DrPepper

Alaska Airlines will start an Express service with a thrid party carrier. What ever happen to Horizon being Alaska Express..According to the press release they dont have small planes that could serve Moses Lake. What???

Here is Moses Lake


Horizon flies the Q400 into Santa Rosa


So you're telling me that a Q400 is too big for a 13,503ft runway. What a joke. This is just the Error Groups way of starting "Alaska Airline Express." Why can't Horizon continue to be Alaska Express. I feel for you guys. I'm glad i left when i did. To all FO's that are 200 from the bottom start looking for another job. Your future at Horizon is NIL... Skyhigh was Right!!!

Alaska Airlines looks at serving Moses Lake
Posted: Monday, May 19, 2008 - 11:28:10 am PDT
By Matthew Weaver
Herald senior staff writer


TransCo meeting provides regional transportation updates
COLUMBIA BASIN - Alaska Airlines is negotiating with smaller airlines about providing air service at the Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake.

The information was discussed as area leaders met to hear the latest on a number of transportation projects impacting the region last week.

Approximately 24 people were in attendance for transportation coalition TransCo's meeting Friday in the auditorium of Big Bend Community College's administration.

The meeting covered updates of projects including the Washington State Department of Transportation's highway stem plan, rail expansion around Grant County International Airport and Westlake transportation planning.

Port of Moses Lake Executive Manager Craig Baldwin reminded the audience of efforts to restore air service to Grant County International Airport. While it feels like it's been moving slowly, he said, compared to airline schedules, things are progressing quite quickly.

Seattle is the top destination, Baldwin noted, according to a market study of air service passengers within the region.

"Interestingly enough, 42 percent of the people traveling to Seattle, not en route, to Seattle, drove to Spokane to fly there," he said. "I'm thinking it must have been winter, because I probably would have driven another 50 miles to drive right into Seattle. Forty-two percent of the people drove to Spokane to fly to Seattle."

Baldwin also provided updated information regarding negotiations with Alaska Airlines.

"Alaska realizes they can't fly smaller aircraft, they don't have them," he said. "So Alaska has taken the challenge and with our consultant, has been meeting with other airlines to contract with a third carrier to fly under their name, as Alaska Airlines Express, and provide service to small communities."

Such negotiations are outside the realm of the port district and local efforts, Baldwin explained.

"That's an agreement the airlines would have to make with the airlines, if they choose to do that. They've been actively meeting with that," he said. "If and when that happens, we would go to that carrier and negotiate service to Moses Lake. It is actively moving forward, everything is looking positive. On that, unfortunately, I can't tell you a time frame. I wish I could, I wish I could guarantee we would have air service, but I can tell you communication is actively going on with the carriers."

TransCo director Karen Bonaudi and Joyce Mulliken provided an update on the Lake Loop, which would cross Moses Lake from the Mae Valley-Hiawatha Road area. The project has received $50,000 to do a preliminary study. The Transpo Group will conduct the study, anticipated to be done in September. They will be soliciting public input and there will be a public comment period.

Interstate 90 Assistant Project Engineer Scott Golbek provided updates to the status of the Snoqualmie Pass Project.

He told those in attendance to expect "rolling slowdowns" this summer and minor delays lasting about 20 minutes. The states funded 5 miles of a project expected to start construction next year, which includes widening I-90 to a six-lane freeway from Hyak to Keechelus Dam.

New projects placed upon the coalition's radar during the meeting included widening the pedestrian crossing on Stratford Road over state Route 17, a safe rail crossing for Longview Elementary students, safety on state Route 243 at "s-curves," adding a Mattawa rail route, widening state Route 243 from the Vernita Bridge to Schwana, safety at state Route 243 and state Route 24 and new facilities for Grant Transit Authority, currently under negotiations.

During the discussion period of the meeting, Kyle Lynch, legislative assistant for Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, told the group about issues which may impact transportation projects. Increasing costs have placed bonds at 118 percent against expected revenues, Lynch said.

"That means any project expected to begin in 2015 or later is on hold, effectively stopped," Lynch said.

The political uncertainty has put federal matching dollars for several projects at risk, Lynch added. Eastern Washington residents are forced to look at Western Washington problems, such as the ferry system, which draws funding from regional rail projects. It also makes scenarios previously thought of as impossible, such as tolls on Snoqualmie Pass, a possibility, Lynch said.

At the meeting's close, State Department of Transportation representative Dave Honsinger told the group it's necessary to keep a balance and keep their radar up and allow new projects in with the old, or else risk not making much progress.

Koolaidman

Threre is a rumor floating around SkyWest about flying for Alaska...

AZFlyer

My guess is that it may have to do with the ARFF capabilities at these airports. Moses Lake is only ARFF Index A. Santa Rosa is a B.

I don't remember exactly, but aircraft w/ more than 30 seats cannot operate into ARFF A airports, right?

And all of Horizons fleet have more than 30 seats, right?

Maybe AS wants a B1900 operator to serve places like Moses Lake. Is Moses Lake an EAS destination?

Just a thought.

check6

If you left Horizon why do you feel like you still need to whine about it?

DrPepper

BECAUSE I CAN!!

SkyHigh

Horizon Air tends to leave a lasting after burn that is not easily forgotten.

I always wondered what would happen to the smaller markets. Horizon Air put Cascade Airways out of business when they started flying metro liners on Cessna 402 routes. Then QX moved into the 200 and suddenly could not serve the smaller farm towns anymore. Next they got into the 400 and even the smaller cities are too small to serve with a 70 pax plane. Before you know it they will be overflying Yakima, Pullman and Walla Walla.

Someone eventually was going to take advantage of the vacuum being created by Horizon Air's growth into larger planes. Seems to me that QX is rapidly becoming more of a competitor for AS. QX has been taking over the longer runs that use to be the exclusive territory of big brother. Now AS must hire a third party to do the smaller stuff and head out into the jungle to go head to head with SWA. Not a good plan if you ask me.

SkyHigh

SkyHigh

Moses Lake does not have enough passengers to justify service with such a large plane. It has noting to do with performance issues.

SkyHigh

DrPepper

Didn't know Moses had a 30 seat restriction. As of today no schedule carrier goes into Moses Lake

de727ups

"Horizon Air put Cascade Airways out of business when they started flying metro liners on Cessna 402 routes."

Cascade never flew 402's and Horizon bought Cascade out before they "went out of business".

Moses Lake has seen Horizon service in the past. Big Sky was there as well. With the EAS contract dropped, it seems that there was no one who wanted to fly there. QX still serves Wenatchee and Yakima.

QCappy

Yep. That's because the tiny city can't support a scheduled carrier. If Big Sky couldn't do it with Beech 1900s, then it isn't worth doing.