was-an-innovator-and-serial-entrepreneur/ |access-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref> The airline started operations on September 1, 1981, with three Fairchild F-27 aircraft.<ref>Endicott 2001, p. 32</ref> Its headquarters were in an area that is now within SeaTac, Washington.<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''Flight International''. March 31, 1984. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1984/1984%20-%200560.html?search=%22Horizon%20Air%22 844].</ref>

Horizon Air's first route connected Yakima to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport and was followed a week later by Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco to Seattle.<ref>Endicott 2001, p. 52</ref><ref name="TCH-Horizon25">{{Cite news |last=Isaacs |first=Nathan |date=September 7, 2006 |title=Horizon marks 25 years serving Tri-Cities |page=B6 |work=Tri-City Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116011024/horizon-marks-25-years-serving/ |access-date=January 7, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The general offices of Horizon Air were operated out of an old house behind Sea-Tac Airport. Horizon acquired Air Oregon on June 17, 1982,<ref name="talsnw">{{Cite news |date=June 17, 1982 |title=Two airlines serving NW plan merger |page=9B |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=staff and wire reports |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hfVVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6537%2C4070849}}</ref><ref name="elnmrg">{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Sandra L. |date=December 9, 1982 |title=Airline merger |page=1B |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_rxeAAAAIBAJ&pg=5376%2C3195952}}</ref> after both airlines were losing hundreds of thousands of dollars monthly, in order to consolidate and reduce their operating deficit.<ref>Endicott 2001, pp. 119–125</ref> Horizon agreed to purchase Transwestern Airlines of Utah in September 1983, once again to try to reduce operating deficit of the airline.<ref name="transwestern bought">{{Cite news |date=September 21, 1983 |title=Horizon buys Utah airline |page=C7 |work=Spokane Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ma8SAAAAIBAJ&pg=2626%2C1012695}}</ref>

A single Fokker F28 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).<ref>Endicott 2001, p. 141</ref><ref name="dc9 pasco jet">{{Cite news |last=Associated Press |date=July 2, 1984 |title=Pasco to be served by jets |work=Spokane Chronicle |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9bMSAAAAIBAJ&pg=4457,219907&dq=horizon-air |access-date=September 15, 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

An 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.<ref name="ipo">{{Cite news |date=May 30, 1995 |title=Horizon Air says it plans to issue stock |page=4B |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PfFVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5472%2C7628850}}</ref> That summer, Horizon entered into its first codeshare agreement with United Airlines,<ref>Endicott 2001, p. 220</ref> 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.<ref name="annual report 851">{{Cite news |title=Annual Report, 1985 |page=1 |publisher=Horizon Air}}</ref><ref name="dash8 first ones">{{Cite news |date=September 4, 1985 |title=Horizon Air orders 10 planes |work=Spokane Chronicle |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JLcSAAAAIBAJ&pg=2580,569222&dq=horizon-air |access-date=September 15, 2009}}</ref> [[File:Horizon Air Fokker F-28-1000 Fellowship Silagi-1.jpg|thumb|left|Fokker F28 at Oakland International Airport in 1995]]

Late in 1985, Horizon entered into an agreement to purchase their chief competitor in Washington, Cascade Airways,<ref name="cabbcmptr">{{Cite news |last=Salquist |first=Bill |date=August 2, 1985 |title=Cascade Airways bought by competitor, Horizon |page=1 |work=Spokesman-Review |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=57MyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2283%2C440344}}</ref><ref name="srcacthin">{{Cite news |last=Thorpe |first=Norman |date=January 5, 1986 |title=Cascade Airways casts thin shadow |page=D1 |work=Spokesman-Review |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_nQzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6557%2C1702274}}</ref> but by early 1986 were released from the agreement.<ref name="release cascade">{{Cite news |last=Bartel |first=Frank |date=March 8, 1986 |title=Horizon released from agreement to buy Cascade |page=A1 |work=Spokesman-Review |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_g1XAAAAIBAJ&pg=3605%2C4624817}}</ref> Merger talks between the two had begun in late 1982.<ref name=elnmrg />

