Definitely an interesting quote in the article:

Forner emphasized the selection is based heavily on the outcome of a bid process with Crescent City.

“Until we’ve awarded this bid, I can’t go out and say where we’re going to go, what we’re going to do,” Forner said. “Alaska Airlines will support us and help us … we already have their mileage plan.

“They’ve asked us to look at these communities, helping us try to build a business model that will support what we want to do with the equipment that we have. We’ve met our challenges on the East Coast, we’re very comfortable with where we’re going with that. We’re willing to take on another big step.”