New Horizons at PG Airport

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 04:12 AM

Horizon Air rep Dan Russo announces plans for 1st international fight at YXS

Prince George, B.C. - "We’re going to Disneyland!" That was the ecstatic shout from Prince George Airport Manager Stieg Hoeg following news of the first international flight into and out of the local airport.

In what’s being touted as one of the airport’s biggest announcements to date, Horizon Air spokesperson, Dan Russo, was on-hand at YXS’ international terminal to announce a new daily return flight between Prince George and Seattle, Washington, beginning on May 1st of this year.

Horizon, the parent company of Alaska Airlines, will offer the service on a 76-seat Bombardier Q400 Turboprop. The one-hour-45-minute flight will leave Seattle at 1:20pm each afternoon, the return flight will depart from Prince George at 3:45pm.

Russo says Prince George becomes the 7th Canadian destination for Horizon.

For his part, Hoeg says he’s excited about the opportunity this flight will bring to those wanting to head to the more popular tourist destinations like Disneyland and Las Vegas. "Three percent of people (travelling from the region) drive from Vancouver to Seattle to take advantage of flying into U.S. markets. We have now made it four to five times faster with this connection."

Horizon is offering a 60-day introductory rate of a $139 one-way ticket from PG to Seattle and a $179 one-way ticket for those choosing to travel on from Seattle to California, Nevada, or Arizona.

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Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 04:12 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: thereasonableman on January 23 2008 4:17 AM

We're already in Disneyland.

Posted by: buddy on January 23 2008 6:08 AM

Congrats,nice to hear a good news story for our local economy

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on January 23 2008 7:37 AM

Daily! That's a very high service level for 76 seats.

Posted by: travism on January 23 2008 7:49 AM

fantastic

Posted by: Denial on January 23 2008 9:27 AM

Yuck, another turboprop. Nice to see Horizon is bringing part of their "elite fleet" to Prince George.

Posted by: metalman on January 23 2008 9:36 AM

As one of the proud taxpayers whose contributions helped bring this american company to our fair city, just let me be the first to say how pleased I am that Idiots Prince George (IPG) has found such a creative solution to their excess of funding. Can we have come of the munificence to patch a pothole or two?
Or: AHA! build an overpass!!
metalman.

Posted by: Bridge on January 23 2008 9:37 AM

"Congrats,nice to hear a good news story for our local economy".

Isnt that great using $400,000.00 tax dollars to boost our economy. What ever happened to free enterprise? I guess socialism is OK if its used to boost the profits of a corporation.

Cheers

Posted by: Norm1 on January 23 2008 9:42 AM

Happy to hear that Horizon, a partner of Alaska Airlines is finally reaching PG. It has been a long 7 year wait since the initial indications that this would come to pass.

We have travelled Horizon/Alaska out of Vancouver via Portland or Seattle in the past to San Diego.

Although the Q400, at 76 passengers is a member of the Dash family of turbo props, it is significantly quieter if the Q package is in use.

Try it...you might like it. We look forward to using the flight for family visits to San Diego from Prince George....especially during the cheap, introductory period.

Google Q400 and learn some stuff.

Posted by: Parrothead on January 23 2008 9:52 AM

Norm1 - I agree with you. I used to travel very extensively, and my most common flight was Kelowna to Seattle on Horizon. I was ALWAYS happy when they felt busy enough to send a Q400 in instead of a Q200. The 400 is a very nice, quiet aircraft thanks to active noise compensation in the cabin. Works great. I even offered to buy a Q400 from SAS when they announced they were cutting that craft from their fleet. Of course, I only offered $100, but it was what I could afford! ;-)

Posted by: gitterdun on January 23 2008 10:03 AM

It would of been nice to take advantage of those great rates during the WINTER months......May is pratically tropical in PG. Why go anywhere else then?

Posted by: Palopu on January 23 2008 10:08 AM

Hopefully this will all be done without the City paying out $400,000.00 in gaurantees. If not then I for one will be very P----d off.

I have no desire what so ever to subsidize anyones holidays to Disneyland or any place else.