In January 1986, the airline became an international carrier when it began service to Calgary, Alberta, in association with Cascade Airways.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, January 5, 1986, Horizon Air route map</ref>

=== Acquisition === Alaska Airlines struck a deal to acquire Horizon Air in November 1986.<ref name="aatbh">{{Cite news |last=Briggs |first=Wanda |date=November 20, 1986 |title=Alaska Airlines to buy Horizon |page=A1 |work=Tri-City Herald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OFchAAAAIBAJ&pg=2214,1819288 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 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. Under the agreement, the Alaska Air Group became the owner of Horizon Air after approval by the Transportation Department in late December.<ref name="aaggatbh">{{Cite news |date=December 24, 1986 |title=Alaska Air Group gets approval to buy Horizon |page=d-7 |work=Anchorage Daily News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bj8dAAAAIBAJ&pg=1203,4122818 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>Endicott 2001, p. 230</ref> 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.

In 1988, Horizon signed a code share agreement with Northwest Airlines.

International service was expanded in May 1989 with flights to Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia, using both Dash 8-100 and Fairchild Metroliner turboprop aircraft.

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. In recognition of the order, Dornier painted its second prototype of the 328 in Horizon colors. 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.<ref name="ktspsu">{{Cite news |date=October 27, 1997 |title=Horizon Air: Schedule change signals end of Metroliners at Sea-Tac |work=Kitsap Sun |agency=news services |location=Bremerton, Washington |url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1997/10-27/0005_horizon_air__schedule_change_sign.html |access-date=October 29, 2021}}</ref>

Throughout its history, Horizon has either operated as a standalone carrier or as a regional affiliate of Alaska Airlines, except between 2004 and 2007 when it operated Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft on behalf of Frontier Airlines.

=== Brand phase-out ===

[[File:Horizon Q400 LAX N423QX.jpg|thumb|Bombardier Q400 in Alaska Airlines' livery, shortly after the retirement of the Horizon Air brand in 2011]]

In late 2010, Horizon's parent company, the Alaska Air Group, made the decision to no longer operate Horizon as a separate regional airline.<ref name=":0" /> 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. Under the CPA, Horizon operates and maintains its aircraft, while Alaska Airlines is responsible for scheduling, marketing and pricing all flights.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2010 |title=Horizon Air Changes Business Model |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=aviationdaily&id=news/avd/2010/08/23/08.xml&headline=Horizon%20Air%20Changes%20Business%20Model |access-date=August 26, 2010 |publisher=Aviation Week }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=January 25, 2011 |title=Horizon Air Retiring Its Public Brand And Adopting Alaska Airlines' Eskimo |url=https://splash.alaskasworld.com/Newsroom/ASNews/ASstories/AS_20110125_050333.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201081023/https://splash.alaskasworld.com/Newsroom/ASNews/ASstories/AS_20110125_050333.asp |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=November 18, 2017 |website=Alaska Airlines |language=en}}</ref> 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 {{small|HORIZON}}" livery.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |last=Mutzabaugh |first=Ben |date=January 26, 2011 |title=Horizon Air to 'retire its public brand' in favor of Alaska Air |work=USA Today |url=http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2011/01/horizon-air-alaska/140151/1 |access-date=December 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

Alaska Airlines entered into a similar capacity purchase agreement with SkyWest Airlines in May 2011. 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 {{small|SkyWest}}".<ref name="crj700s sold to SkyWest">[http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2011/02/Alaska-Airlines-signs-flying-deal-with-SkyWest/44166418/1 Alaska Airlines signs flying deal with SkyWest] Alaska Airlines signs flying deal with SkyWest {{Archive url|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717175842/http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2011/02/Alaska-Airlines-signs-flying-deal-with-SkyWest/44166418/1|date=2011-07-17}}</ref> The move left Horizon with a fleet consisting of a single type of aircraft; the Bombardier Q400 turboprop.

