Horizon Air
Horizon Air is a regional airline subsidiary of Alaska Air Group operating 44 Embraer E175s (expanding to 50 by 2026) to connect Western US and Canadian communities to Alaska Airlines' mainline network, serving passengers and cargo shippers across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Horizon Air does
Horizon Air is a regional airline subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), operating a fleet of 44 Embraer E175 aircraft (with expansion to 50 aircraft planned by 2026) that connect smaller Western US markets into Alaska Airlines' mainline network. Founded in 1981 and acquired by Alaska Air Group in 1986, the carrier is headquartered in Seattle/SeaTac and maintains pilot and maintenance bases across Portland, Spokane, Boise, Medford, Everett, and Anchorage, serving regional routes throughout the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada and into select Canadian markets.
The airline differentiates operationally through fleet-level certifications uncommon among regional carriers: it is the only regional operator using RNP .1 Space-Based Approaches on E175s, enabling curved-path arrivals into terrain-constrained airports, and its aircraft are certified for ILS CAT IIIa minimums, allowing landings in as little as 600 feet of visibility. Horizon is also a launch partner for The Weather Company's AI-powered Maverick Dispatch platform, which uses proprietary GRAF forecasting to anticipate weather-related disruptions and reduce dispatcher alert fatigue.
Horizon generates revenue through regional passenger air travel and a secondary cargo and mail transport stream, with tickets distributed exclusively through Alaska Airlines' booking platforms, GDS agreements, OTAs, and corporate travel contracts, and integrated into the Atmos Rewards loyalty program. Its GTM motion is fundamentally channel-driven: Horizon does not sell tickets directly but rather earns capacity payments and passenger revenue from regional flying performed on behalf of Alaska Airlines' network. The airline also invests heavily in pilot pipeline development through the Pilot Development Program, Ascend Pilot Academy, and Pilot Pathways, with industry-leading compensation (Captain rates starting at $153.68/hour, First Officers at $92.72/hour) intended to reduce regional attrition and feed Alaska Airlines mainline hiring.
Horizon Air firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Horizon Air
- Legal name
- Horizon Air
- Website
- https://careers.alaskaair.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Horizon Air is a regional airline subsidiary of Alaska Air Group operating 44 Embraer E175s (expanding to 50 by 2026) to connect Western US and Canadian communities to Alaska Airlines' mainline network, serving passengers and cargo shippers across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Horizon Air industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regional Passenger Air Travel
- NAICS
- Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation (481111), Scheduled Air Transportation (48111)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hybrid Passenger + Belly Cargo Regional Operators (THABACAO)
Keywords
Where Horizon Air is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Horizon Air business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Passenger Air Travel: Horizon Air generates revenue through regional passenger air travel services, operating as a regional carrier connecting smaller markets to Alaska Airlines' mainline network.
- Cargo Services: Regional cargo transport services supporting communities throughout the West Coast network.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard regional airfare pricing integrated with Alaska Airlines booking system |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Horizon Air product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Horizon Air operates regional passenger and cargo air transportation services throughout the Western United States and select Canadian markets using a fleet of 44 Embraer E175 aircraft. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, the airline connects smaller regional markets to Alaska Airlines' mainline hub network, enabling seamless itineraries across the broader Alaska Air Group system. The company also provides regional cargo and mail transport services supporting communities across the West Coast.
Product overview
Horizon Air is a regional airline subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, operating as a regional carrier alongside Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The company offers regional flight operations throughout the Western United States, providing regional passenger air travel services as part of the Alaska Air Group family of airlines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Regional Passenger Air Travel Scheduled regional passenger air transportation operating Embraer E175 aircraft to connect smaller Western U.S. markets (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Nevada) and select Canadian routes with Alaska Airlines' mainline hub network. Tickets are sold through Alaska Airlines' booking platform, OTAs, travel agencies, and corporate travel agreements.
- Regional Cargo and Mail Transport
Quantifiable outcome
- 44 Embraer E175 aircraft fleet expanding to 50 by 2026
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Horizon Air
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Horizon Air technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Horizon Air partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- The Weather CompanycoreHorizon Air serves as a launch partner for The Weather Company's Maverick Dispatch platform, a global SaaS-based weather and flight tracking system for aviation dispatchers. The platform leverages AI and proprietary GRAF forecasting technology to help airlines anticipate weather-related challenges, reduce alert fatigue, and improve operational efficiency and safety.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Horizon Air competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SkyWest Airlines: Largest U.S. regional carrier, operating E175 and CRJ aircraft for Alaska, American, Delta, and United under capacity purchase agreements. Directly comparable to Horizon Air in fleet, business model, and major-airline-partner dependency.
- Republic Airways: Large U.S. regional carrier operating E170/175 fleet exclusively for American and Delta. Closely comparable to Horizon Air in single-fleet (Embraer) strategy and exclusive major-airline partnerships.
- Mesa Airlines: Regional carrier operating E175 and CRJ aircraft for United and American. Comparable to Horizon Air in regional jet operations, capacity purchase agreements, and Western U.S. service footprint.
- Envoy Air: Wholly-owned American Airlines regional subsidiary operating E175 and CRJ fleets. Closely parallels Horizon Air's structure as a mainline-owned regional subsidiary with integrated career pathways.
- PSA Airlines: American Airlines regional subsidiary operating CRJ aircraft across the Eastern U.S. Comparable to Horizon Air as a wholly-owned regional subsidiary with career pathways into mainline operations.
- Piedmont Airlines: American Airlines regional subsidiary operating Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. Comparable as a wholly-owned regional subsidiary of a major carrier with similar hub-and-spoke regional model.
- Endeavor Air: Delta Air Lines regional subsidiary operating CRJ-900 aircraft. Comparable to Horizon Air as a wholly-owned regional subsidiary with integrated pilot career pathway to the mainline carrier.
- CommutAir: United Express regional carrier operating Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. Comparable to Horizon Air in regional jet operations, capacity purchase model, and mainline partnership dependency.
- GoJet Airlines: United Express regional carrier operating CRJ-550 and E175 aircraft. Comparable to Horizon Air as a regional subsidiary with mixed mainline fleet serving connecting routes.
Broad incumbents
- Alaska Airlines: Parent mainline carrier and largest capacity partner for Horizon Air. Not a direct peer but the broader incumbent within Alaska Air Group that defines Horizon Air's route structure and revenue base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Horizon Air social profiles
Digital presenceHorizon Air financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Horizon Air leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Horizon Air funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Horizon Air M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Horizon Air
What does Horizon Air do?
Horizon Air operates regional passenger and cargo air transportation services throughout the Western United States and select Canadian markets using a fleet of 44 Embraer E175 aircraft. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, the airline connects smaller regional markets to Alaska Airlines' mainline hub network, enabling seamless itineraries across the broader Alaska Air Group system. The company also provides regional cargo and mail transport services supporting communities across the West Coast.
Is Horizon Air a public or private company?
Horizon Air is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Horizon Air founded?
Horizon Air was founded in 1981. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Horizon Air based?
Horizon Air is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Horizon Air make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Passenger Air Travel is the primary driver. The others are cargo Services.
Who are Horizon Air's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SkyWest Airlines, Republic Airways, Mesa Airlines, Envoy Air, PSA Airlines, Piedmont Airlines, Endeavor Air, CommutAir and GoJet Airlines. Alaska Airlines is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Horizon Air have an API?
No public API is recorded for Horizon Air.
What industry is Horizon Air in?
Horizon Air's product category is Regional Passenger Air Travel. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABACAO, Hybrid Passenger + Belly Cargo Regional Operators. Its NAICS code is 481111 and its SIC code is 4512.