My position: I pay for my holidays, you pay for yours.

Posted by: Death to Socialism on January 23 2008 10:30 AM

If you guys don't like subsidizing other people you are living in the wrong damn country. Anything that makes it easier to get out of this isolated part of the world is good news.

Posted by: Druidia on January 23 2008 1:05 PM

Finally!

Makes much more sense than backtracking from PG to Vancouver or PG to Calgary (think extra unnecessary flight and long layover hours) before one can fly out of Canada.

Posted by: Foo738 on January 23 2008 1:08 PM

See Eric Allen's letter in the Citizen
"Will Rupert�s port cost Prince George jobs?" Jan. 23/08.
There are interesting comments in it regarding "New Horizons at PG Airport."

Posted by: Druidia on January 23 2008 1:19 PM

Finally!

Makes much more sense than backtracking from PG to Vancouver or PG to Calgary (think extra unnecessary flight and long layover hours) before one can fly out of Canada.

Posted by: bigmom on January 23 2008 4:36 PM

QUOTE: "Horizon, the parent company of Alaska Airlines"

Hmmmm...I'm quite certain it's the other way around.

Anyways, I'm pleased they have arrived if for no other reason than to keep the other airlines a little more competitive.

Posted by: diplomat on January 23 2008 4:56 PM

Great initiative! I have already told some overseas friends in Europe that Seattle has a direct flight to PG and they are going to include this in their booking plans.

The people who run the PG airport certainly deserve credit for exploring every possible opportunity to make the airport truly international, including the push for the longer runway.

It sure beats putting money into yet another chop stick factory.

Posted by: Death to Socialism on January 23 2008 5:37 PM

If you guys don't like subsidizing other people you are living in the wrong damn country. Anything that makes it easier to get out of this isolated part of the world is good news.

Posted by: Harbinger on January 23 2008 6:22 PM

Gee whiz! Even our two million dollar a year subsidized city bus company doesn't even go to the airport. Drat!!

Posted by: Palopu on January 23 2008 8:39 PM

As usual confusion between a needed subsidy such as a bus service, and a subsidy so that some well heeled people can save a few hundred bucks by having a subsidized airline to Seattle.

The last time I went to San Diago it was fly to Vancouver. Then Drive to Bellingham, then fly to Seattle, then fly Alaska Airline to San Diago. Guess what it was no big deal and I didnt expect the taxpayers of Prince George to pick up part of the tab. Now people are so lazy and cheap they cant look after themselves let alone plan a vacation. Pretty soon they will have someone take the vacation for them so they can sit at home, eat hamburgers, drink beer, and watch t.v.

In the most simplistic terms ask yourselves this question; If Horizen Air wont risk their money, and the Airport Authority wont risk their money, then why in hell would you think that it is ok for the City of Prince George to risk taxpayers money???

One obvious reason is that their is more where this money came from and the taxpayers in Prince George are so stupid they will never know the difference.

Posted by: Chester on January 23 2008 9:00 PM

All of those people who enjoy the benefit of flying to Seattle instead of Vancouver to destinations further on will be the beneficiaries of the flights being offered.

How often have we seen cheap flights out of Seattle to Hawaii and other places and wondered when we would also benefit? Too often I think.

I am pleased that the service is offered. I expect that there will be enough support to ensure Horizon Air meets their $400,000 revenue target without leaving the city of PG taxpayers on the hook.

There is only one sure way to find out if the local residents will support this service. Give it one year. Then we have some serious decisions to make whether we think giving businesses guarantees to come to PG is a viable option. Until then, here we have it, Let's take advantage of it. Chester

Posted by: Norm1 on January 24 2008 7:36 AM

Well said, Chester.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on January 24 2008 6:40 PM

I like the idea of this bigtime and will proably use it.
(But damn,I sure don't like turboprops!)

Posted by: Chester on January 24 2008 7:37 PM

I do have one concern, my family has had to change their plans on two occasions when Horizon cancelled scheduled flights because of to few seats sold. I hope they don't make a habit of cancelling flights, or I will not give them a second chance. Chester