Four flights return to city Horizon will add a daily flight to the regional airport early next year, officials say.
By Vicki Hillhouse of the Union-Bulletin
Horizon Air will reintroduce its four-flight schedule to the Walla Walla market early next year, Port of Walla Walla officials announced Thursday.
The airline's conversion to larger airplanes has freed up the smaller, 37-seat Bombardier Q200 aircraft for markets such as Walla Walla, where air travelers continue to pack the planes for short-distance trips to Seattle.
"We're one of the last areas with the Q200 planes," said Port Commissioner Michael Fredrickson this morning. "It makes sense to keep them flying as long as they own them."
Coupled with an increasing number of passengers on the existing three flights, the ex-
cess planes provided an opportunity to build air travel options at the Walla Walla Regional Airport, said Port Commissioner Paul Schneidmiller.
The change should help build load and capacity as the larger, 74-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprops are phased into Walla Walla, he said. That change is not expected to take place until mid-2009. At that point, Schneidmiller said Horizon may drop back to three flights.
The airline's scheduling manager Bruce Tecklenberg is out of the office until next week and could not be reached for comment. Neither could an airline spokesperson.
Horizon has not yet changed its online schedule to reflect the additional afternoon flight. That change is reportedly expected to take place early next week.
Schneidmiller said he was told about the additional flight after ongoing conversations with Horizon about the need for more capacity in Walla Walla.
"Over the next few days there are just no seats," said Schneidmiller, who also owns World Wide Travel. "The whole concept of adding extra seats is just a plus."
He said the new 3:45 p.m. outbound flight is expected to be introduced Jan. 6. Although numerous business travelers have said a late evening flight into Walla Walla would be most beneficial, the additional option provides a much-needed boost for the market.
"They added capacity," said Kip Kelly, senior vice president for business development at Coffey Communication. "What's hard now is just finding a seat sometimes. This is very much welcome added capacity to the market."
Combined with a simplified pricing structure - a one-way ticket to Seattle with 14 days advance purchase is $69 - Kelly said the air travel market could face considerable growth in Walla Walla, particularly with companies such as his.
"We live on airplanes," he said. "Three-quarters of our business are in central and eastern time zones. It's an absolutely vital lifeline. Just like anybody else, our firm is interested in both competitive pricing and scheduling flexibility."
The capacity for air travel will literally double in Walla Walla by the time the Q400 turboprops enter the market. With three 37-seat flights right now, a maximum of 111 passengers can fly out of the airport. With three 74-seat Q400s, the number of seats would reach 222.
Schneidmiller said Horizon, as well as local air travelers, stands to benefit by offering additional capacity. If planes are full now, local travel agents may send people to the Tri-Cities, where more flights are offered. But there, passengers have more choices in airlines. There's a risk that Horizon could lose the local business if passengers fly out of the Tri-Cities.
The reintroduction of Horizon's four-flight schedule restores travel options to pre-Sept. 11, 2001, levels. Prior to that the airline operated four flights. But the airline withdrew one flight when air travel was slammed by the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Since then Port officials and local business people have lobbied Horizon for a fourth flight. The Port even landed a $250,000 federal grant to help subsidize a fourth flight in 2004. Horizon declined the offer.
The money was instead used to entice Billings, Mont.,-based Big Sky Airlines, which launched a direct flight to Boise in February 2006. Big Sky discontinued that service earlier this year when passenger numbers failed to support the daily flight.
Under Horizon's new plan, the new flight will be at 3:45 p.m. only about three months. In April, the time will be adjusted once more to earlier in the afternoon, Schneidmiller said. More details from Horizon are expected to be addressed next week.
Meanwhile, Port officials say they're thrilled more choices will be added at the airport.
"It's something that they needed to do," Fredrickson said this morning.
"Let's face it, they're selling out (seats on) the planes."
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Carl wrote on Jan 31, 2008 5:43 PM:
" Unbelievable, 3 flights a day with no early morning service out, no late evening service in, what a shame. Used to be before Horizon that you could fly to Seattle, Portland, Spokane, several times a day to each major northwest city. Now we are just getting a 4th flight, with still no way to make connections. I have to drive to Pasco, and once I get there, Horizon, no thanks. "
Options! wrote on Oct 12, 2007 4:14 PM:
" What would be even better is if there were other destinations added! To fly to Portland, you have to fly to Seattle or drive to Pasco.
Either way, its still cheaper for me to drive home from Seattle than fly: Shuttle or Parking + 2 hours minimum in SeaTac + 1 hour flight time + rental car; or drive 4 hours, have own car in WW. "
Norma wrote on Oct 12, 2007 2:44 PM:
" Is there any chance that Horizon would add and earlier morning flight to SEA and a late evening flight from SEA? This would be a big help especially when traveling between ALW and the east coast. "
Carl wrote on Jan 31, 2008 5:43 PM: