SeePR

In the wake of today’s earlier post about airlines’ PR struggles (Foggy skies ahead), I wanted to bring attention to those airlines that are making strides in the PR game and going against the grain of negativity and customer complaints. As I mentioned in the previous post, Alaska Airlines is the top-ranked traditional network airline, according to the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction survey. Despite its success, Alaska is not content to simply provide an excellent traveling experience — the airline’s regional afflilate, Horizon Air, has livened up its fleet with a colorful collegiate livery that recognizes five universities that, like the airline, call the Pacific Northwest home.

Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State and Boise State are the five institutions that see their colors and logos emblazoned on a Horizon turboprop plane. However, being Duck fans here, those are the photos you’ll find below. This post is a fitting nod both to Alaska and Horizon’s clever customer relations techniques, and — pardon my upcoming “Go Ducks!” moment — to Oregon’s incredible win over USC on the football field this past Saturday! (On another football note, Horizon’s university livery planes are scheduled to make stadium fly-overs during key games this season. The press release for the University of Washington’s livery debut — a game in which the Ducks, again, emerged victorious — is found here.)

What do you think of the Oregon paint job? If you’re interested in another school’s livery, more photos can be found here.