Horizon Air may further simplify its fleet to a single aircraft type after three to five years. The subsidiary of the Alaska Air Group now operates Bombardier Dash 8 Q200s, Q400s and CRJ700-701ERs. The Q200s are scheduled to be phased out completely by August 2009.
Concern about the airline's profitability could drive Horizon to move to a single type, says Brad Tilden, Alaska's chief financial officer.
"There may be an opportunity to go to one fleet down the road," Tilden says, adding: "That's a three-to five year opportunity."
The Horizon fleet modernisation programme will conclude with a total of 48 Q400s and 20 CRJ700s.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
