PORT ANGELES — A moratorium on imposing landing fees on regularly scheduled passenger airlines at William R. Fairchild International Airport was extended to midyear by Port of Port Angeles commissioners Monday.
Holding back on landing fees for airport maintenance and operations are designed to help the two commuter airlines keep fares around $49 one-way to Seattle’s Boeing Field.
Airport Manager Robb told Port commissioners that Port Angeles is a “very price sensitive market.”
Renton-based San Juan Airlines last year asked that landing fees be suspended so it could reduce its air fares and increase its passenger load.
The airline, which began a year ago after Horizon Air quit Port Angeles service, cut its initial $89 one-way fare to $49 in May after the Port suspended the $10 landing fee, Robb said.
Kenmore Air Express, the ground division of Seattle-based Kenmore Air which began Port Angeles service in June, also did well after landing fees were suspended, he said.
Horizon’s pullout
Horizon Air ended its Port Angeles service to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Jan. 6, 2004, citing $1.5 million in annual losses.
San Juan Airlines began regular service the next day to and from Boeing Field with free ground shuttle to Sea-Tac.
Kenmore Air Express offers identical service at different departure times.
But the two airlines combined are attracting only 50 percent of the passengers that Horizon did, Robb said.
