Horizon Air was formed to satisfy the need created when, after the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, larger airlines abandoned routes within the Northwest. To fill this market niche, entrepreneur Milt Kuolt and a group of venture capitalists founded Horizon in Seattle in September 1981. Horizon brought together several dozen enthusiastic employees and a fleet consisting of two leased Fairchild F-27 turboprop aircraft to begin service between Yakima, Pasco and Seattle.

In the early 1980s, the airline grew quickly, acquiring Air Oregon and Utah-based Transwestern Airlines. In 1984, Horizon went public. By 1986, the company's proven track record attracted the attention of larger airlines. That year, Horizon was acquired by Seattle-based Alaska Air Group, Inc., a holding company that included Alaska Airlines. While remaining independently managed, Horizon gained the competitive advantage of connections with sister carrier Alaska Airlines and partnership in the Mileage Plan frequent flier program. Along with Alaska, Horizon also codeshares with a wide range of other airline partners.

On Jan. 1, 2011, Horizon shifted to a capacity purchase agreement (CPA) business model, which is the regional airline industry standard. Under this arrangement, Horizon operates and maintains its aircraft while Alaska is responsible for scheduling, marketing and pricing all flights. The change also includes the eventual rebranding of all Horizon aircraft to feature the Alaska brand.

Horizon serves 39 cities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Baja California Sur (Mexico) and Alberta and British Columbia (Canada).

The regional airline has a general office in Seattle and a primary maintenance base in Portland, Ore., with additional maintenance facilities in Boise, Idaho; Seattle; Medford, Ore.; Redmond/Bend, Ore.; Eugene, Ore.; Los Angeles; and Spokane, Wash.

Type of airline: Regional Airline
Founded: 1981 in Seattle, Wash
Headquarters: Seattle
Corporation type: Alaska corporation
Ownership: Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK)
Chairman: William S. Ayer
President: Glenn Johnson
Hubs: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Portland International Airport
Total destinations: 39
Number of Employees: 3,199
Average daily flights 2010: 352
Total flights 2010: 131,648
Total passengers enplaned 2010: 6.8 million
Average miles stage (route) length 2010: 333
Total available seat miles (ASMs) 2010: 3.2 billion
Total revenue passenger miles (RPMs) 2010: 2.5 billion
Passenger load factor 2010: 75.7%

Note: Monthly passenger traffic and quarterly financial information can be found in Archived News Releases.