The Hood Canal Bridge closure provided a significant boost to Kenmore Air Express, with a 41.6 percent increase in passengers in the second quarter.
From a cruising altitude of 4,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level, the bridge appeared as a slender line crossing the water to Kenmore Air Capt. Kevin Griffin.
He ferried a full load of passengers from Port Angeles to Boeing Field in Seattle on a recent June morning. The calm, clear air afforded the plane’s passengers a grand view of the North Olympic Peninsula as the craft cruised 190 mph eastward over land and sea during the 35-minute flight.
“I enjoy looking out the window just as much as anyone else,” Griffin said of the views that spread out before him while working in his “office.”
The plane touched down at Boeing Field and taxied to the terminal.
Making connections
Passengers exited the plane, grabbed their luggage and climbed into a Kenmore Air shuttle bus that carried everyone to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where they could connect to other flights.
It’s just a typical flight for Kenmore, which transported a total of 8,785 people in the second quarter of this year compared with 6,205 in the same period of time in 2008.
Although April was down by 29.8 percent, May more than made up for it with a 95.5 percent increase — nearly doubling the number from 2,451 in 2008 to 4,877 in 2009 — and June increased about 40 percent, a marketing report to the Port of Port Angeles said.
Hood Canal Bridge
“Obviously that very big bump is a result of the Hood Canal Bridge closure,” said Jeff Robb, port marinas and airport manager, at the June 22 meeting.
“Although it wasn’t quite the same bump in June, it is still much better than the negative numbers they were seeing.”
He said that Kenmore representatives have seemed optimistic about the rising numbers of passengers this year.
The report on the airline was optimistic about the San Juans Express service but said both the Canadian routes and the Jefferson County seaplane service are struggling.
“Overall, the company has done a good job of ‘right-sizing’ expenses to match lower total revenue,” the report stated.
Craig O’Neill, director of marketing, was out of town and unavailable for comment for the week.
Alaska Airlines
Another boost to business is expected when the airline completes an agreement with Alaska Airlines for an interline agreement.
Not only will people be able to book flights straight from Port Angeles to other Alaska Airlines destinations, but they will also be able to earn miles through the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.
Both are planned to begin in August, but technical difficulties in integrating the booking software have delayed that from earlier in the summer, the report said.
The airline also implemented an online marketing program using a $10,000 grant from the city of Port Angeles’ lodging tax.
Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
Photojournalist Chris Tucker can be reached at 360-417-3524 or chris.tucker@peninsuladailynews.com.
