About 15 years ago, after Cascade folded, Horizon told the Airport, the
Cities, and the Universities that our current airport was inadequate, and QX
(Horizon) was considering dropping service. Remember the old 'block house'
before the new terminal building? We, the citizens responded by building
the new terminal bldg.
to keep airservice.
About 8 years ago QX told us that there were not enough passengers to make
the airport profitable...Again, we the citizens and local groups ie:
Chamber, University, Cities, and Ports "teamed up" with QX to convience the
locals to "Fly Local". Again we bellied up and flew from PUW not because it
was cheaper, but because our air service was important to our community. In
1990 United Express pulled out. Not so much as the station was
unprofitable, but because the airline, NPA, was bought by WESTAIR and they
wanted our planes on their California.
Again we locals partnered up with QX to keep air service and QX filled the
void by adding flights. Again we flew QX not because it was cheaper but
because local service IS Important to us.
About 3 years ago QX had a marketing slogan "Your partner in the Northwest".
Well our 'partner' has just slapped all of us in the face, and shot itself
in the foot. The justification of 'costs' & 'unprofitability' just don't
cut it. We, the local citizens have been opening our wallets for too many
years to keep QX here, to now have them pull service. The prices charged
are way too high when you can fly for $49 out of Spokane. QX owes the
citizens of the Palouse more than what we are getting.
When the VP of Marketing and Sales for QX tells a Chamber Executive that
"Horizon is not in the business of bringing people to Pullman/Moscow, but
taking them away..." What does that tell you about our so called partner?
Personally, I think that QX has lost an incredible amount of credibillity,
and even if they reverse this very bad decision, they will never again hold
the status they once commanded.
Personally, I have'nt decided if I will follow the boycot idea, because the
convience is more important to me than the price, but if QX thinks this
cutback will save money, they will have a very rude awakening when the
bottom falls out of the rest of their markets.
Jerry L. Schutz