Boutique’s future looks bright
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Things are looking good for Boutique Air. Pendleton Economic Development Director Steve Chrisman says it’s hard to get a seat on one of the round-trip flights to Portland these days.
The aviation industry relies on enplanements at a particular airport to measure success. Chrisman said the most important sign of success for Boutique is tracking how many people get on the plane at the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton.
Enplanements increased by about nine percent in 2023, and Chrisman estimates they will hit 13 to 15 percent by the end of this year.
“We’re back to pre-COVID levels, where we were just about to break our all-time record for enplanements,” he said. “We’re supper excited to see what’s happening there.”
Boutique Air is Pendleton’s Essential Air Service provider. That contract renewal was approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation last spring. The federal Department of Transportation provides funding to airlines at rural airports to ensure round-trip air service to larger cities.
