TACOMA, Wash — The Puyallup Tribe of Indians and Kenmore Air are offering a new route for seaplane travelers this spring.
Kenmore Air will begin flights to San Juan Island on Thursday, May 16, departing from the Puyallup Tribe Air Terminal along Ruston Way in Tacoma, according to a recent news release.
The Puyallup Tribe Air Terminal seaplane dock is located between the RAM Restaurant & Brewery and the former C.I. Shenanigans restaurant on Ruston Way. The Tribe purchased the almost two-acre plot in 2021 and offered its first flights last summer.
"The first year of the Puyallup Air Terminal was a huge success and will continue to be a success with the addition of flights to San Juan Island,” the Puyallup Tribal Council, the Tribe’s governing body, said in a statement. “We are excited for the future of Ruston Way and our partnership with Kenmore Air.”
For the new route, there will be two flights a day available from Ruston Way to Friday Harbor Marina and from Ruston Way to Roche Harbor Marina, along with two return flights per day.
Flights depart the Puyallup Tribe Air Terminal in Tacoma at 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. with return flights arriving at 11:45 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. The 55-minute flights are $269 per person one way.
In comparison, it can take approximately four hours to drive from Tacoma to San Juan Island, with a necessary trip on the Washington State Ferries.
In 2023, the Tribe debuted 30-minute South Sound scenic flight tours for $109 per person, showing passengers sights like Mount Rainier, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and Puget Sound from the sky. Over 100 Kenmore Air flights, carrying nearly 1,000 passengers, departed from Ruston Way last year.
“Kenmore Air is thrilled to continue our partnership and collaboration with the Puyallup Tribe with our new direct flight service from Tacoma to the picturesque San Juan Island,” said David Gudgel, president of Kenmore Air. “We both share a dedication to providing unmatched convenience and accessibility to the San Juan Islands and enhancing regional connectivity. This partnership underscores our mutual desire to elevate travel experiences and foster growth in the region, and we look forward to the growth path ahead.”
Kenmore Air has 25 aircrafts, 52 pilots and over 250 employees during its peak flight season. The flight company said it also plans to offer an aviation job training program for Puyallup Tribe members in the future.
In partnership with Kenmore Air, the Puyallup Tribe is the only Tribe in the country to offer seaplane services, according to the news release.
