Ramon Lopez/TORONTO
Horizon Air has revealed that it is evaluating the Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) family, as well as the de Havilland Dash 8-400, as possible long-term replacements for its fleet of Fokker F28s.
The airline is already a major customer for the 37-seat Dash 8-100/200, with 23 in service and a further 70 on order and option. It has also just firmed up an order for ten of 15 conditional Dash 8-200s worth $120 million, for delivery in 1999 and 2000.
When the airline retires the last of 14 Fairchild Metro IIIs early in 1998, its fleet will comprise just the Dash 8 turboprops along with its 14 69-seat F28s.
George Bagley, president and chief executive, says that Horizon Air has the right to convert its Dash 8-200 commitments to the larger, 50-seat Dash 8-300 and 70-seat Dash 8-400, as well as the 50-seat CRJ-200 and 70-seat CRJ-700, "but we currently don't see a need for the 50-seat and 70-seat turboprop aircraft".
Bagley says that the CRJ is "certainly a possible replacement for the F28 and other markets we might consider suitable in the future", although no specific retirement date has been set for the ageing and noisy jet-powered aircraft. The Dash 8-400 is also a potential candidate, says Bagley, but the F28 replacement "is more likely to be a jet aircraft".
Bagley says that he is inclined to stick with Bombardier, although other 50- to 70-seat regional jets might be considered.
Source: Flight International
