Horizon Air to paint plane in U. of Idaho colors

[October 05, 2010]  BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- University of Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear's flight options may have just opened up.

It's been almost a year since Spear declined to get on a Horizon Air plane painted in rival Boise State's colors, vowing he would board only after the company painted an aircraft for his Vandals.

On Monday, Spear finally got his wish.

Horizon Air has announced that a Q400 aircraft will be painted in Idaho silver and gold. The plane will be available for service in November, a year after Spear made headlines for declining to board the Boise State plane.

In a statement, Spear called the Vandal plane a "bold recognition of Idaho's flagship university."

Horizon began painting its 76-seat Q400 turboprops with college colors two years ago. Washington, Washington State, Oregon and Oregon State also are represented in the fleet, and Montana and Montana State are being added, too.

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.

[Associated Press]

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