[[File:HorizonAirEmbraerE175N633QX YYCNovember2018.jpg|thumb|left|Horizon Air Embraer 175 in Alaska Airlines' livery]]

Horizon announced in April 2016 that it would expand its fleet and once again operate regional jets, placing an order for 30 Embraer 175 airplanes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farley |first=Glenn |date=April 12, 2016 |title=Alaska Air's Horizon places big order for Embraer E175 jets |language=en-US |work=KING 5 News |url=http://www.king5.com/travel/alaska-airs-horizon-places-big-order-for-embraer-e175-jets/129602246 |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref>

The airline experienced a period of turmoil in 2017. Amid unprecedented growth (spurred by the addition of the new aircraft), Horizon experienced a severe pilot shortage, forcing the airline to cancel hundreds of flights and delay delivery of new aircraft.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gates |first=Dominic |date=June 29, 2017 |title=Horizon Air cutting hundreds of flights this summer due to pilot shortage |language=en-US |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/horizon-air-cutting-hundreds-of-flights-this-summer-due-to-pilot-shortage/ |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref> The pilot shortage was part of a broader problem affecting all regional airlines, but hit Horizon particularly hard. After the airline industry started to rebound in 2013 after a decade long downturn, mainline air carriers started to hire pilots, mostly from regional carriers which offer low wages and limited opportunities for advancement. More experienced regional carrier pilots moved to higher paying mainlines.<ref name="Raises alarm">{{Cite news |date=December 5, 2019 |title=Flight operations chief at Horizon Air raises alarm over pilots' safety culture |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/flight-operations-chief-at-horizon-air-raises-alarm-over-pilots-safety-culture/ |access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> Horizon responded with drastically increased pay for flight crews and worked with Alaska, its sister airline, to create more opportunities for advancement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gates |first=Dominic |date=September 28, 2017 |title=Pilot crisis has Horizon Air grappling with industry's new reality |language=en-US |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/pilot-crisis-has-horizon-air-grappling-with-industrys-new-reality/ |access-date=January 1, 2018}}</ref> As a result, there is an influx of new, young pilots with less experience.<ref name="Raises alarm" />

In response to the crisis, Alaska shifted some of its flights from Horizon to its other regional partner, SkyWest Airlines. It was a move that Horizon's CEO described as "disheartening." Because of the shift, SkyWest ordered additional Embraer 175 airplanes that it will fly for Alaska.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gates |first=Dominic |date=September 6, 2017 |title=SkyWest orders more jets it will fly for Alaska Air, reflecting Horizon's troubles |language=en-US |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/skywest-orders-more-jets-it-will-fly-for-alaska-air-reflecting-horizons-troubles/ |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref>

At the end of the troubled year, Horizon's CEO Dave Campbell announced that he would step down effective January 5, 2018, for personal reasons.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gates |first=Dominic |date=December 18, 2017 |title=Horizon Air CEO Campbell stepping down after troubled year |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/horizon-air-ceo-campbell-stepping-down-after-troubled-year/ |access-date=January 1, 2018}}</ref> Gary Beck became CEO in January 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2018 |title=Horizon Air names Gary Beck President and Chief Executive Officer, and Constance von Muehlen Chief Operating Officer – Jan 10, 2018 |url=https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/2018-01-10-Horizon-Air-names-Gary-Beck-President-and-Chief-Executive-Officer-and-Constance-von-Muehlen-Chief-Operating-Officer |access-date=December 10, 2019 |website=Newsroom {{!}} Alaska Airlines}}</ref> In November 2019, former retiree of the company Joe Sprague returned to Horizon Air as president.<ref name="bizjournals.com">{{Cite web |last=McIntosh |first=Andrew |date=November 8, 2019 |title=Former Alaska Airlines exec returns to lead Horizon Air unit |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2019/11/08/alaska-airlines-joe-sprague-horizon-air.html |access-date=December 5, 2019 |website=Puget Sound Business Journal}}</ref>

== Destinations == {{Main|List of Horizon Air destinations}}

Horizon's 45 destinations are located in the U.S. states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington as well as the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.<ref name="Horizon Fact Sheet">{{Cite web |date=October 2020 |title=Horizon Air Company Information |url=https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/horizon-air |access-date=October 30, 2020 |website=Alaska Airlines Newsroom |language=en-US |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017071055/https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/horizon-air |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Services ==

=== On-board meals and beverages === Flight time permitting, passengers in the main cabin are offered a complimentary small snack (cookie, nuts or a snack mix) and a beverage.

