SeaPort President Weighs In On Discontinued Flight

If you’re traveling between Idaho Falls and Boise this winter, you’ll have one less option as you do so.

SeaPort airlines has announced it will discontinue flights between the two cities, effective on Dec. 31.

The president of SeaPort Airlines, Rob McKinney, told reporter Jessica Crandall they aren’t making enough money on the flight.

When SeaPort Airlines opened up the direct link to Boise back in July, ticket sales were phenomenal.

Over the past five months those sales have begun to decline and with fuel prices remaining fairly high, McKinney said the company can’t afford to keep it up.

McKinney said with SeaPort’s nearest maintenance base in Portland, Ore., that has made it difficult for them to service the flight in Idaho.

“We were very excited and hopeful for the service across Idaho. As fuel prices started to rise, the ridership just didn’t keep pace and we weren’t keeping the planes full enough to keep pace with our costs,” said McKinney.

Crandall asked McKinney if he feels SeaPort has given the flight enough time despite the fact that with winter approaching many travelers would rather fly than navigate an icy road to Boise.

He said it was a tough decision but the company had to cut its losses.

McKinney said SeaPort would look at opening the flight again in the future if economic conditions change.

If you have a ticket to fly on that route on or after that date, the airline is offering refunds.