I’m an aviation geek and have an extensive collection of airline timetables. If you want to know what a timetable is I have a post for that called What is a timetable. I’ll post weekly on a timetable topic.
Alaska’s final printed timetable – September 9, 2001
The year was 2001 and Alaska Airlines was ready to begin trans-con service after being awarded one of six round trip slots to coveted DCA airport. This was a long complicated process that required congress to add verbiage to FAA legislation to allow 6 flights to fly beyond a 1,250 mile perimeter around Washington National Airport (DCA). For more information on that, go HERE.
Alaska also took delivery of the brand new 737-900 and would begin flying this largest version of the 737 from Anchorage to Seattle to DCA on a through flight (AS2) and then back on flight AS1. These flights still exist today.
The September 11th attacks would immediately close down DCA airport for an indefinite amount of time, and Alaska moved the service to Dulles airport, downsizing the aircraft to the also new 737-700.
I flew out to DC about a week after the air traffic system restarted to promote this new DC service with the Alaska sales team. It was a redeye flight eastbound to Dulles and and morning return westbound back to Seattle.
When up-sizing required down-sizing
At the time Horizon Air flew to many smaller airports in the Pacific Northwest using a mix of airplane sizes but as the regional airline upgraded to all 76 seat planes the cities below would not have the passenger volumes required to maintain service.
- Butte, MT
- Eureka/Arcata, CA
- Idaho Falls, ID
- Klamath Falls, OR
- Lewiston, ID
- North Bend/Coos Bay, OR
- Pendleton, OR
- Pocatello, ID
- Port Angeles, WA
- Redding, CA
Other highlights of this timetable
At the time Horizon Air flew three flights a day from LAX to both Boise and Eugene using the F28 equipment. The Eugene business community put up a fund of money to guarantee the service. I worked in sales in Oregon at the time and went around the Eugene area collecting checks from all the companies. About a million dollars overall.
Alaska also flew five flights a day between LAX and Vancouver, BC. This service no longer exists.
