New Trains Put SeaPort Airlines' Service at Risk
SeaPort Airlines has been operating out of Boeing Field in Washington state since 2019, providing air service for Amtrak's Cascades route. However, new Amtrak trains are being introduced that SeaPort's CEO claims will make his company's aircraft obsolete.
The new trains, which were ordered as part of a $2.5 billion contract, are expected to reduce travel times and increase capacity on the route. According to SeaPort Airlines' CEO, the new trains will be faster and more efficient than his company's planes, rendering them unnecessary for the service.
SeaPort has been operating with a fleet of de Havilland DHC-8 turboprop aircraft, which have been in use since 2019. The airline has not commented on whether it plans to retire its existing fleet or adjust its operations in response to the introduction of the new trains.