By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – Dash Air Shuttle is going forward with their plan to begin service from Port Angeles to SeaTac Airport, despite the fact that the US Dept. of Transportation has still not announced a decision about complaints filed by the company’s rival, Kenmore Air.
Company President Clint Ostler, speaking at Wednesday’s Port Angeles Chamber luncheon, explained their thinking on the matter.
“We’ve been talking to our lawyer though, and they’re fairly confident that we can probably begin to start ramping up, and planning to start, without really risk of a DOT shutdown. Shutting down airlines completely is a pretty dramatic approach. They really reserve that for if we were inflicting consumer harm or were running an inappropriately unsafe operation, that kind of thing. So, they’re they’re advising me to probably progress towards establishing a start date now, and then we would just work with the DOT if they found anything that was still inappropriate in terms of the way we have things set up.”
Ostler was reluctant to give an exact date to begin ticket sales, saying only that they hope to turn on the reservation system in the next few weeks and begin flights soon after.
A few more details came to light during his presentation. Ostler said it would likely be a while before Fairchild Airport in Port Angeles would have TSA service, so passengers can expect to go through security in the usual way once they reach SeaTac.
In terms of baggage, passengers will want to pack light. You’ll be allowed one bag of the size that is generally stored in a plane’s overhead compartment, one carry-on type bag, such as a small backpack, and one personal item like a purse. Dash Air does not yet have a deal to transfer bags to other airlines at SeaTac, so passengers will have to carry them to their connecting flight.
They are planning 4 flights per day each way beginning at 8:30am from Port Angeles, with the last flight leaving here at 5:15pm. Regular ticket prices will be between $89 and $169, depending on the demand for the flight you want.