Horizon to concentrate on passengers, not cargo

Associated Press

COOS BAY, Ore. — Horizon Air will no longer carry large air freight shipments to the 40 destinations the airline serves throughout the West, and instead will concentrate on passenger traffic, company officials said.

The new policy is intended to ensure that passengers have room for their luggage and that flights are on time. Holding flights to load and unload cargo has compromised that service in the past, said Horizon spokeswoman Cheryl Temple on Wednesday.

"The first thing we haul is passengers," Temple said.

The airline won’t carry perishables, single-piece shipments over 100 pounds or cargo on international routes, she said.

The new policy will eliminate air shipments of fresh mushrooms, oysters and fish on the airline to markets in other parts of the country. Some shipments of medical supplies and maritime parts and equipment will also be affected. The airline also will no longer ship pets. The policy took effect Monday.

Horizon will continue to offer same-day package service for small items that meet guidelines through its Goldstreak Service. It will also ship transplant organs for hospitals in an emergency.

"Especially if a life’s at stake, we would probably handle it free of charge and probably move it right now," Horizon’s Temple said.

The Federal Aviation Administration had audited the airline and questioned its heavy weight allowances. For Dash 8s, the new guidelines reduce cargo capacity by about 1,500 pounds.