Friday — April 2, 2004

Oakland, LA flights
end indefinitely

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

As planned, Seattle-based Horizon Air on March 28 concluded its non-stop, daily flight services between the Wood River Valley and two major California hubs.

Pursuant to a contract between Horizon and Sun Valley Co., the air carrier has indefinitely suspended flights that operated this winter between Friedman Memorial Airport and Horizon gates in Los Angeles and Oakland.

Sun Valley Co. last fall agreed to subsidize the flight services between Hailey and the two California cities. The company essentially agreed to pay for any revenue shortfalls incurred by Horizon in operating the flights, in exchange for a guarantee that the flights would be offered through March 28.

Jack Sibbach, Sun Valley Co. director of marketing and public relations, said Thursday that the company had not calculated a final tally of passengers and passenger revenues from the two routes.

However, Sibbach noted that losses were incurred.

"Yes, we will have to write a check," he said.

Sibbach said Sun Valley Co. this month will continue negotiations with Horizon to provide flights to and from the two cities in the future.

Sibbach said passenger data suggests that the program helped bring new visitors to the region.

"I think it did help us and the community."

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