Alaska Airlines upgrades aircraft used at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport – Local News 8

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Starting Sept. 7, Alaska Airways will transition to a regional jet on its route between the Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) and Seattle, Washington.

Since Alaska launched the route in 2021, the airline utilized the Bombardier Q400 turboprop however will now improve to the Embraer 175. The regional jet offers passengers with premium seating on regional routes. Configured with no center seats, the airplane presents 12 seats in firstclass, 12 in premium class and 52 in the principle cabin.

“The success and reception of the Idaho Falls to Seattle route over the previous 12 months has been unimaginable,” Idaho Falls Regional Airport Director Rick Cloutier stated. “The E175 has been operated by a number of carriers at IDA and we’ve seen its success in offering a extra pleasant journey expertise for passengers.”

Earlier in 2022, Horizon Air, the regional airline for Alaska, introduced it could start the method of shifting to a single fleet of all E175 jets. The spacious E175 presents a passenger expertise on par with a lot bigger jets.

“The E175 plane is extraordinarily environment friendly and effectively suited to markets like Idaho Falls. Clients love flying in it and we expect that’ll be the case for our company in jap Idaho,” Horizon Air President Joe Sprague stated. “By early subsequent 12 months at Horizon, the E175 jet would be the solely plane sort we’ll fly as we transition to a single fleet. It’s one of the vital vital issues we’re doing to stabilize our future.”

On the Alaska Airways E175, passengers will discover numerous ranges of legroom choices. All passengers can even take pleasure in a window or aisle seat and huge overhead bins. The ever-popular regional jet throughout North America flies at a most cruising altitude of 41,000 ft at 494 mph.

Alaska anticipates additionally including the E175 on the route between IDA and Boise someday in 2023. The flight opened new alternatives for vacationers connecting to different locations or searching for to conduct enterprise between Idaho’s two financial hubs. As an alternative of spending a complete workday driving forwards and backwards between the cities, the flight connects Idaho Falls and Boise in about an hour. 

“The brand new route has had a whole lot of optimistic response from passengers,” Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper stated. “For years, folks have requested for the route to return again to our airport and thru the exhausting work of employees and lots of others, it has develop into a actuality.  With a sooner and extra comfy plane, this new route will proceed to wow vacationers.”

IDA is presently in the midst of one other record-setting 12 months as extra vacationers take to the skies from the premier airport vacation spot within the area. The airport not too long ago accomplished a $12 million 38,000-square-foot growth undertaking. The growth undertaking, funded fully by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Aviation Enchancment Program, has added two new terminal gates, an improved Transportation Safety Administration screening space and expanded restaurant area.