SeaPort Airlines (2008) (Portland International) has discontinued services to nine destinations in California, Kansas, Missouri, and Mexico citing a shortage of qualified flight crew.
In a statement, the Oregonian carrier said flights to Sacramento International, Visalia, Burbank, San Diego International, Imperial/El Centro Country, San Felipe International (Mexico), Salina, Great Bend, and Kansas City International had been terminated as of January 15/16.
"The company was forced to take this action because of the impact on Sea Port’s business and operations following the effects of the shortage of airline pilots in the United States," it said.
SeaPort's EAS contracts have also been affected with the airline withdrawing from its Tupelo and Muscle Shoals commitments in October of last year. It will continue to operate from Houston Intercontinental to El Dorado South Arkansas Regional and Hot Springs Memorial, from Memphis International to Hot Springs Memorial and Harrison as well as from Portland International to North Bend and Pendleton.
The airline has blamed the shortage of qualified personnel on new US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations which require First Officers to have a minimum of 1,500 hours ATP experience to operate for a Part 121 airline. Though it is a Part 135 carrier, SeaPort says its operations have been severely affected by the recruitment of their pilots by Part 121 carriers.
Great Lakes Airlines (Cheyenne) has already been announced as a new operator for Salina offering a Denver International link from April 1 replacing the Salina-Kansas City route previously offered by SeaPort.
