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AIR TRAVEL Horizon Air eyes switch to new regional jets Turboprops may be phased out beginning next year Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Feb. 9, 2016 at 11:31 AM Updated Feb 9, 2016 at 3:52 PM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Feb. 9, 2016 at 11:31 AM Updated Feb 9, 2016 at 3:52 PM » Social News Alaska Air Group's Horizon Air unit is on the cusp of a major changeover to Brazilian-made Embraer E175 regional jets. Pending approval today by the Seattle-based company's board, Horizon's fleet of 76-seat Q400 turboprops gradually will disappear over the Rogue Valley during the next few years. Horizon, which accounts for more than half of the Medford airport's passenger service, presently has seven daily departures to Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle. The transition will be gradual, with the first deliveries of the E175s due in 2017 and the leases on 15 Q400s expiring in 2018. "I think the first to change would be to Los Angeles (International), because it's the longest route," Medford airport Director Bern Case said. Case anticipates seating on the regional jets, similar to the ones now operated by SkyWest Airlines when it handles United Express and Delta Connection routes, will be roughly the same as now. Alaska lists both planes as having seating for 76 passengers, but Case said the Embraer E175's seating can be reconfigured. "It will be a little more, but not a tremendous amount," he said. Horizon's fleet of 52 Q400s, which bear the Alaska markings, has been in place since 2011, when it phased out its Canadian Regional Jets. "I think it's a matter of progress," Case said. "The Q400s are hard to beat for economy, but (manufacturers) keep improving products because of competition and technology. Having a limited number of aircraft styles is good from a maintenance standpoint, but progress pushes you into evolution, and I think they're being pushed." The Medford airport reeled off its 17th straight record month in January with 55,327 travelers passing through the terminal gates, a 9 percent bump over the 50,765 passengers recorded in 2015. Delta Connection, flying between Salt Lake City and the Rogue Valley, saw a 10.5 percent gain, while United Express, which connects Denver and San Francisco to Medford, saw a 10 percent gain. Alaska/Horizon reported an 8.9 percent pickup, while Allegiant flights to Las Vegas and Los Angeles saw a 4.2 percent gain. "I was hoping we could keep our momentum up," Case said. "I'm concerned if the stock market keeps fluctuating too long it will bite us. We have a lot of retirees in our market, and their flights depend on how much is in their portfolio accounts. If stock values go down, so do dividends. I also get nervous about business travel if companies start switching around and start talking on conference calls; I'm against conference calls." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Feb. 9, 2016 at 11:31 AM Updated Feb 9, 2016 at 3:52 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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