Alaska’s PenAir
begins service to Aroostook County
AIR SERVICE provider PenAir begins regular flights to and from the Northern Maine Regional Airport this week. Business and municipal leaders had an opportunity recently to check out one of the company’s planes, a 30-passenger Saab 340.
By Kathy McCarty
PRESQUE ISLE — PenAir, one of Alaska’s largest regional airlines, will begin service between Presque Isle’s Northern Maine Regional Airport and Boston’s Logan International Airport, beginning Thursday, June 14.
“The Presque Isle to Boston inaugural flight will be flight 144 departing Boston at 5:35 p.m. and arriving in Presque Isle at 7:30 p.m. Full service will begin June 15,” said Melissa “Missy” Anderson, vice president of PenAir sales and marketing.
Non-stop flights begin on June 15, with three flights per day, Monday through Friday, and two flights each on Saturday and Sunday.
DAVE HALL, PenAir’s chief operating officer, recently visited the Northern Maine Regional Airport, meeting with business leaders and city officials to discuss air service in Presque Isle. 
Hall is pictured speaking at the airport, as Melissa “Missy” Anderson, vice president of PenAir sales and marketing, looks on. The Alaska-based airline was named the replacement for Colgan Air earlier this year, assuming the duties of essential air service provider.
PenAir officials visited the Star City on May 22, attending a welcome celebration at the airport hosted by the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce. PenAir’s Chief Operating Officer Dave Hall, along with several PenAir employees and crew, were on hand for the festivities, meeting with business leaders and city officials.
“We are excited to start our venture into this market and to bring our brand of customer service to the Northeast. We are an established 57-year-old Alaskan company and pride ourselves in customer service, safety and reliability,” said Hall.
“We’re delighted to be here and are looking forward to offering special service to the community and region,” said Hall. “We’re looking forward to a long-term partnership.”
To mark the momentous occasion, Hall said the company would be offering special rates for a limited time.
“We’re offering discount fares to stimulate travel. We offer one-day schedules for out-of-town business travelers,” said Hall.
Bill and Lisa Levasseur, owners of Crown Travel in Presque Isle, were on hand for the event and said they looked forward to working with PenAir.
“The company is offering some great rates starting out — attractive rates for travelers,” said Bill Levasseur.
PenAir will employ eight people through the Presque Isle connection, with another 15-16 in Plattsburgh, N.Y. and a few in Boston as well.
“We’ve had to increase our employees by about 25 and added three more aircraft to provide service in the Northeast,” said Hall. “We may consider maintenance here (Presque Isle) in the future.”
Scott Wardwell, NMRA manager, was among those meeting with PenAir officials during the recent visit.
“PenAir will be very dependable. It’s a small family business — has some positives associated with that,” said Wardwell.
Wardwell said the special rates will be a definite draw in the next few weeks and suggested the best way to obtain the deal.
“The best way to make reservations is to call their 1-800 number or go through your local travel agent – those are the most dependable methods. Online bookings with some of those travel sites have had some problems,” said Wardwell. “You can book all the way through to Orlando or Chicago.”
Wardwell said PenAir’s being headquartered in Alaska serves as a plus to NMRA, since the company is familiar with winter conditions.
“From a winter operations perspective, there are high hopes and anticipation,” said Wardwell. “They’re no stranger to winter flying conditions and what it takes to make things work in colder climates.”
An introductory fare of $115.30 (including tax) each way to Boston will be available on penair.com or by calling central reservations at 800-448-4226. Seats are limited and travel is good from June 15-28. For a full schedule of fares and flight schedules, visit the website or call the 800 number.
PenAir began service from Boston to Bar Harbor on May 24 and will begin service from Boston to Plattsburgh on June 15.
PenAir is one of the largest regional airlines in Alaska and one of the largest operators of Saab 340 aircraft in the U.S. Operations began in a remote village of Alaska in 1955 with a two-seater Taylorcraft aircraft. PenAir now operates 11 Saab, 30-passenger aircraft, employs over 500 people in the state of Alaska and is training and hiring over 50 employees on the East Coast.
Founder Orin Seybert recently retired from the day-to-day operations of the company and turned the reins over to his son, Danny Seybert, who is the chairman of the board and CEO.
The airline is codeshare partner with Alaska Airlines and has electronic ticketing agreements with American, Delta, Alaska, USAir, United and several other carriers.
