SeaPort Airlines is set to begin commercial passenger flights from Spokane's Felts Field to Seattle's Boeing Field, marking the first such service since 1946. The nine-passenger Pilatus PC-12 aircraft will offer four daily round trips starting March 9, bypassing TSA screening for a streamlined experience. One-way tickets start at $299, targeting business travelers seeking convenience.
SeaPort Airlines, part of Kalinin Companies, will operate four round trips most days between Spokane's Felts Field and Seattle's Boeing Field using the Pilatus PC-12, a nine-passenger turboprop with two pilots. This service resumes commercial flights from Felts Field for the first time since 1946, with operations beginning March 9.
The flights avoid traditional airport hassles, including TSA security. Passengers can park within 100 feet of the aircraft and board just 20 minutes before departure. Kent Craford, CEO of Kalinin Companies, highlighted the efficiency: "You can wake up in Spokane, do a full day’s business in Seattle and be back home here for dinner." He added, "You can park 100 feet from the airplane. Walk through the building. And 20 minutes later you are off for Boeing Field downtown Seattle."
Due to the small aircraft size, the service falls below TSA thresholds and is regulated like charters under the Federal Aviation Administration, with screening similar to that on buses or trains. One-way fares begin at $299, adjustable with demand, and same-day bookings are available online. Free parking and a luxurious interior, resembling a private jet, enhance the appeal.
Chief pilot Ian Fisk described the PC-12 as capable and comfortable: "We can fly up to 28,000 feet... It’s fast – so we can keep up with the big guys... It’s quiet, it’s warm. Everybody’s got a window seat and an aisle seat."
Spokane Airport CEO David Haring noted that around 500 people travel between the cities daily and sees the service as enticing for business travelers: "This is a unique way for us to enhance connectivity... Because they are all about convenience."
Joey Gunning, director of economic development for Greater Spokane Incorporated, anticipates economic benefits: "In terms of our local economy, it’s gonna have job growth ripple effects... not just pilots and maintenance crew... these planes are purchasing fuel."
Craford compared the experience to that of celebrities: "Jay Z, Beyonce, and Taylor and Travis don't think anything of doing that very experience... Well, we are making that experience open to the public." Both Haring and Craford foresee potential expansion in Pacific Northwest connectivity.
