PORT ANGELES — Dash Air aircraft has been certified for commercial service, its president has announced, and the hope is that the long-delayed passenger air service between Port Angeles and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will begin soon.
“Now we are prepping to begin serving the market,” said Dash Air President Clint Ostler, when reached by phone on Wednesday.
Dash Air posted an update on its website, https://flydashair.com, on Monday saying, “The FAA has approved and certified the aircraft for commercial service. Next step, familiarization training for the crews over the next few weeks, then charter operations. We’re getting closer folks!”
The post is all the information he could provide now, Ostler wrote to Caleb McMahon, Port of Port Angeles economic development director.
“Once we have more information, I plan to reach out to all the local media,” Ostler said in the email, “just wanted to give folks an update on where we were.”
Dash Air had originally announced it would start operating daily passenger flights from William R. Fairchild International Airport in Port Angeles to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in summer 2021.
One major delay was related to FAA certification of its fleet.
Ostler told port commissioners in July that Dash Air would start with charter flights out of Fairchild International Airport and follow with four daily flights in and out of Sea-Tac. At that time, he expected flights to begin in August.
“We had kicked off the FAA process earlier in the summer,” Ostler said Wednesday. “It requires a couple of inspections. That process just got delayed … It was on their end.”
He hopes to provide another announcement this month, he said, although “right now I am not even going to throw out a date” for starting passenger service.
“Our focus is making sure our flight crews are getting familiarization training,” he said. “As soon as we can, we will make an announcement for scheduled flights.”
The delays have been frustrating, Ostler said.
“We’ve had a combination of COVID supply chain issues, COVID labor shortage issues — such as maintenance vendors who can work on aircraft,” Ostler said.
He added that Dash Air is now down to one aircraft and is working with a local carrier to serve as backup so it can provide four daily flights.
Port of Port Angeles commissioners in August unanimously approved a lease with Dash Air that waived $2,220 in monthly charges at Fairchild International Airport for the Tukwila-based company that has yet to inaugurate flight service to Seattle.
The lease began Aug. 1 and runs through Jan. 8, 2024, with two one-year extensions.
Dash Air Shuttle, Inc. is a marketing and ticket agent, not a direct air carrier, and does not have operational authority of aircraft, the company says on its website.
Dash Air was created by Ostler, who is vice president of Embark Aviation, based in Washington, D.C. Flights will be operated by Backcountry Aviation of Albany, Ore.
The North Olympic Peninsula has lacked scheduled passenger air service to Seattle since Kenmore Air pulled out in 2014.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at brian.gawley@soundpublishing.com.
Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.
