Seaport Airlines Offers Fast Commuter Air Transport Between Regional Pacific Northwest Cities
SeaPort Airlines flies out of Fixed Base Operator (FBO) Terminals, getting business travelers to and from their destinations quickly.
By Jennifer Ferrero
Air travel, even short hops between Pacific Northwest cities, has become an all-day affair. We book our tickets and plan for an hour-long flight between Seattle and Spokane, or between Seattle and Portland, yet by the time we drive to the airport, navigate parking options, and make our way through TSA, we are often several hours into our one-hour journey. For business travelers, this means missing dinner with their family and sporting events or plays their children are performing in. For many who travel weekly, it can take a toll on their marriages.
This model has now changed for regional business travelers with the addition of SeaPort Airlines services to Felts Field in Spokane. This is the first time that commercial flights have flown out of the airport in 80 years. The innovator of a new, truly about 90-minute hop between Spokane and Seattle, is, as CEO Kent Craford said, “We are making Washington State smaller again.”
The time savings come down to several key factors: free parking in front of the terminal, no TSA, and boarding simplicity. Craford explained, “Find the FBO terminal, pull up to the parking lot, walk as little as 20 feet to the door, check in, and board the plane.”
SeaPort Airlines already offers service between Seattle and Portland, and now offers eight flights daily between Seattle and Spokane, with about 20 flights per day between the three cities.
David Haring, CEO of Spokane Airport, noted, “Felts Field (SFF), part of the Spokane Airport system, is a general aviation reliever airport located approximately five miles northeast of downtown Spokane, and about 20 minutes from Spokane International Airport (GEG). It’s one of the nation’s oldest federally designated airports, and up until 1946, served as Spokane’s only commercial service airport.” Haring likes the SeaPort option because it lets business travelers get a full day’s work done and be home for dinner. “In fact, every day, nearly 500 passengers travel between the two regions. Put another way, that’s over 182,000 round-trip passengers per year,” he added.
Why did it take 80 years for this remarkable, and easy airline option to take off? It might have occurred as early as 20 years ago when Craford first envisioned the commuter airline option. But it took several years to stand up the concept, and all his money to get it rolling. He saw urban traffic increasing in Portland and Seattle, and said it was slow going getting the airline off the ground with a business partner. He ended up in Alaska, found two new business partners, and founded Alaska Seaplanes. They ended up with 20 aircraft and 250 employees.
“SeaPort Airlines is a division of the Juneau, Alaska-based Kalinin group of regional airlines, which includes Alaska Seaplanes and Island Air Express,” according to their website (https://flyseaportair.com/).
Craford said there are similar regional airlines that compete with SeaPort. Many of them operate with a membership or subscription model, whereas SeaPort just sells tickets, “They make it more difficult than it has to be,” he observed. He said it is very simple — with a regularly scheduled airline, a route map, and selling tickets for individual seats. “That is the best way to do it,” he reflected.
While there are eight commercial airlines and two cargo airlines flying out of Spokane Airports, Haring is excited about the new addition of SeaPort Airlines at Felts Field (which is owned by Spokane Airports). “Despite the geographical distance and the natural divide of the Cascades, Washington’s two largest cities, Seattle and Spokane, have always been intrinsically linked by commerce and community. Our airport team is always evaluating new opportunities to make it easier for travelers to access the people, places, and experiences that matter most, and we are grateful for the work carriers like SeaPort are doing to improve connectivity for Spokane-Coeur d’Alene passengers.”
Andy Kline, marketing manager at Alaska Seaplanes | SeaPort Airlines, has served with the company for five years. Originating in Alaska, he has spent time in the Pacific Northwest as SeaPort Airlines has ramped up service. Out of the Felts Field location in Spokane, they fly four Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, which, according to the website, are “Dubbed the Swiss Army Knife of the Skies, the Pilatus PC-12 is statistically one of the safest pressurized turboprops ever built. Its legendary PT6A engine is one of the most reliable in aviation history, delivering jet-like performance with turboprop efficiency. Its Swiss-built, extremely strong airframe and advanced avionics make the PC-12 a trusted tool of the United States Air Force.”
Kline feels this is a great way to “right-size” travel in the Pacific Northwest by using underutilized airports. SeaPort can operate from small business aviation terminals at Boeing Field (BFI), Portland (PDX), and Felts Field in Spokane (SFF) without TSA requirements. Boeing Field, south of Seattle, eliminates the Sea Tac traffic and parking. Felts Field is easy to reach from downtown Spokane or nearby towns such as Liberty Lake and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Their Portland location utilizes PDX business aviation.
Given concerns about government shutdowns affecting TSA employees, using alternate airports outside TSA jurisdiction ensures business continuity when shutdowns occur.
Craford said he loves creating opportunities for his team members. He shared that since starting Alaska Seaplanes, they went from 15 to 300 people, and some of the original 15 are still with them. They promote from within, like with employee Duc Tran, who started as a customer service representative and was promoted to Spokane station manager. Craford said Tran is “a great young guy, really sharp — he’s going to take the bull by the horns and run with it.”
Overall, Craford loves the feedback they receive from customers who have called the flights “a magic carpet ride,” a “marriage saver,” and a “time saver.” Craford added, customers love that SeaPort has removed “the time of waiting in lines, waiting at the gate, waiting at the ramp.” They have gotten rid of all the waiting. He feels flying is as it should be, “check in, load up the airplane, wheels up; they are out the door, Uber is waiting, even before they go to the bathroom and call their spouse. It is a conveyor belt in the sky — always in motion, it saves enough time — more often than not, parents can make their daughters play, and they don’t have to stay overnight at a hotel.” He concluded that it is huge for improving the quality of life and is so rewarding.
Kline added, “We have felt so welcomed by the people and business community of Spokane — this area is absolutely popping! You can feel the positive growth in the air, and we are very happy to be opening up this conduit for trade and development for this region.”
On behalf of Spokane Airports, Haring said Felts Field is an institution for the Spokane region. “Today, Felts Field is primarily used for general aviation. Situated along the idyllic Spokane River, the airport features two paved runways, a turf landing strip, and the unique ability to accommodate water landings on the river adjacent to the airport. Felts also boasts a 35,000-square-foot Aero Centers FBO facility and several art deco-era motifs visitors can spot upon their arrival.”
As a new option for flying between the three largest cities in the Pacific Northwest, SeaPort is bringing something fresh to the region. Looking forward, it will be interesting to see if they expand into other regional cities, such as Washington’s Tri-Cities region and the Yakima Valley, making regional air travel easier for all of Washington State.
