New Alaska Service Out of Bellingham’s Airport Is Impacting These Travelers

Jan. 22—Travelers with mobility scooters are not able to leave Bellingham International Airport on Alaska/Horizon flights as the airline cannot carry the mobility device on its new aircraft.

Toni Taft was traveling with her mother, Kay, but was temporarily denied boarding in Seattle on the last Bellingham-bound flight of the night because the aircraft could not carry Kay's mobility scooter.

Horizon Air, the sister airline to Alaska Air, has recently switched all Bellingham flights from the Q400 turboprop to the Embraer 175 jet, which currently cannot carry mobility devices in the storage area.

The problem will likely exist for weeks. Horizon Air is working with the FAA and the aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, to fix the issue, according to Horizon Air spokesperson Bobbie Egan. In the meantime, alternative arrangements are being made for passengers impacted by the issue.

"We understand the significant impact this has on our guests who rely on these mobility devices and are working with anyone affected to accommodate them on another mainline flight or on another airline. We're also compensating for reasonable additional costs or offering a full refund," Egan said.

The Tafts were accommodated by the airline on Sunday, Jan. 15, and Toni Taft said that, despite the issue, she remains a loyal Alaska Airlines customer. The airline let them fly out on the E175, but they had to leave the mobility scooter in Seattle. Horizon/ Alaska provided a temporary mobility device when they landed in Bellingham and shipped their scooter to them at the airline's expense.

"It was very traumatic," Toni Taft said. "After a very long trip, getting my mom who has handicapped accessibility issues home, and then being denied entry for the last flight of the night, to get home it was not a good situation."

Sunday, there were two reasons mobility devices could not be transported on the E175. The Taft's issue was the straps used to hold down luggage in the aircraft's storage area not meeting the requirements to hold a mobility device. This issue has been resolved, according to Egan. The other problem that still exists is balancing the aircraft. Mobility devices are heavier than standard luggage, in most cases, and need to be spaced evenly on the aircraft.

Horizon Air found the problem in December, after it started flying the new plane on Bellingham flights, and there were some flights with the mobility devices in storage. After the balance issue was discovered, Horizon Air stopped letting the devices on aircraft and posted notices about the issue on its website.

"We told people to contact us if they were traveling with a mobility device on the E175," Egan said. "For any customer records or tickets where we knew they were traveling with a mobility device, we made efforts to reach out to them. However, not everyone lists if they are traveling with a mobility device, nor do they have to."

People traveling with mobility devices are encouraged to contact the airline before their flight.

Eighteen people had been impacted by the issue by Tuesday, Jan. 17. Egan said Horizon is doing what it can to help these passengers, including offering them other flights capable of transporting their mobility device, or providing temporary mobility devices such as wheelchairs at the arrival destination, and shipping the passengers personal device to them. Costs are being covered by the airline, according to Egan.

Traveling companions are also being offered tickets on alternative flights, Egan said the airline doesn't want to "break up" any traveling parties.

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