MOSES LAKE — Just over a month away from the anticipated restoration of passenger service to Grant County International Airport, SeaPort Airlines issued a press release on Thursday saying they've postponed air service to Moses Lake, Port Angeles and Seattle.

SeaPort attributes the postponement to a shortage of pilots that began last year in the Mid-South. SeaPort had experienced rapid growth prior to the shortage, but a lack of pilots eventually caught up to them and impacted their entire organization.

"We were initially convinced the problem was isolated, and with a new recruitment and retention plan, we could turn it around, but it started to spread like an epidemic, and the fallout was greater than we imagined," said SeaPort's Executive Vice-President Tim Sieber.

Sieber said the airline was forced to scale back operations. "We were forced to look at our business and make swift and tough choices, reducing our network to a more manageable size for the number of pilots we have currently. It wouldn't be fair to our customers or communities to attempt to start new service in Washington right now."

According to the press release SeaPort has not yet set a date to resume plans for service in Washington, but is working with airports and community leaders on the issue.

The Port of Moses Lake issued a press release in response to SeaPort's announcement. Port officials were disappointed by the announcement, but said they're committed to working with the airline to bring air service back to Moses Lake.

Port of Moses Lake Executive Director Jeffrey Bishop said, "The operation of an airline is a business and like all businesses, it is subject to the pressures of the market. We are working with SeaPort to find possible solutions to its current challenge in regard to Moses Lake. We are committed to the resumption of air service at Grant County International Airport, but it has to be sustainable to be a true benefit to the community. We will continue to work toward that goal."

Passenger service had been expected to resume at GCIA in March.