Celebrating Horizon Air’s 20 Years in Victoria

Horizon Air is celebrating 20 years of service to Victoria International Airport with a month-long celebration for all passengers flying from Victoria.

"This marks not only our 20-year anniversary in Victoria, but also our two decades of service across the Canada-U.S. border,” said Dan Russo, vice president of marketing and communications for Horizon. "The partnerships and friendships we’ve fostered over these years have been very gratifying, as has been knowing we’ve provided a valuable service by connecting Victoria to the U.S. airline route system. We look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries together.”

"Horizon has been instrumental to the success of transborder service at the Victoria Airport,” said Richard Paquette, president and CEO of the Victoria Airport Authority. "Seattle is a key connection that greatly benefits both U.S.-bound passengers and our local tourism sector.”

Horizon and the Victoria Airport Authority have teamed up to celebrate from April 23 through May 20. During this time, passengers flying from Victoria to Seattle will have the opportunity to win prizes, including certificates toward discounted future flights on Horizon, at the gate. Historical photos will also be on display, offering passengers a look back at Horizon’s service over the years.

"We want to reach out and thank our passengers for their patronage over these many years,” said Dawn Rees, Horizon’s customer services manager in Victoria.

Horizon’s long-term relationship with Victoria extends to its local staff. Rees and three other Horizon employees currently stationed in Victoria were part of the original crew that launched the airline’s service on May 7, 1989. Since then, they have helped Horizon transport more than a million passengers from the Victoria area.

How that service has been provided has evolved a lot over the years. It began in 1989 with six daily flights to Seattle (via Port Angeles, Wash., to clear U.S. Customs) in the 18-seat Fairchild Metroliner III. In 1994, Horizon replaced the evening Port Angeles stop-over flight with a Bellingham, Wash., U.S. Customs stop, thus adding Bellingham as a destination from Victoria. In 1997, all flights became nonstop to Seattle. Since that time, Horizon’s service to Victoria has grown to five daily nonstop flights to Seattle. That service is now provided by the comfortable 76-seat Q400, a high-speed turboprop built by Canadian manufacturer Bombardier.

Horizon serves 47 cities throughout Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Baja California Sur (Mexico), and British Columbia and Alberta. Together, Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines serve more than 90 cities and are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK).