EVERETT — Horizon Air will pursue flights at the Snohomish County Airport at Paine Field, the company announced today.
Horizon, which is owned by Alaska Airlines, wants to launch daily flights before next summer, likely to Portland and Spokane.
The decision comes after a 6-0 vote last month by the Everett City Council in favor of a resolution supporting scheduled commercial flights at Paine Field, the company said in a news release. The Port of Everett recently approved a resolution that stops short of calling for commercial air service, but does urge the county not do anything that would hurt federal funding at the airport because it is used by the Boeing Co.
Horizon said it is considering flights that would aid same day business trips. Passengers could also use the service to connect in Portland with other destinations, bypassing Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
“Rather than suffer on the I-5 slog or endure tedious hours on I-90, Snohomish County residents would be able to travel between these Northwest regions much more quickly with Horizon Air from Paine Field, said Dan Russo, Horizon’s vice president of marketing and communications.
Area residents have opposed commercial flights at Paine, which serves general aviation as well as Boeing. Residents have long been concerned that such flights would increase traffic and noise and hurt property values.
Horizon officials said they would operate flights with a 76-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft, a high-speed turboprop that it calls among the quietest commercial aircraft in the world today.
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