Tariff concerns and shifting economic forecasts have led Alaska Air to pause the delivery of two regional jets from Embraer. The planes were due to join Horizon Air’s fleet in May but were halted over disagreements tied to increased import costs.
Despite recent trade policy adjustments, Alaska Air refused to pay the added expenses from tariffs that still affect foreign aircraft. This delay has already disrupted summer operations, causing Horizon to cancel 14 daily flights through July.
The affected routes span Horizon’s core network from Alaska to California and into Utah, Colorado, Alberta, and British Columbia. Horizon-focused cancellations on routes with multiple daily departures, making it easier to reroute customers to alternative flights or schedules.
Officials said they are working closely with affected travelers and regret the inconvenience caused by the temporary service changes. The decision follows months of caution across the airline sector, where inflation and unpredictable demand have upended regular expansion plans.
Alaska Air has not issued full-year financial guidance, signaling broader concern about operational costs and market uncertainty. Executives remain confident in the long term, pointing to future Pacific expansion supported by their Hawaiian Airlines acquisition last year.
The merger added wide-body aircraft to Alaska’s inventory, paving the way for flights beyond North America’s west coast. Seattle is set to serve as the airline’s international hub and routes to Asia are expected to launch by 2030.
Meanwhile, Embraer expressed concern about ongoing tariffs, calling for renewed support of duty-free policies in the aviation sector. Company leaders said tariffs create unnecessary cost burdens in an industry that thrives on international manufacturing and streamlined logistics.
