It's just remarkable how many local people are not aware that we have a very professional, reliable airline service here. I heard a story yesterday that highlighted this fact. Two guys talking at the golf course. One asks the other what he does for a living and the other guy replies that he works for the airline. The first guy asks what airline, a reasonable question. The answer is Seaport. "Seaport?" the guy asks. "Yes, at Astoria airport" he says. The guy looks puzzled and states "I didn't know there was an airport". True story. To be fair the guy asking the question lives elsewhere and has a second home in Gearhart. There are a lot of people just like him with second homes all over the area including a large number on the Long Beach Peninsula.
How many are aware of this service? How many would make use of it?
It is clear that it's not enough to simply start a new service and expect people to know it's there or fully understand it's usefulness.
Here's another example. Since Seaport added a 4:25am flight to it's Astoria to Portland route it's now possible to catch that flight and be in downtown Seattle two hours later. No TSA to go through one connection at PDX with a fifteen minute turnaround and you get into Boeing Field instead of SeaTac so you are much closer to town. Getting around is easy and you don't have to mess with the drive and all that goes with it especially in winter.
How about this? This time of year I-84 heading east is always a question mark. How many times did it close down last year? Seaport has flights that are timed to mesh with the Astoria to Portland schedule. In the Summer you can go to the Roundup, or the casino for that matter quickly, safely and have no issues getting around town.
For those who want to make Seaport a regular option they even have a premiere program. For a $5000.00 deposit you get $5500 in ticketing and no extra charges for any changes you need to make..even a name change. Those who travel understand what that means in terms of flexibility and cost savings.
Beyond all this, having a "right-sized" airline that is responsive to the marketplace and wants to be a true community partner is valuable in terms of the cooperative marketing aspect of getting more people from other areas of the region here.
That's the task that CEDR will be taking on in designing a business plan that will require the cooperation of local businesses who will benefit directly from a higher end tourist trade.
If people can book a travel package that is a value that can be tailored to suit individual tastes and geared to events we already do here then we have a winner. I think people will grab at a Crab Feed package that includes flight, hotel, transfers and event tickets. The Astoria Bicentennial is another package possibility, The Great Columbia Crossing, The 25th Anniversary for The Goonies, A History tour package that includes tours of Ft. Clatsop, Fort Stevens, The Columbia River Maritime Museum, Flavel House, The new Oregon Film Museum..all have potential.
If you would like to get involved. If you understand the potential and want to be a part of this then you can contact CEDR or Seaport and ask how your hotel, your restaurant, your transportation company, limo service, or attraction venue can be a part of this overall effort.
It's time to make smarter use of our local airline service.
