Horizon Air

Big-picture snapshot

Horizon Air Industries is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alaska Air Group operating as Alaska Airlines regional service, with an all-Embraer E175 fleet of approximately 47 aircraft (growing to 50 by end of 2026) across 7 domiciles concentrated in the Pacific Northwest. It is headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, and employs approximately 656 active pilots represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT). Andy Schneider became President/CEO in September 2025, succeeding Jason Berry, who was promoted to Alaska Airlines COO.

For interview purposes, the simplest way to frame Horizon is this: it is Alaska Airlines' wholly owned regional carrier and the most direct pipeline to Alaska mainline through the Alaska Airlines Pathways Program. Unlike contractual flow-through programs at Endeavor or PSA, the Pathways Program is seniority-based — after completing 1,000 PIC hours at Horizon, pilots are eligible for placement on the Alaska "Pathways List" in seniority order, with class dates assigned based on Horizon seniority number. It is not guaranteed like a flow-through, but it is the most direct path. With Alaska Air Group's 2024 acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines creating the fifth-largest U.S. airline, Horizon pilots now have a pathway to one of the most dynamic airline groups in the industry.

Company history

• 1981: Horizon Air founded in Seattle by Milt Kuolt; began service with Fairchild F-27 turboprops
• 1986: Alaska Air Group acquired Horizon Air as a wholly owned subsidiary
• 2001: First Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 entered service (January 26)
• 2011: Began operating under a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) with Alaska Airlines — Alaska schedules, markets, and sells all flights; Horizon staffs, operates, and maintains aircraft
• 2017: First Embraer E175 deliveries began
• 2022: Teamsters-represented pilots ratified landmark contract (September) — Captains received average 74% raise; First Officers average 85% raise
• 2023: Retired all Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprops (January 26, 2023 — exactly 22 years after the Q400's first flight for Horizon); became an all-jet fleet
• 2024: Alaska Air Group completed acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines; fleet grew to ~44 E175s
• 2025: Andy Schneider named President/CEO (September 26); new West Coast routes launched on E175; fleet approaching 47 aircraft; 656 active pilots
• 2026: Growing to 50 E175s by year-end; continued hiring and route expansion

Business model

Horizon operates exclusively under a capacity purchase agreement with its parent company, Alaska Airlines:

• Alaska Airlines regional service: All Horizon flights operate under Alaska Airlines' brand and flight numbers. Alaska sells tickets, controls scheduling, and bears revenue risk. Horizon provides the aircraft, crew, and maintenance.
• Wholly owned subsidiary: 100% owned by Alaska Air Group, ensuring complete alignment with Alaska's network strategy.
• Pilot pipeline: Horizon functions as Alaska's primary pilot development pipeline through the Pathways Program — a seniority-based pathway to Alaska mainline positions.
• Single fleet type: The all-E175 fleet eliminates dual-fleet complexity, reducing training costs and simplifying operations.

The transition to an all-jet fleet in January 2023 was strategically driven by pilot shortages — maintaining two fleet types (Q400 and E175) required duplicate parts, tools, training programs, and certifications across every workgroup. A single E175 fleet is more efficient and sustainable.

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