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. A reduced schedule will be offered on weekends. The flight schedule has been optimized for convenient connections at both Wichita and Kansas City, a company spokesman said.
To introduce itself to the community, SeaPort Airlines is offering a “Get Onboard” introductory fare of $39 each way. The fare is available for every seat and every flight to and from Great Bend through July 31. The listed fare includes all taxes and fees, and is non-refundable and non-changeable once purchased. Other fare are available for customers needing the flexibility to change their travel plans.
Great Bend Municipal Airport Manager Martin Miller called the introductory fare unprecedented.
“This marks my first time to see an airline that strives to increase our passenger counts with introductory fare specials. Their service level comes highly recommended,” Miller said.
“Great Bend is anxious to partner with SeaPort to achieve frequent and reliable air service so vital to our community’s business and personal travels,” Miller said. The service is also important for economic growth in the region, he added.
Staff at the Wichita airport also commented on the new service provider.
“Wichita Mid-Continent Airport welcomes SeaPort Airlines to our mix of quality airlines that serve our region. Passengers from the Great Bend area will have convenient access to five airlines and nine nonstop destinations, from which they will be able to connect to most any destination in the world,” stated Valerie Wise, air service manager for the Wichita Airport Authority.
Passengers may book reservations now on www.SeaPortAirlines.com or by calling 888-573-2767. Schedules and fares will be available in all major global distribution systems (GDSs) and online travel agencies, such as Travelocity and Expedia, this week.
There will be an open house and ribbon-cutting event open to the public during the first week of service in June.
SeaPort Airlines also announced it is recruiting customer service agents for Great Bend. Interested applicants may obtain more information at: www.seaportair.com/join-seaport-team.php.
Portland, Oregon-based SeaPort Airlines Inc. operates daily scheduled flights in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas. Follow SeaPort on Facebook and Twitter.