HELENA – Horizon Air says it’s adding planes with the college colors and logos of the University of Montana and Montana State University to its fleet of planes already sporting paint designs inspired by five other universities in the northwest.
The Alaska Air Group subsidiary began painting its 76-seat Q400 turboprop planes with college colors two years ago. Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State and Boise State are represented in the fleet.
The company announced Monday it was adding planes to represent Montana, Montana State and Idaho. Idaho’s plane is expected to be ready in early November, followed by the Montana plane on Nov. 19 and the Montana State plane on Nov. 30.
Horizon vice president of marketing and communication Dan Russo says he can’t think of anything that has created as much excitement among customers as its university-themed aircraft.