A revived regional airline is offering commuter flights between Portland, Oregon, and Seattle that it says will dramatically cut down travel time for its passengers.
SeaPort Airlines announced Thursday that its Portland-Seattle service will start May 20, with flights departing as frequently as every 45 minutes at peak times. The airline will fly between a private terminal at Portland International Airport and King County International Airport, commonly known as Boeing Field, in Seattle.
SeaPort officials said the route will save travelers the time and hassle of driving between the two cities on Interstate 5 and flying to and from the busy Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.
“We’re here to give you your time back,” said Kent Craford, chairman and CEO of Kalinin Holdings, SeaPort’s parent company. “Arrive at the airport 20 minutes before your flight, park right by the door, walk in, and go. Do your business on the other end and still get back home in time for dinner. Same-day, roundtrip travel is possible again.”
The airline will operate the route using Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, which can carry nine passengers and cargo.
Previous Bankruptcy
Craford co-founded an earlier incarnation of SeaPort Airlines in 2008. The carrier was popular for its high-frequency commuter air service and flew routes across the Pacific Northwest and the South. It struggled to maintain profitability, however, and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2016, which was converted to Chapter 7 liquidation one year later.
Craford, who left the original SeaPort in 2009, recently told OregonLive that the airline misunderstood the market.
“Their mistake was turning away from the eponymous SeaPort route,” he said.
Craford went on to launch Juneau-based regional airline Alaska Seaplanes. The relaunched SeaPort Airlines is a sister company of Alaska Seaplanes, and Craford emphasized that it is “the same in name” but a “totally different” entity with a highly experienced team.
