Hoke Leaves Mesa
Chief Financial Officer William Hoke has resigned from Mesa Air Group to pursue another career opportunity, according to Mesa’s latest SEC filing posted Friday. The resignation was accepted on May 23, 2008 and became effective last Friday. Michael J. Lotz, the company’s current president and chief operating officer and principal accounting officer, will serve as interim chief financial officer until a suitable replacement is found.

Horizon Outlines Operating Costs
Crew costs for the CRJ-700 is $281/hr, while the Q-400 is $256, according to an internet report quoting the Leading Edge, News for Horizon Air Employees. Fuel, in February, for the CRJ 700 was $1206/hr and for the Q-400 was $805/hour. Horizon is getting rid of its CRJ-700s and Q-200s in favor of a single-aircraft, Q-400 fleet.

Horizon Adds Prescott
Horizon Air will offer new nonstop service between Prescott, Ariz., and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) once daily starting Sept. 8. Starting Sept. 8, the morning flight from Flagstaff will make a brief stop in Prescott and then continue nonstop to Los Angeles. Mesa' Air Midwest subsdiary had provided Essential Air Service at Prescott but Horizon's service will be unsubsidized. The return flight will take the opposite route in the evening, stopping in Prescott before terminating in Flagstaff. Starting June 23, Horizon will offer two nonstop flights between Flagstaff and LAX. Horizon's flight to Prescott will be operated with the airline's Bombardier Q400s.
"Say goodbye to the long drive and missed connections at another airport and say hello to a relaxing, affordable Horizon Air flight from your hometown airport to Los Angeles," said Dan Russo, Horizon's director of marketing and communications.
Known as "Everybody's Home Town," the Greater Prescott region is a rapidly growing area consisting of unique cities and towns and more than 200,000 residents. Steeped in Old West history, Prescott is widely known as the birthplace of professional rodeo and each summer attracts thousands to the week-long World's Oldest Rodeo(R). The million-acre Prescott National Forest, mountain lakes and a mild climate also attracts outdoor recreation. The city is also home to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's second largest residential campus.
The rejection from Air Midwest came swiftly on a one-page fax. The carrier couldn’t afford to fly to the mountain community of Prescott anymore, officials said. The city would simply have to find a new tenant for its tiny airport.