Press Release
Date: March 1, 2011
Contact: Jack Crider
Executive Director
Port of Astoria
“SeaPort Airlines will cease scheduled flight operations between Astoria and Portland Sunday, March 13 2011 with the final flight Saturday March 12, Astoria to Portland.
"We deeply regret this decision, and the impact this will have on
SeaPort employees and their families, our customers, our vendors and other partners, and the communities in which they have been operating," Jack Crider, executive director of the Port of Astoria, and Rob McKinney, President of SeaPort Airlines, said in a joint statement.
SeaPort employees and their families, our customers, our vendors and other partners, and the communities in which they have been operating," Jack Crider, executive director of the Port of Astoria, and Rob McKinney, President of SeaPort Airlines, said in a joint statement.
“It’s been our pleasure and privilege to serve Oregon’s north coast communities.”
said McKinney.
The decision comes at the end of a six-week all out promotion targeting Clatsop
County in Oregon and Pacific County in Washington. In an effort to sustain air
service through the end of 2011 (Astoria’s bicentennial year), the Port of Astoria
in conjunction with SeaPort airlines designed a pre-paid ticket voucher program,
offering deeply discounted one-way tickets. Tickets were transferable, and
included up to 50 pounds of luggage with no advance reservation requirements.
“It’s the ideal airline ticket,” suggested Floyd Holcom Port of Astoria commission
chairman.
Sales of the program began at a slow pace and picked up as communities
became aware of the opportunity. A struggling coastal economic environment
has continued to be the main reason for the lack of voucher sales.
The Port of Astoria hoped to process enough pre-paid vouchers in an effort to
demonstrate to SeaPort our community commitment to local air service. There
was plenty of support from all chambers of commerce, downtown associations,
fraternal organizations, city councils, military representatives, hospitals and
concerned citizens to sustain air service throughout both counties, but it became
apparent the majority of our supporters are unable to invest monetarily during our
slow economy.
Our efforts have not gone in vain, as we have gathered new data to provide a
future airline when our economy improves. There is no doubt our communities
support air service, and the Port of Astoria is committed to finding an airline that
fits in a stronger economy.
Port of Astoria will refund 100% of all voucher sales.
Passengers with confirmed reservations after March 12 should contact SeaPort
airlines directly.
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