PORTLAND, ORE. – SeaPort Airlines announced Friday that it will begin service on June 16 from Great Bend Municipal Airport to Wichita Mid-Continent Airport and Kansas City International Airport. The carrier was recently awarded the Essential Air Service contract to provide service at Great Bend by the United States Department of Transportation, replacing Great Lakes Aviation.“We believe the option of both Wichita and Kansas City will provide the community with a great number of choices for connections across the country and around the world,” said Rob McKinney, president of SeaPort Airlines. “We’re very pleased to be bringing air service back to Great Bend and look forward to building a long-standing partnership with the local community.”The new service will include two round trips each weekday between Great Bend and Wichita, and a single one-stop flight between Great Bend and Kansas City.