To improve reliability and on-time performance, PenAir is making several changes in their Pacific Northwest operations to increase schedule reliability. Since starting its operation between Klamath Falls and Portland, PenAir has continued to analyze the market and what can be done to improve the daily operation of its flights. Due to various operational challenges over the last couple of months, PenAir has taken several steps in an effort to increase on-time performance and the percentage of completed flights.
“Probably the most significant operational change for us is moving our maintenance base from Aurora, Oregon to a hangar at Portland International Airport”, says Dave Hall, PenAir’s chief operating officer. “Our aircraft have had to be flown to the Aurora maintenance facility in order to perform daily maintenance checks required by the FAA, causing flight crews and mechanics to drive the distance between Aurora and Portland, which adds significant time to flight delays.”
Effective Feb. 1, the airline will revise its schedule, adding an additional round-trip between Portland and Klamath Falls, for a total of three daily flights in each direction Monday through Friday, which will eliminate the need to overnight the aircraft at Klamath. “Increasing the time available for our maintenance team to perform required checks on the aircraft overnight at our Portland maintenance facility will reduce the need to complete these checks between flights, which often creates delays. These delays often result in cancelled flights due to FAA regulations governing the maximum time a flight crew can be on duty”, says Bill Batman, Director of Operations. “The Company has also taken steps to add an additional Saab 340 aircraft to its fleet over the next few months, which should allow more flexibility in aircraft scheduling,” says Batman.
Effective Feb. 1, there will be departures out of Klamath Falls at 7:15 am, 3:45 pm and 7:40 pm. Departures out of Portland to Klamath Falls will be at 5:30 am, 2 pm and 5:55 pm Monday through Friday with two flights each on Saturday and Sunday. “This schedule gives the business traveler ample opportunity to do a day’s business in either Klamath Falls or Portland and still be back home in the evening. Additionally it gives the leisure traveler connecting opportunities at Portland to almost anywhere in the world,” says Hall.
A new Regional Office in Portland will serve as PenAir’s aircraft parts facility in the Lower-48 states. Currently the Company stores all of its Saab 340 aircraft parts at its maintenance base in Anchorage, Alaska. “Relocating our aircraft parts to Portland constitutes a significant investment in support to the Pacific Northwest markets that will reduce the need to ship parts between Anchorage and Portland. This should help in returning the aircraft back to service quicker and reduce delays”, says Nick Aderman, Director of Maintenance.
“The Company has created new positions that will help better manage on-time performance and staff a consumer affairs office that will help us improve our customer communications. Most importantly, the on-time performance position will continually analyze reasons for flight delays and generate efficiencies so we can keep our airline on-time”, says Hall. “We have also hired a new Customer Service Manager in Klamath Falls who comes to PenAir with previous airline experience at Horizon Air. Ryan Cooley is a current member of the community and will be a great asset in many way for PenAir.”
And lastly, “We are here to stay,” says Hall. “We’ve made a major commitment to the Port of Portland by committing to a contract through 2025. We believe this shows our commitment to our West Coast operation, which includes the community of Klamath Falls”.
