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Bombardier Aerospace and Horizon Air celebrated the delivery of the airline’s 51st Q400 turboprop airliner in Portland, Ore. The aircraft, which is a NextGen model, is the last of three ordered by Horizon in June last year, solidifying the airline’s position as the world’s largest operator of Q400 aircraft.
To recognize the delivery, a Bombardier delegation comprised of key team members who support the Q400 aircraft program, journeyed to Portland to participate in the celebration along with Horizon Air’s employees. The 51st aircraft, which provided a backdrop for the event, bares a special “people-powered” livery that includes the signatures of Horizon Air employees.
“Horizon Air has extensive experience with Bombardier’s Q-Series aircraft, having ordered some 100 since 1985,” said Glenn Johnson, president, Horizon Air. “Since then our operation has grown significantly to serve 39 destinations throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. As we expand our service into the state of Alaska this year, we look to the Q400 NextGen aircraft’s versatility, speed and comfort to provide a seamless experience for our customers.”
Johnson said the three new Q400 NextGen aircraft will allow the airline to begin operations in the state of Alaska on March 3, 2014, with daily flights between Anchorage and Fairbanks, and Anchorage and Kodiak. Horizon Air flies on behalf of Alaska Airlines and is a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group.
“For almost 20 years, our relationship with Horizon Air has strengthened and grown, and we are proud that these most recent deliveries to the airline – one of the most successful North American regional carriers – will solidify its status as the world’s largest operator of Q400 aircraft,” said Mike Arcamone, president, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “We’re confident that Horizon Air will continue to successfully showcase the flexibility and adaptability of the Q400 aircraft as it operates within the geographically diverse Alaskan landscape.”
Horizon Air’s Q400 aircraft are equipped with Head-up Guidance Systems (HGS) for all-weather operations, Wide Area Augmentation Systems (WAAS) with approach guidance (LPV) for ILS-like landing minima at remote runways and RNP AR 0.3 to fly curved approaches to airports in difficult terrain. The unmatched capability to land and take off on challenging runways in unsettled weather is another benefit of the Q400 aircraft.
