SeaPort Airlines to launch Spokane-Olympia direct flights
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 45 minutes AGO
SeaPort Airlines, in partnership with the Port of Olympia, recently announced new air service connecting Spokane and Olympia beginning Jan. 8. Operating Friday and Sunday afternoons during the Washington State Legislative Session, the flights will offer a fast connection between Eastern Washington and the state capital
"Whether you're a legislator, business owner, advocate, or citizen who wants to make their voice heard, getting to Olympia will no longer require an entire day of travel,” said Kent Craford, founder and CEO of SeaPort Airlines. “We're making it possible to spend less time getting there and more time getting things done."
Departing from Spokane's Felts Field, nonstop flights will reach Olympia Regional Airport in just an hour, providing an alternative to the five-hour drive across Washington's snowy mountain passes or connecting through the congested hassle of Sea-Tac Airport and then slogging down I-5 through unpredictable JBLM traffic snarls, a press release said.
SeaPort flights will be ideal for legislators, business travelers, and citizens accessing state government. The flights also provide South Puget Sound residents with an easy weekend getaway to Eastern Washington, the release said.
“We know that every day, approximately 500 passengers, each way, are traveling between Spokane and western Washington – but this doesn’t include the travelers who are opting, often out of necessity, to drive to destinations outside the Seattle metro area, such as Olympia. We’re grateful for SeaPort’s continued confidence in the Spokane market, and commitment to increasing accessibility to key markets for our local business community,” said Dave Haring, CEO of Felts Field and Spokane International Airport.
SeaPort operates nine-passenger Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, utilizing convenient regional airports to avoid the delays and challenges associated with larger commercial airports. At SeaPort, there’s no TSA, free easy parking, and passengers can arrive just 20 minutes before their flight.
Flights will operate Friday and Sunday throughout the Legislative Session, with one-way fares starting at $279.
"Working with the Port of Olympia, we're using existing airports and proven aircraft to deliver something Washington travelers have needed for years: a faster, more practical way to reach their state capital," Craford said.