Oregon Public Broadcasting

The U.S. Department of Transportation ordered Horizon Air Wednesday to postpone any cuts in its flights between Pendleton and Portland.  Pete Springer reports.

Horizon receives federal transportation subsidies of more than $700,000 a year to operate its Pendleton to Portland air service.

But Horizon says rising fuel costs are making this service too expensive and they want to cut the Pendleton to Portland service in late October. 

Horizon also wants to cut its flights to Klamath Falls and North Bend/Coos Bay -- those routes do not receive subsidies.

The proposed cuts have attracted the attention of Oregon’s congressional delegation.

Kimberly Collins is a spokeswoman for Sen. Gordon Smith.  She says Oregon’s delegation sent a letter Tuesday requesting a meeting with the head of Horizon.

Kimberly Collins: “To talk with the CEO and discuss what the options are.  Are there ways to keep these cuts from happening?  And if there are, is that something that they can help pursue through their congressional role?”

Collins says the airports in question help the residents of rural Oregon maintain a “lifeline” to the rest of the world.