The only replacements AS would be shopping for would be CRJ-700 replacements, as the ex-Horizon -700s are getting up there in age. I saw the Embraer 175 over at ASIG in SEA a few weeks ago when Chip and company brought it up from St. George to woo Brad and the fellas over on International Blvd. I'll buy that possibility.

But Q400 replacements? No way.

Horizon has the Q400 operation down to an art, and they make Alaska a lot of money. OO does not have CAT III, which is VITAL to the SEA, PDX, and GEG shuttle markets, nor RNP .1, which is becoming more and more crucial throughout the AS and QX system, especially with QX moving up into AK. When you combine the Q400's fuel burn and speed on routes under 500nm, there is nothing that can currently beat it on the numbers side, and OO--and every other RJ regional--has nothing in their arsenal that would be competitive. The Q400 isn't going away.

Sorry dude.