Horizon, like its parent airline Alaska, focuses on serving and selling items produced on and inspired by the West Coast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thorson |first=Britt |title=Alaska Air, Tom Douglas and other big names launch Alaska Beyond |url=http://www.komonews.com/seattlerefined/lifestyle/Alaska-Air-Tom-Douglas-and-other-big-names-launch-Alaska-Beyond-297728651.html |access-date=March 19, 2017 |archive-date=July 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717061111/http://www.komonews.com/seattlerefined/lifestyle/Alaska-Air-Tom-Douglas-and-other-big-names-launch-Alaska-Beyond-297728651.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing Alaska Beyond |url=http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/flight-experience/beyond.aspx?lid=nav:info-inflight&INT-_AS_NAV_-prodID:InflightExperience#beyond-delicious |publisher=Alaska Airlines}}</ref> Coffee from Portland-based Stumptown Coffee Roasters is served on all flights.<ref>{{cite news |last=Valinsky |first=Jordan |date=2023-10-11 |title=Alaska Airlines has created a coffee that it says tastes better in the sky |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/11/business/alaska-airlines-custom-coffee-stumptown |work=CNN |location=New York |access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref>

Horizon's aircraft are equipped with a First Class cabin and Premium Class cabin and offer a similar onboard experience to that of Alaska, with complimentary meals in First Class and complimentary alcoholic beverages in both classes.

=== On-board Internet access === Horizon's aircraft are equipped with an in-flight Wi-Fi and streaming entertainment system. Alaska and Horizon use Gogo Inflight Internet, a land-based internet service, covering all routes served by the airline. The service is fee-based for all passengers, depending on the length of the flight.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alaska Airlines In-flight Wi-Fi |url=http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/on-board/inflight-wifi.aspx |access-date=August 22, 2011 |publisher=Alaskaair.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 2, 2011 |title=Alaska Airlines In-flight Wi-Fi Available On Most Every Aircraft |url=http://splash.alaskasworld.com/Newsroom/ASNews/ASstories/AS_20110602_080355.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627154751/http://splash.alaskasworld.com/Newsroom/ASNews/ASstories/AS_20110602_080355.asp |archive-date=June 27, 2012 |access-date=September 16, 2012 |publisher=Alaska Airlines}}</ref>

== Fleet == === Current fleet === {{As of|2025|8}}, Horizon Air operates the following aircraft:<ref name="10K-2024">{{Cite web |date=February 14, 2025 |title=Alaska Air Group, Inc. 2024 Annual Report (Form 10-K) |url=https://news.alaskaair.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/10-K_-_Alaska_AIR_Group_INC_-_02-14-2025.pdf |access-date=February 24, 2025}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:auto;" ! rowspan="2" |Aircraft ! rowspan="2" |In service ! rowspan="2" |Orders ! colspan="4" |Passengers ! rowspan="2" |Notes |- !{{abbr|F|First Class}} !{{abbr|Y+|Premium Class}} !{{abbr|Y|Main Cabin}} !Total |- |Embraer 175 |47 |3 |12 |16 |48 |76 |Deliveries until 2026. |- !Total !47 !3 ! colspan="5" | |}

The Embraer 175 is a regional jet operated in a three-class configuration (first class, premium class, and main cabin) with a total of 76 all leather, reclining seats. The premium class and main cabin sections of the aircraft have two seats either side of the aisle, while the first class section has a single seat on one side of the aisle and two seats on the other.

