PORTLAND, Ore. — SeaPort Airlines Inc., which had been in talks with the Port of Port Angeles to offer scheduled passenger air service from William R. Fairchild International Airport to Seattle, has filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon.
The airline, which is based in Portland, Ore., announced the move Friday.
It had talked with the Port of Port Angeles to offer passenger service to and from Port Angeles beginning March 1.
However, in mid-January, SeaPort officials notified port staff the company was postponing scheduled air service from Port Angeles to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport indefinitely due to a pilot shortage.
Port officials are seeking an alternative airline to restore service.
The port, with the aid of Forecast Inc. — a search firm based in Denver — has been seeking a commercial airline to provide service to Fairchild since Kenmore Air abandoned operations there in November 2014.
SeaPort Airlines also is postponing its planned service from Moses Lake to Seattle and Portland.
On Friday, the company announced that Rob McKinney has resigned as president and CEO.
SeaPort’s executive vice president, Timothy Sieber, is now president of the company.
Chapter 11
“The difficult decision to file for bankruptcy protection was necessary to preserve the future of our airline,” Sieber said.
“I am confident we will come out the other side of reorganization with a financially stronger airline in a better position to handle the challenges of the industry and provide the quality service our customers, employees and partners deserve.”
Under court supervision, SeaPort will propose a plan of reorganization.
The airline had reduced its route network as a result of a national pilot shortage, the company said.
In addition to canceling service in Oregon and Washington, SeaPort on Jan. 15 announced it also had canceled services in California, Kansas and Missouri.
Remaining day-to-day operations will not be interrupted by the Chapter 11 filing, company officials say.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.