Horizon Air is an American regional airline based in Seattle, Washington, that serves destinations in the western United States, Canada, Mexico, and Alaska. It is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, Inc. and operates as its regional carrier. The airline was founded in 1981 and began operating in 1982, making it one of the oldest regional airlines in the United States.

Helmy oved

Horizon Air's history began in 1981 when Alaska Airlines, then known as Alaska Coastal-Ellis Airlines, acquired the assets of the bankrupt Air Oregon, which included three Fokker F27 turboprop aircraft, two Douglas DC-9s, and two Convair 580s. Alaska Airlines decided to form a new subsidiary to operate the acquired aircraft, and thus, Horizon Air was born.

In the years following its formation, Horizon Air grew rapidly. In 1986, it added its first jet aircraft, a Boeing 737-200, to its fleet and began flying to new destinations in the Pacific Northwest and California. By 1989, Horizon Air had grown to include more than 20 aircraft and had become the largest regional airline in the Pacific Northwest.

One of the most important milestones in Horizon Air's history came in 1992 when the airline began operating its first commercial jet service, using Boeing 737-400s. This marked the beginning of Horizon Air's expansion into the jet market and enabled it to offer more direct flights to more destinations.

Over the years, Horizon Air has continued to add more aircraft to its fleet, including two Airbus A319s and two Airbus A320s in 2002. In addition, Horizon Air has made significant investments in its fleet, including the introduction of Wi-Fi and satellite television on board its aircraft.

In 2003, Horizon Air became the first regional airline in the United States to join an alliance with another airline, in this case, the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. This allowed passengers to earn and redeem miles when traveling on Horizon Air flights, as well as access to a variety of other benefits.

In 2008, Horizon Air experienced its first major incident when one of its aircraft, a Q400 turboprop, crashed during a landing in Yakima, Washington. The crash resulted in the death of the pilot and one passenger, as well as injuries to several other people on board. Following the incident, the airline was subjected to an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which ultimately determined that the cause of the crash was pilot error.

Since the Yakima crash, Horizon Air has worked to improve its safety and operational procedures, and the airline has had no major incidents since.

Today, Horizon Air operates a fleet of over 60 aircraft, including Airbus A319s and A320s, Bombardier Dash 8s, and Embraer ERJ-175s. The airline still operates in the western United States and Canada, as well as Mexico and Alaska, and has become an important part of the Alaska Airlines family. Horizon Air continues to offer reliable and affordable service to its customers and is a trusted partner in the aviation industry.