===Former fleet=== Horizon Air has previously operated the following aircraft:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;" !Aircraft !Total !Introduced !Retired !Notes |- |BAC One-Eleven |2 |1986 |1986 |''regional jet, leased from Cascade Airways'' |- |Bombardier CRJ700 |21 |2001 |2011 |''regional jet''<ref name="atw-all q400">{{Cite news |date=July 1, 2008 |title=ATW Daily News |work=Air Transport World |url=http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=13207 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102012508/http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=13207 |archive-date=January 2, 2013}}</ref> |- |De Havilland Canada Dash 8-200 |28 |1997 |2011 |''turboprop''<ref name="CHAv" /> |- |De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 |56 |2001 |2023 |''turboprop, one crashed after being stolen'' |- |De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 |24 |1985 |2006 |''turboprop''<ref name="CHAv">{{Cite web |title=CH-Aviation Fleet Lists |url=http://www.ch-aviation.ch |access-date=September 19, 2009}}</ref> |- |Fokker F-27 |13 |1981 |1988 |''turboprop'',<ref name="directory-commercial-aircraft">{{Cite book |last=Endres, Günter G. |title=The illustrated directory of modern commercial aircraft |publisher=MBI Pub. Co. |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-7603-1125-7 |location=Osceola, WI |page=299}}</ref> ''first aircraft type operated by the airline'' |- |Dornier 328 |12 |1993 |1997 |''turboprop''<ref name="pi-81">{{Cite news |last=Gorlick |first=Arthur C. |date=April 16, 1988 |title=Horizon Air Began Flying in '81 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1988/8801110601.asp |access-date=October 11, 2008}}{{dead link|date=April 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> |- |Fairchild Metroliner II |{{Unknown}} |{{Unknown}} |{{Unknown}} |''formerly operated by Air Oregon,<ref name="pg94">Endicott 2001, p. 94</ref> commuter turboprop'' |- |Fairchild Metroliner III |33 |{{Unknown}} |1997 |''commuter turboprop<ref name="pg94" /><ref name="times-metroliner">{{Cite news |last=Guillen |first=Tomas |date=June 12, 1990 |title=Faa: Window Trouble On Fairchild Planes Ongoing |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19900612/1076800/faa-window-trouble-on-fairchild-planes-ongoing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401090028/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19900612&slug=1076800 |archive-date=April 1, 2012 |access-date=October 11, 2008 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>'' |- |Fokker F28 |22 |1986 |2003 |''regional jet''<ref name="times-divided">{{Cite news |last=Song |first=Kyung M. |date=September 27, 1999 |title=An Airline Divided – Horizon Air Is No Longer Tiny, And It's No Longer One Big, Happy Family, Either |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19990927/2985513/an-airline-divided----horizon-air-is-no-longer-tiny-and-its-no-longer-one-big-happy-family-either |access-date=October 12, 2008 |archive-date=April 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401090035/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19990927&slug=2985513 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |McDonnell Douglas DC-9-10 |1 |1984 |1984 |''first jet aircraft type operated by the airline''<ref name="dc9 pasco jet" /> |}

=== Aircraft livery === At the start of the carrier, Horizon livery had a painted sunrise with a small beach with capitalized words saying "Horizon". Until 2011, the Horizon Air livery was very similar to that of its parent, Alaska Airlines, except for a dark red (rather than blue) cheatline, and the tail featured a stylized sunset logo, rather than an Eskimo. Two E175s are currently painted in special liveries. Some Dash 8-100s and Q200s (no longer in service with Horizon Air) had names of various destinations preceded by "Great City of" or "Great Cities of" printed on the front of the airplane. The first Dash 8-100, N811PH was dedicated as the "Great Cities of Seattle/Tacoma" and the second airplane, N812PH was the "Great City of Portland". N824PH was dedicated as the "Great Cities of Pullman/Moscow" on one side and the "Great Cities of Moscow/Pullman" on the other side. N363PH (Q200) was the first airplane to incorporate the "deep bing cherry red" on the underside of the engine nacelle. This became the standard for Horizon's brand livery as well as the current Alaska Airlines livery. Prior to this change, the underside of the nacelle was painted "Horizon White".

On January 25, 2011, Horizon Air announced it was retiring its public brand and adopting the trademark Eskimo of its sister company, Alaska Airlines, on its fleet. Horizon's Bombardier Q400 fleet was repainted with a new scheme prominently featuring "Alaska" across the fuselage and the Eskimo on the tail. The planes continue to include a small Horizon logo on the sides of the aircraft, which now appears in Alaska's dark blue color.

