PORTLAND, Ore., Aug 29, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Horizon Air announced today that starting Oct. 27 flights from Eureka/Arcata and from Redding to Portland will be operated with new 70-seat aircraft instead of the 37-seat aircraft the airline is flying on the routes now.

The 70-seat Bombardier Q400 high-speed turboprop will operate from Eureka/Arcata and Redding to Portland in place of 37-seat Bombardier Q200 turboprops. The faster aircraft will cut 15 minutes off the current nonstop flying time from Eureka/Arcata and from Redding to Portland. Two daily flights will be offered from each city. The number of daily seats offered increases from 111 to 140.

The Q400 brings a new level of passenger comfort. In the bright and modern interior, passengers have generous legroom approaching that found in many first-class cabins. There is also ample storage space above and under the seats. Thanks to its sophisticated noise and vibration suppression system, the Q400 boasts the quietest turboprop cabin in the sky. And with a top cruising speed of 360 knots (420 mph), the Q400 can fly passengers in close to the same amount of time as a jet on routes under two hours.

Horizon is the North America launch customer for the Q400 as well as Bombardier's CRJ-700 jet, bringing the airline closer to its goal of becoming the regional airline with one of the youngest, most fuel-efficient fleets in the United States. Horizon has taken delivery of 15 Q400s since the end of 2001 and holds an option for 15 more at a cost of about $18.5 million each.

Bombardier Aerospace is a unit of Bombardier Inc., Canada.

Horizon Air has served Eureka/Arcata since 1994 and Redding since 1992. Horizon serves 42 cities throughout California, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alberta and British Columbia. Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, Inc.

Editors' Note: For photos, more information and other news, visit Horizon Air's NewsRoom at http://newsroom.horizonair.com.

CONTACT:          Horizon Air
                  Cheryl Temple, 206/431-4672
                  Dan Russo, 206/431-4513
                  http://newsroom.horizonair.com

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