PORT OF FRIDAY HARBOR

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List of news stories about the Port of Friday Harbor

West Isle expands operations

posted 05/19/01
West Isle Air is stepping up plans to move into SeaTac airport from Boeing Field. In the meantime the airline is operating four daily roundtrip flights between the San Juan Islands and Boeing Field with free van service to SeaTac. A fifth daily roundtrip flight will be added soon with a early morning departure from Friday Harbor.

West Isle sent a letter of intent to the Port of Seattle earlier this spring pending the outcome of Harbor Airlines arrangement with the port. West Isle is contracting to share space at SeaTac and share the use of gate B-4.

The airline has started providing service for Oak Harbor passengers on demand and is awaiting FAA approval to add the route to its schedule. It already provides scheduled service through Port Townsend.

West Isle is seeking financial partners. It will soon add more twin engine Chieftains or Caravans to its Seattle routes.

West Isle hopes to fill void left by Harbor Air

posted05/10/01
Harbor Air pulled out of Friday Harbor airport yesterday (May 9). A sign on the counter saying "operations were suspended pending reorganization" was the only notice the Port of Friday Harbor received. The financially troubled airline lost its lease at SeaTac in March and faced termination of its Friday Harbor lease at the end of this month. (See stories below for more background information.)

Dave Ross of West Isle Air told the port, his company hopes to serve Harbor Air's former routes. The company is evaluating the routes and is bringing up another Chieftain aircraft from California. A letter of intent has been sent to the Port of Seattle. Both Oak Harbor and Port Townsend's airports have contacted West Isle Air about service. Oak Harbor Airport is owned by Harbor Air, but a foreclosure sale is scheduled for July 11. Ross said the most likely buyer has asked West Isle to serve Oak Harbor airport.

Acquiring the code share arrangement with Alaska and Horizon Air is a necessary step before West Isle can serve Seatac. Harbor Air had the codeshare contract. Another key piece said Ross is getting the Department of Defense navy contract. Harbor Air lost the contract which accounted for much of its business to SeaTac.