On March 5, 2019, Horizon introduced a themed livery in celebration of Horizon's heritage. Bombardier Q400 #N421QX featured stripes down the side in the traditional Horizon colors and the sunset logo on the tail. The aircraft made its inaugural flight from Yakima to Seattle, the route of Horizon's first ever flight.

== Photo gallery == <gallery> File:Horizon Air Fairchild Swearingen SA-227AC Metro III Silagi-1.jpg|Fairchild Swearingen SA-227AC Metroliner III; DHC 8 in background File:Horizon f27.jpg|Fairchild FH.27 at Spokane International Airport in 1993 File:Horizon Air Fokker F-28-4000 N481US SJC Aug1999.png|Fokker F.28-4000 in the second corporate livery File:Horizon Air Bombardier CRJ-700(N613QX) (4629638852).jpg|Bombardier CRJ-700 </gallery>

== Flight accidents and incidents == * On May 2, 1986, a Fairchild Metroliner was hijacked over Oregon, between Eugene and Portland. The pilot convinced the hijacker to allow the plane to stop in Hillsboro to refuel and even let the pilot off the plane, who then called the FBI.<ref name="plfkjc">{{Cite news |date=May 3, 1986 |title=Portland flight hijacked |page=A1 |work=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xKopAAAAIBAJ&pg=2560%2C1258612}}</ref><ref>Endicott 2001, pp. 191–194</ref> * On April 15, 1988, Flight 2658, a Dash 8-100 (N819PH – ''Great City of Sun Valley''), en route from Seattle to Spokane with 37 passengers and 3 crew members, crashed after attempting an emergency landing at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). The number two (right side/starboard) engine caught fire (due to a manufacturing defect) after take-off from Seattle. Loss of hydraulic pressure due to the fire caused the aircraft to veer off the runway, across the grass, across Taxiway B, and crashed into the B7 and B9 jetways, destroying the plane. There were four serious injuries but no fatalities.<ref name="srsea88">{{Cite news |date=April 16, 1988 |title=Plane Crash at Sea-Tac injures 19 |page=A1 |work=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=0klj8wIChNAC&dat=19880416&printsec=frontpage&hl=en}}</ref><ref name="ntsb report">{{Cite web |date=April 24, 1990 |title=DCA88MA052 |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001213X25438&key=1 |access-date=October 11, 2008 |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board}}</ref><ref name="times-accident">{{Cite news |date=April 16, 1988 |title=18 Injured in Seattle Plane Crash |work=The New York Times |agency=AP |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5DF123DF935A25757C0A96E948260 |access-date=October 11, 2008}}</ref><ref name="pbegsurvl">{{Cite news |last=Blackburn |first=Katia |date=April 17, 1988 |title=Probe begins; survivors lucky |page=1A |work=Sunday Tribune |agency=Associated Press |location=Lewiston, Idaho |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=BtfE7wd9KvMC&dat=19880417&printsec=frontpage&hl=en}}</ref><ref name="bbupipafc">{{Cite news |date=April 17, 1988 |title=Pilot avoids fiery crash |page=A1 |work=The Bulletin |agency=UPI |location=Bend, Oregon |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G4soAAAAIBAJ&pg=4372%2C5647}}</ref> * On May 23, 1990, a Fairchild Metroliner III on a flight from Portland to Seattle suffered a window blowout at {{convert|14000|ft}} above Olympia. The flight made an emergency descent and landing to its planned destination of Sea-Tac Airport. The passenger seated next to the window, who was partially sucked out of the plane for a brief period, was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries and released.<ref name="mppwtpw">{{Cite news |date=May 24, 1990 |title=Man pulled partway through plane window |page=B1 |work=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=115WAAAAIBAJ&pg=6569%2C2014070}}</ref><ref name="times-blowout">{{Cite news |last1=Tomas |first1=Guillen |last2=Corr, O. Casey |last3=Birkland, Dave |last4=Lane, Polly |last5=Whitely, Peyton |date=May 23, 1990 |title=Passenger Nearly Sucked Out Of Horizon Airliner |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19900523/1073398/passenger-nearly-sucked-out-of-horizon-airliner |access-date=October 11, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NTSB Incident Report |url=https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41133/pdf |access-date=August 26, 2025}}</ref> * On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 aircraft registered N449QX was stolen from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport by Richard Russell, a ground service agent for Horizon. The incident prompted F-15 fighter jets to scramble and intercept the aircraft. After being in contact with air traffic control for over an hour, the aircraft crashed on Ketron Island in Pierce County, Washington, killing Russell, the only person on the aircraft.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 10, 2018 |title=Plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashes on small island; no passengers on board |work=abc10.com |publisher=KXTV-TV |url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/live-plane-stolen-from-sea-tac-airport-crashes-on-small-island-no-passengers-on-board/281-582563371 |access-date=August 10, 2018}}</ref> * On October 22, 2023, Flight 2059 was operating from Paine Field in Everett, Washington to San Francisco International Airport when an off-duty pilot sitting in the jumpseat inside the flight deck, Joe Emerson, reportedly tried to pull both engine fire extinguisher handles on the overhead panel. The Embraer 175 aircraft was operating at 31,000 feet at the time, and if Emerson was successful at activating the fire extinguishers, both engines would have shut down. The crew was able to subdue him and land at the Portland International Airport in Oregon, where Emerson was arrested and later charged with 83 counts of attempted murder.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Maile |first1=Amanda |last2=McMichael |first2=Clara |last3=Margolin |first3=Josh |date=October 23, 2023 |title=Off-duty pilot charged with 83 counts of attempted murder for allegedly trying to shut off engines on Alaska Airlines flight |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/alaska-airlines-flight-diverted-after-credible-security-threat/story?id=104223059 |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>

