From Crosscut: “Kenmore Air has been flying seaplanes in and out of Lake Union — and Lake Washington in nearby Kenmore — since three friends founded the aviation company in 1946. Perry says it’s now the largest seaplane airline in the U.S., currently with 20 floatplanes and three land planes that fly to 45 scheduled destinations in the region. (Seattle Seaplanes, also based in Lake Union, similarly offers charter flights and scenic tours from the lake.)
“As the Seattle region’s population has grown, use of the lake for commercial and recreational purpose has only amplified — including by the seaplanes. Perry thinks there’s a direct correlation.
“We just have more people in the neighborhood that want to go,” he said. “We will continue to have more population show up and there’s always going to be a percentage of the newcomers who say, ‘I want to go try that; I’ve never done that.’ ”
“But that extra population also means more traffic on the lake from all parties, and hence the need for more safety measures, like the buoy-marked airstrip. “It’s gotten a lot busier; it’s getting way more crowded out there with boats,” the Outdoor Center’s Meyer said.
“Meyer was skeptical the buoys will help with safety, though. “How much do people obey traffic laws?” he noted. “We’ll just have to wait and see; it’s not really something that’s been tried here.”
“The first-of-its-kind seaplane route between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., reflects the growing demands on Lake Union, too. Both cities have booming populations and rising workforces — thanks in part to serving as hubs for burgeoning tech companies and other modern industry — while boasting downtown waterways that provide convenient access to major corporate offices.
“The new flight service was celebrated by dignitaries from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Microsoft executives, during a kick-off party Wednesday. “We at Microsoft have been supporters, advocates and maybe even agitators for this route,” said the company’s president Brad Smith. “We’ve been saying ‘gee, it’s not only a flight whose time has come, but maybe it’s even a little overdue.’ ”
“At the party, other figures also praised the collaborative addition to the region, such as Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee and Navdeep Bains, Canada’s minister of innovation, science and economic development who attended as a surrogate for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“The “nerd bird” — Bains twice used the term — is initially intended to help tech workers ferry more efficiently between corporate offices without having to spend time and money using more traditional modes of travel, which would require overnight trips. Microsoft’s endorsement was a big boost in convincing Canadian leaders to approve the new flight, government leaders said.
“The key issue was getting the customs clearance done on the Canadian side,” explained Greg McDougall, CEO of Harbour Air. “There was no customs clearance in Vancouver harbor, and so there was a reluctance for the CBSA [Canadian Border Services Agency] to be able to expand their customs network, as they had their hands full with cruise ships and everything else. So we literally did have to go to the top of the rung, which was Trudeau’s office and he was very helpful in getting this happen.”
“Although tech workers are the initial customer target, the flights — costing $285 (U.S.) one-way — are intended to entice a broader audience, too, including other “professionals, sports fans [and] tourists,” said Todd Banks, president of Kenmore Air.
“Flights will leave in both the morning and in the evening Monday through Friday from both Vancouver and Seattle, with the potential for weekend flights if there’s demand. In Kenmore Air’s 72-year history, “this is kind of a big deal in that we’re stretching and adding a route,” said Perry, the chief pilot. He said if the route — technically a one-year pilot project — proves to be viable, it could be expanded in future years.
“It’s an attempt to tie the two cities together,” Perry said, “and we’ll see what happens.”