New commercial flights are about to take off in the Pacific Northwest, offering travelers a rare option: TSA-free flights between Spokane and Seattle.
SeaPort Airlines is launching daily commercial service from Felts Field in Spokane, Washington, to Seattle’s Boeing Field, with seats starting at $299 one way. The flights are scheduled to begin on Monday, March 9.
For travelers used to arriving early and going through airport security, the most unusual part may be that there’s no traditional TSA checkpoint. The route also marks a rare milestone for Felts Field, which hasn’t seen scheduled commercial departures since 1946.
PC: SeaPort Airlines
The aircraft
SeaPort will operate the route using a Pilatus PC-12, a turboprop aircraft that seats two pilots and nine passengers. The plane is fully pressurized and climate controlled, allowing it to fly comfortably at higher altitudes.
The airline says most days will include four round-trip flights between Spokane and Seattle.
“You can wake up in Spokane, do a full day’s business in Seattle and be back home here for dinner,” said SeaPort CEO Kent Craford.
Why these flights don’t require a traditional TSA checkpoint
One of the most unusual parts of SeaPort’s new Spokane-to-Seattle service is that passengers won’t go through the kind of TSA checkpoint they’d see at a major commercial airport.
SeaPort is operating the route with a Pilatus PC-12, a small aircraft configured for nine passengers. Because this is a small-aircraft commuter operation using general aviation-style facilities at Felts Field and Boeing Field, the airport experience looks very different from a typical airline trip.
Instead of arriving far in advance for standard airport screening, passengers can check in shortly before departure and board in a process that feels closer to a private shuttle or charter-style operation than a traditional commercial flight.
That’s the key reason SeaPort can advertise the route as a “No TSA” service.
A different kind of airline experience
Flights between Spokane and Seattle aren’t entirely new. Private charter service has connected the two cities before. What makes SeaPort’s service different is that travelers can book individual seats rather than chartering the entire aircraft.
The airport experience will also be much simpler than what most travelers expect from a commercial flight. According to SeaPort, passengers can:
- Check in just 20 minutes before departure
- Park for free
- Book same-day flights online
Pricing
One-way tickets will start at $299, with prices adjusting depending on demand.
Why SeaPort believes the route will succeed
SeaPort officials say the service is aimed primarily at business travelers who frequently move between Spokane and Seattle.
Spokane Airport CEO David Haring estimates that roughly 500 people travel between the two cities every day, suggesting demand for a faster, simpler option.
Chief pilot Ian Fisk says the PC-12 offers a unique mix of speed, efficiency and comfort.
“It’s fast — so we can keep up with the big guys,” Fisk said.
“We can fly up to 28,000 feet, which lets us get above weather that smaller aircraft can’t.”
The aircraft also offers a more personal travel experience.
“It’s quiet, it’s warm,” Fisk said. “Everybody’s got a window seat and an aisle seat, so that’s pretty sweet.”
“Our pilots know our customers by name.”
What this means for travelers
For travelers who regularly fly between Spokane and Seattle, the new service could offer a very different airport experience. Without TSA screening and with check-in only about 20 minutes before departure, the process will look more like boarding a commuter shuttle than a traditional airline flight.
However, the trade-off is aircraft size. With only nine passenger seats available on each flight, tickets may sell out quickly, especially during busy travel periods.
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