== Lawsuits == In November 2023, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Horizon and Alaska Airlines on behalf of the passengers on board Flight 2059, alleging that the passengers' lives were put at risk by an off-duty pilot who was allowed to ride in the cockpit and who attempted to shut off the engines during flight on October 22, 2023, and seeking an injunction that would require the airlines to "conduct reasonable examinations" of all employees with access to the cockpit immediately prior to boarding.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gates |first=Dominic |date=2023-11-02 |title=Airlines face lawsuit after pilot tried to shut engines off midflight |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/lawsuit-filed-over-horizon-air-flight-put-at-risk-by-mentally-troubled-pilot/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103011126/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/lawsuit-filed-over-horizon-air-flight-put-at-risk-by-mentally-troubled-pilot/ |archive-date=2023-11-03 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In July 2024, Horizon was sued by a flight attendant for the airline, who alleged that she was "repeatedly and severely" sexually harassed by two Horizon pilots from September 2023 through February of 2024 and that Horizon's human resources department "took no action" to protect her.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bernstein |first=Maxine |date=2024-07-08 |title=Horizon Air flight attendant sues the carrier, alleging 2 pilots sexually harassed her repeatedly |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/07/horizon-air-flight-attendant-sues-the-carrier-alleging-2-pilots-sexually-harassed-her-repeatedly.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713205249/https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/07/horizon-air-flight-attendant-sues-the-carrier-alleging-2-pilots-sexually-harassed-her-repeatedly.html |archive-date=2024-07-13 |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=The Oregonian |language=en}}</ref>

== See also == * Air transportation in the United States

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Bibliography == * {{Cite book |last=Endicott |first=Bill |title=Remember the Magic…: The Story of Horizon Air |publisher=Turner Publishing Company |year=2001 |isbn=978-1-56311-725-1 |editor-last=Williams, Dayna Spear}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.horizonair.com/|title=Horizon Air}} * [http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/AAR89-02.pdf NTSB accident report of Flight 2658]

Category:Airlines based in Washington (state) Category:Airlines established in 1981 Category:Alaska Air Group Category:Companies based in King County, Washington Category:Regional airlines of the United States Category:Economy of the Northwestern United States Category:Economy of the Southwestern United States Category:Regional Airline Association members Category:SeaTac, Washington Category:1981 establishments in Washington (state) Category:Oneworld affiliate members