Little SeaPort Airlines Can't lure Pilots, Cutting Routes..

SeaPort Airlines has discontinued services to nine destinations in California, Kansas, Missouri, and Mexico citing a shortage of qualified flight crew.

In a statement, the Oregonian carrier said flights to Sacramento Int'l, Visalia, Burbank, San Diego Int'l, El Centro, San Felipe (Mexico), Salina, Great Bend, and Kansas City Int'l had been terminated as of January 15/16.

"The company was forced to take this action because of the impact on Sea Port’s business and operations following the effects of the shortage of airline pilots in the United States," it said.

SeaPort's EAS contracts have also been affected with the airline withdrawing from its Tupelo andMuscle Shoals commitments in October of last year. It will continue to operate from Houston Intc'l toEl Dorado and Hot Springs, from Memphis Int'l to Hot Springs and Harrison as well as from Portland Int'l, OR to North Bend and Pendleton.

The airline has blamed the shortage of qualified personnel on new US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations which require First Officers to have a minimum of 1,500 hours ATP experience to operate for a Part 121 airline. Though it is a Part 135 carrier, SeaPort says its operations have been severely affected by the recruitment of their pilots by Part 121 carriers.

Great Lakes Airlineshas already been announced as a new operator for Salina offering a Denver Int'l link from April 1 replacing the Salina-Kansas City route previously offered by SeaPort.