Medford, OR – A regional airline base at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport is set to close, impacting dozens of aviation workers in southern Oregon.
According to a WARN notice issued Thursday by Horizon Air, the company plans to permanently close its pilot and flight attendant base at 1000 Terminal Loop Parkway, with layoffs affecting approximately 78 employees. The closure is scheduled to take effect May 31, 2026, and is expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future.
The notice, dated Thursday, outlines that the Medford station itself will remain open, but the base supporting pilots and flight attendants will be eliminated. A breakdown provided by the airline shows 19 captains, 30 first officers, 26 flight attendants and three flight attendant instructors/trainers among those impacted.
Horizon Air stated that affected employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements and will have options tied to displacement procedures. Pilots, in particular, will be allowed to submit preference forms for reassignment to new home bases. Those who do not submit preferences may be reassigned by the company.
The closure represents a significant workforce shift at the airport, which serves as a key travel hub in southern Oregon. While daily operations are expected to continue, the loss of a crew base may affect staffing logistics and could have ripple effects on scheduling and regional connectivity.
State workforce agencies typically respond to WARN notices by coordinating rapid response services, including job placement assistance and retraining resources for affected workers.
Horizon Air, a regional carrier affiliated with Alaska Airlines, has not publicly detailed the long-term operational reasons behind the base closure but confirmed the move in its filing with state officials.
Local officials and workforce agencies are expected to monitor the transition as impacted employees prepare for reassignment or separation in the coming months.
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