PORT ANGELES — Hugs and tears among Kenmore Air Express passengers and employees marked the end of scheduled commercial airline service to the North Olympic Peninsula.
Flight 5141 out of William R. Fairchild International Airport at 1:30 p.m. Friday was Kenmore’s last after struggling for 10 years with low ridership and competition from cheaper ground transportation.
Seven passengers, which included a service dog, made the final trip to Seattle’s Boeing Field — which would be followed by a ground shuttle to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — aboard the Cessna Grand Caravan, which seats nine.
“This is heartbreaking,” said Roxi Baxley of Port Angeles, a regular Kenmore customer who builds websites for campgrounds and RV parks.
Baxley brought a flower arrangement of carnations and lilies for customer service agent Robin McHattie — a 10-year employee — who received more than a few hugs from passengers.
Kenmore announced Oct. 31 that it would cut service to Port Angeles.
The company began providing flight service in and out of Port Angeles in 2004 after Horizon Air, citing low ridership and annual losses of $1.5 million, pulled out.
Kenmore, the only scheduled passenger air service in Clallam and Jefferson counties, has been losing money since then, with company officials saying as far back as 2009 that service could end.
Kenmore’s departure means Tim Walker of Richland will have to take his monthly business trips to Port Angeles some other way.
As Walker, a safety and health specialist, waited for his flight, he lamented that it will take him three hours by car, if he catches the state ferry at the right time, to get to Seattle.
Kenmore pilot Bill Martin would be getting him to Seattle on this final trip in 30 minutes.
Martin said he made a point of enjoying the view when he flew from Seattle to Port Angeles to pick up Walker and the other passengers.
“I was kind of taking everything in for the last time,” Martin said.
One of his passengers to Port Angeles was Linda Chancler of Sequim, who was returning from her monthly trip to see her boyfriend in Florida.
“I’m gonna cry,” she said, her lips quivering.
“This is gonna be a killer on my love life,” she managed to quip.
After the flight left, McHattie said she will continue working for Kenmore, but out of her Port Angeles home.
“I like people, so it will be a little harder for me,” she said as she unplugged the luggage scale.
“I certainly give them credit for staying as long as they did, given the situation.”
No replacement service is in the works.
Company President Todd Banks said Friday he will review a list of suggestions that local officials sent him last week in an attempt to get Kenmore to revive Port Angeles service.
The company also serves Victoria and the San Juan Islands, along with Nanaimo and inside-passage islands in British Columbia.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
