PORT ANGELES – Port of Port Angeles Commissioners Tuesday approved a plan that moves Fairchild Airport a step closer toward attracting a commercial airline company to move in and provide service to SeaTac.
Airport Development Manager Dan Gase says that since Kenmore Airlines left in 2014, Port officials have talked to 15 different airlines about resuming SeaTac service. He says the one common takeaway from those discussions is the need to provide an incentive program that will sweeten the deal enough to make it happen.
That would include waving landing fees, providing ticket counter space, marketing and advertising matches and, most importantly, a revenue guarantee. Gase explains:
“So that an airline can come in, go through the expense of startup and know that over the first couple years, they’re not going to lose money. It would be a fund set aside to help match what their potential losses might be, so they can at least break even. So now we have a great extra tool in our toolbox for going out and trying to continue our recruiting efforts with airlines to start service. You know, we’ve been talking to a couple different airlines, and now that we have this program, we might spark some interest.”
That revenue guarantee is now assured with the help of a $200,000 federal grant through the Department of Transportation. Port Commissioners approved the incentive plan on Tuesday.