Horizon Air Accelerating Fleet Transition

With fuel prices remaining at record high levels, Horizon Air is moving up the phase out of its smaller turboprops to speed its transition to a single fleet of highly fuel efficient Bombardier Q400s. In the process, the airline is implementing additional schedule changes to further improve its financial performance.
All 12 of Horizon’s remaining 37-seat Q200s will be out of its operating fleet by Oct. 28, instead of the original target date of April 2009. Horizon will also begin the phase out of its 70-seat CRJ-700 jets in September. During this transition, it will take delivery of 14 additional 76-seat Q400s. Horizon currently has 34 Q400s in its fleet and holds options for 20 more (in addition to the 14 already on the way). Horizon now expects its transition to an all-Q400 fleet to be completed by the end of 2009, unless market conditions warrant another adjustment.