CRBJ Blog > January 2010

SeaPort Airlines is OUR airline

Thursday January 07, 2010 09:50 AM (pst)
SeaPort Airlines was the topic of rousing discussion at my “coffee klatch” this morning. For those who haven’t heard the term, it is a regular gathering of a group of business associates who enjoy a safe forum for vetting ideas, sharing news and expressing opinion over a meal or coffee. In short, I learn a great deal from this engaged cadre of business folk each week.
 
Concern about low ridership on SeaPort’s Astoria to PDX route has been in the news of late, and coffee klatch participants provided some great input. Most agreed they hadn’t made the “math connection” about business travel to PDX for a connecting flight.
 
Mileage reimbursement for a 200 mile roundtrip drive to PDX, plus parking for say, a week, adds up to more than the cost of a roundtrip ticket on SeaPort. That basic understanding energized the group, suggesting that info needs to be more prominent in SeaPort advertising.
 
Another point brought up by a group member is the need for more information about what happens when you GET to Flightcraft at PDX. Few knew shuttle service to the terminal was provided by SeaPort, and a complaint was voiced that travelers coming in to PDX and coming to the Astoria airport via SeaPort can’t figure out how to get to the SeaPort terminal easily; again, marketing gaps that can be easily addressed by SeaPort and its supporters.
 
CEDR (Clatsop Economic Development Resources) and the area chambers have been charged up to assist SeaPort in promoting its regularly scheduled air service. Not with funding, which isn’t practical nor politically viable, but with feet on the street, and co-op advertising opportunities.
 
 I’ve heard tittering in the community that SeaPort should be the entity making the effort – it’s their airline. Au contraire say those with a real understanding of what this air service means to our area. It is OUR airline, because while SeaPort may enjoy profitability on this route because the community helps, WE will benefit even more so.
 
Regularly scheduled air service to this area elevates our status from a business perspective. More convenient, time and money-saving transportation modes in and out of the region put us on the business map, boding well for the long-term economic health for the region.
 
SeaPort IS our airline. Consider ways you or your business can assist in getting the word out. I’ll keep you posted on your opportunities, but consider something as simple as a line item on your invoices. Every little bit helps, and the timeline is short. Feel free to ask me how you can help.
 
Susan Trabucco
Publisher/Editor


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M.B. from Astoria
1/7/2010 10:12:45 AM

You're right about the positive impact scheduled air service can have on our community, and I hope Seaport is successful. I can't help thinking there's more Seaport could do in the way of marketing, ticket pricing, and inter-airline coordination; perhaps this is on of those problems that only money (lots of it) can solve). I'm glad you're writing about this, Susan: keep up CRBJ's great work.


 
G.C. from Astoria
1/7/2010 10:39:10 AM

Another good reason to have regular air transportation to and from Astoria is the occasional catestrophic storm that closes roads in and out of Clatsop county. Be it snow, or mud slides and blown downs. There have been times that airplanes were the only way in and out of here for a few days.


 
D.P. from Astoria
1/7/2010 1:59:45 PM

Susan, thank you for your comments regarding Seaport. I think it is truly in the best interest of the community to find a way to support air service into Astoria and I feel everyone has a responsiblity to understand how the service could help them with their travel needs. Adopting new habits is always hard and I don't believe Seaport has managed to eliminate the discomfort of trying something new yet. We must remember that everything we do today was at some point new and uncomfortable. If it is true that there were some 900 passengers a month flying Horizon out of Astoria years ago, there must be some folks in the community that could use Seaport that haven't made them part of their traveling routine yet - I hope they will give them a try.Thanks for the post.