USA: PenAir To Start Redding-Portland Flights

PenAir, American airline and Alaska’s second largest commuter airline, announced it will start service from Redding to Portland, Oregon, on April 21.

PenAir will fly a 34-seat, twin-engine Saab 340 turboprop aircraft out of Redding.

The first flight will depart at 4:50 a.m. and a make stop in Arcata-Eureka before arriving in Portland at 7:20 a.m.

The afternoon flight will leave Redding at 3:40 and fly nonstop, arriving in Portland at 5:15. Flights from Portland would arrive in Redding at 3:10 p.m. and 9 p.m. The late flight will stop in Arcata-Eureka before continuing on to Redding.

PenAir CEO Danny Seybert said:

“Ever since opening our new hub at the Portland Airport, we have continued to look at additional Pacific Northwest destinations. PenAir has been in operation for 60 years throughout Alaska and for the last several years in the Northeast U.S. We plan to provide twice daily service to Redding with our Saab 340 aircraft while providing our Alaskan brand of reliable customer service.”

PenAir Chief Operating Officer Dave Hall said:

“PenAir began operating daily service out of Portland, OR, to Crescent City, CA, on September 15, 2015. Since then, we have met with key officials from Redding among other cities.”

“The Redding community has been supportive of PenAir and our plan to operate in markets similar in size to some Alaska and East Coast markets.”

PenAir VP of Marketing Melissa Roberts said:

“We are excited to initiate service to Portland from Redding.”

“With 75 connecting flights out of Oregon’s largest airport, and the ease of getting to and around this airport, our customers will be able to connect to many domestic U.S., European and Asian destinations in a timely and efficient manner.”

Bryant Garrett, Redding Airports Manager said:

“We are very excited about the news. I am confident the Redding community will respond in a positive way and be very supportive of the new service. Portland is a wonderful airport that passengers can use as a connection or a final destination.”

David Zielke, Port of Portland Air Service Director said:

“We’re pleased to see PenAir expand their service at PDX.”

“Linking smaller cities in northern California to PDX with convenient, nonstop flights opens a world of possibilities and connections for both business and leisure travelers.”

USA: PenAir arrives in Crescent City

Matthew Leitner, Crescent City Airport Director; Gerry Hemmingsen, BCRAA Commissioner; Susan Daugherty, Program Director; Brian Whilden, VP Safety, PenAir; Missy Roberts, VP Sales & Marketing, PenAir; Danny Seybert, PenAir CEO; Matt Macri, PenAir Director of Flight Services; Kristin Folmar, PenAir Director of Sales & Marketing; and fellow PenAir staff welcome the arrival of PenAir’s first flight from Portland on 15 September.

Flights will operate twice-daily using the airline’s Saab 340s. The airport inaugurated services with a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony fronted by Danny Seybert, PenAir CEO.

PenAir commenced services between Portland (PDX) and Crescent City (CEC) on 15 September. The short 354-kilometre sector will operate twice-daily, and is flown using the carrier’s Saab 340s. The route will also benefit from having a codeshare agreement with Alaska Airlines, allowing passengers to connect onto its developed network from Portland.

As this is the only scheduled flight from Crescent City, it of course means that the route will not face any direct competition. Commenting on the launch, and emphasising on the connection opportunities, Matthew Leitner, Crescent City Airport Director, stated: “People are now realising how well connected Portland is, even with the California markets. You can go non-stop from Portland to Ontario, Orange County, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Oakland, Fresno, so it’s proven very wonderful amongst our passengers wanting to reach southern California.”