PORT ANGELES — The federal government is giving $360,000 to a group of applicants in Port Angeles to help preserve the city’s commercial passenger air service to Seattle.
“This is one of the key pieces necessary to assure retention of commercial service in Clallam County,” said Jeff Robb, executive director of the Port of Port Angeles, the lead applicant on the grant.
Robb said the funds will be used for marketing outreach and promotion of Kenmore Air Express, the only commercial air company serving Clallam County.
“This is good news,” Kent Myers, Port Angeles city manager, said Thursday after the grant was announced.
“It’s a chance for us to improve the quality of air service to the community.”
The grant is one of 19 totaling $6.4 million this year under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program.
Kenmore Air Express did not return calls requesting comments.
In addition to the port and the city, applicants also included the city of Sequim and Clallam County from the public sector, as well as Kenmore Air Express, Clallam County Economic Development Council, Forks Chamber of Commerce, Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Olympic Peninsula Visitors Bureau, representing the private sector.
Robb said the four public partners provided $40,000 in cash, with the private partners contributing a total of $60,000 in in-kind services, bringing resources available to $460,000.
He added that the grant is “also very timely in that Kenmore is in the process of rolling out an interline agreement with Alaskan Airlines.”
Alaska Airlines
Under that agreement, one ticket will take a passenger from a Kenmore Air point of departure to an Alaskan Airlines transfer and destination.
“Passengers will see a seamless connection between Port Angeles and anywhere Alaskan Airlines operates,” Robb said.
But the federal government isn’t just cutting a check for the grant money.
Instead, the port will have to spend its own money on approved grant projects, then ask for reimbursement.
Robb said promoting Kenmore Air is good for the community.
“This is specifically targeted at promoting activities and events within our community and the utilization of Kenmore Air to bring people into our community,” he said.
Kenmore Air provides the only regular flights between Seattle and Port Angeles with nine-passenger Cessna aircraft.
Kenmore flies into King County International Airport, Boeing Field, and provides passenger shuttle service to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Last year, the Port Angeles City Council gave the airline $10,000 for marketing to help continue the service, and Sequim’s council ponied up $7,000 for marketing.
In 2009, 24,513 passengers flew back and forth on Kenmore’s Port Angeles route compared with 23,490 in 2008, according to the port’s operations report for December.
In 2007, a total of 26,889 passengers flew the route.
The six-week closure for reconstruction of the Hood Canal Bridge last May and early June was credited for the slight increase in 2009 passengers over 2008’s total, Kenmore told the Port of Port Angeles commissioners Jan. 11.
Robb said promotion and marketing, such as tying Kenmore services to local festivals and events, could increase ridership and possibly lead to lower air fares.
“It’s a very positive thing for the community,” he said. “Our hope is that people will engage and use Kenmore Air.”
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Features Editor Marcie Miller can be reached at 360-427-3550 or marcie.miller@peninsuladaily news.com
