Olympia Regional Airport is partnering with SeaPort Airlines to offer twice-weekly service between Spokane and Olympia, a service that hasn’t been operational in roughly 22 years.
SeaPort Airlines, which began operating in the Pacific Northwest in 2008, expects to launch the route Jan. 8, 2027, the Port of Olympia announced.
The route will operate Friday and Sunday afternoons during the Washington State Legislative Session from Jan. 8 through April, offering quick and convenient connections between eastern Washington and Olympia.
“The Port of Olympia is excited to welcome this new service connecting Spokane directly to our state capital for the first time in 22 years,” said Port Commission President Jasmine Vasavada. “Convenient air access supports our regional economy and makes Olympia more accessible to businesses, government leaders, and citizens across Washington.”
The last scheduled commuter flight from Olympia departed in 2004. The new route will mark the return of scheduled passenger service after more than two decades.
SeaPort cites demand for direct flights to state capital
Based at Boeing Field in Seattle, SeaPort Airlines launched Seattle–Spokane service in March and soon began receiving requests to expand to Olympia.
“When we launched service in Spokane in March, the first thing we started hearing was: ‘When are you going to go to Olympia?’ And so here we are,” Chairman and CEO Kent Craford told The Olympian.
The route will use a nine-passenger Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, which the port described as well-suited for legislators and staff. The port promoted the service as an alternative to larger commercial airports, citing shorter arrival times and fewer parking and security hassles.
One-way fares start at $249 per passenger. The airline also recommended that passengers arrive only 20 minutes before their flight.
The Port of Olympia also addressed potential noise concerns from nearby residents, noting they are unlikely to notice any difference in noise or air traffic.
“Aircraft of this size and larger already use the Olympia Regional Airport regularly,” the port stated. “The service will only add two more flights a week to an airport that already handles about 206 takeoffs and landings a day.”
The new route will use the same runways and flight paths as other aircraft at Olympia Regional Airport.
SeaPort hopes to extend service beyond legislative session
After the legislative session ends, the Port of Olympia will release a public recap detailing how many flights ran, along with other community feedback it received.
The future of the service beyond April remains uncertain, though Craford hopes strong demand will allow flights to continue later into 2027.
“I would like nothing more than to continue this beyond April 30,” he told The Olympian. “I would love to be filling nine seats each way, each week so consistently that we don’t want to turn it off. I certainly see the opportunity to bring folks from the west side over to the east side as the weather improves.”
Flights are scheduled to depart on Sundays from Spokane at 3:25 p.m. and arrive in Olympia at 4:45 p.m.
Flights departing Olympia on Friday are scheduled to take off at 5:10 p.m. and arrive in Spokane at 6:20 p.m.
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