Four Oregon congressmen recently sent a letter to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) urging the agency to maintain security equipment at Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport in Klamath Falls after PenAir’s bankruptcy.
PenAir was the airport’s sole commercial air service provider. When the airline went bankrupt, it did not provide much advanced notice that it was canceling service. This has left airports like Crater Lake scrambling to find a replacement carrier.
PenAir is operated by Peninsula Airways, based in Alaska. It filed for bankruptcy in early August. On Aug. 4, it announced most Northwest flights would be canceled effective Aug. 8.
Peninsula said expansion beyond its Alaska hub failed to generate enough passengers to continue the service. Peninsula operates mostly government-subsidized routes to small towns.
Keeping TSA equipment at the airport will reduce logistical burdens for both the airport and the TSA, the letter said.
Commercial air service is vital to the economy of Klamath Falls. “The local community understands well the diverse benefits that air service provides,” the letter said. “That’s why they are working to find a replacement.”
The letter was signed by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and by Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Greg Walden (R-OR).