Horizon to reduce some flights, eliminate others

The routes to be reduced included flights between Portland, Ore., and several California cities including Sacramento, Burbank and San Jose. Routes to be eliminated include flights from Portland, Ore., to Klamath Falls and North Bend/Coos Bay, Ore., on Oct. 11, Horizon said.

The company said it also plans to add flights between Seattle and Pendleton and Seattle and Walla Walla.

As part of the moves, Horizon said it is moving up the phase-out of its smaller turboprops to speed its transition to a single fleet of more fuel-efficient Bombardier Q400s.

All 12 of Horizon's remaining 37-seat Q200s will be out of its operating fleet by Oct. 28, instead of April 2009 under its previous plans, the company said.

Horizon said it will also begin the phase-out of its CRJ-700 jets in September and take delivery of 14 additional Q400s. The transition to an all-Q400 fleet is expected to be completed by the end of 2009, Horizon said.