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Horizon takes over L.A. flights By GREG STILES Eight days after United Airlines said it would halt nonstop jet service from Medford to Los Angeles, Horizon Air has bridged the travel gap. Seattle-based Horizon said Thursday it will begin daily flights to Los Angeles International Airport starting Nov. 20. United's service is scheduled to end in three weeks. "We're always considering new routes," said Horizon spokeswoman Cheryl Temple. "Certainly the fact that United pulled out had something to do with it. Another reason is the number of passengers making connections through Portland to L.A. is very good. We knew the passengers making those connections would be happy." The addition is a good sign, said Bern Case, the county-managed airport's director. "The bigger picture is that this airport is viable," Case said. "In spite of the setback last month (following the terrorist strikes), this market is real. I can understand why United pulled the plug. But I can also see why Horizon sees opportunity and I'm thrilled the vacuum is being filled immediately." The scheduled 7 a.m. weekday departures (starting Nov. 25) should fit well for business travelers, who would've had to switch planes in San Francisco or Portland "This announcement couldn't have come at a better time," said Brad Hicks, Chamber of Medford/Jackson County chief executive officer. "The real threat to business was the increased time of travel, and to a business person, time is money. Right now, in an environment where the economy is tight, people are much more mindful of their time and money." The southbound jet service marks a new era for Horizon, an Alaska Air subsidiary, which began service to Medford in 1982. Previously, Horizon has flown Dash 8 turboprops north to Portland and Seattle. But the company has just received four 70-passenger CRJ-700 regional jets built by Toronto manufacturer Bombardier. According to Horizon's Web site. the cabin of the new jet features stand-up headroom, two seats on each side of the aisle (no middle seats), and roomy overhead storage bins. The company has ordered 30 of the jets with an option for 25 more. United's Boeing 737s carry between 115 and 138 passengers. Case said he figured Horizon would eventually fill the void - in February or March - and had a notion that the nation's seventh-largest regional airline might go head-to-head with United on the L. A. route in 2003. "We've had some conversations, but I didn't dream it could be this immediate," Case said. "They can handle those people going to Los Angeles once rather than twice and that's going to be cost-effective, plus there will be the United customers they'll pick up (that would have transferred in San Francisco). I don't want to be overly optimistic, but in eight months or another year, I can see them adding another flight." Burgess Travel and Total Relocation Company owner Ron Burgess echoed that sentiment about the hour and 45-minute flight. "The time there, if you're doing business, you get down there in plenty of time," Burgess said. Horizon's introductory fare is $238, plus tax, round-trip. Because Thanksgiving is Nov. 22, Horizon won't be offering that fare from Nov. 20-21 and Nov. 25-26. Departure times between Nov. 20-24 will be 11 a.m. Return service is at 1:30 p.m. Beginning Nov. 25, Monday through Saturday departures will be at 7 a.m., and 11 a.m. on Sundays. Return flights, Sunday through Friday are 8:35 p.m., and 3:20 p.m. on Saturdays. The airline will offer similar jet service from Boise and Eugene to Los Angeles as well. Horizon currently offers six daily flights from Medford to Portland and three to Seattle. Case said the good news underlines the buoyancy of the local market. Daily flights generally peak between 28 and 29 during the summer and fall to 25 or 26 this time of the year. But with the fallout of Sept. 11, the number has dropped to 20. "I'm hoping it's up to 21 or 22 through the holiday period and back to 26 in April or May," he said. "It's so nice to have great news. I don't know of many airports this month that are adding service. Technically this is replacement, but most aren't seeing that. We're very fortunate. "It was looking pretty good (Thursday). I was walking through the terminal and there was activity. Three weeks ago, that wasn't the case." September traffic at the airport was off 28 percent from a year earlier. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.