Saturday, August 12, 2017

North state air service takes another hit

Hope was high when PenAir airlines started serving Redding last year. People around here thought there might be hope for Chico too, which lost its commercial air service in 2014.

That elevated feeling was pretty much crushed when the Alaska-based airline said it would stop its Redding to Portland flights, and then filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization last week, according to the Redding Record Searchlight.

The article indicated PenAir hoped the bankruptcy filing would help it survive. The article indicated the Crescent City to Portland flight would continue, as well as its service in Boston and Denver.

While some could see that as a north state disappointment, there are others who think this gives Chico more power in that those Redding travelers might come down here for flights, should we get commercial air service back.

Asked about PenAir’s exit, Chico Airport Manager Sherry Miller noted, “A carrier going out of business really isn’t good for anyone. Less choices, less competition etc…

 “It’s not good for (Chico) in that PenAir has pulled out of the area completely. It could have been a good match route wise but now we don’t even have that option.”

Shucks.

I always appreciate talking to Miller, who updates me on airport goings-on. In case you’ve seen some different aircraft overhead, there are a couple of air tankers filling up on retardant that are working on coastal wildfires. One, she says, has jet-assisted take off, so it sounds high pitched. And if you’re counting those former Aero Union tankers waiting to be sold, there is one less. She said it’s been purchased and is down at Mather Airfield in the Sacramento area. 

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.chicoer.com

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