<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1UXSy3_0vksRYy900" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1UXSy3_0vksRYy900" width="1320" height="743" >COOS COUNTY, Ore. — Southwest Oregon Regional Airport is taking its next steps to once again provide flights from North Bend/Coos Bay to Portland International.The airport received a federal Small Community Air Service Development Grant for $750,000, which requires a local matching grant.In 2017 the local airport lost its Portland flights due to Pen Air leaving the market and going out of business. Since then, the local airport has been working to bring those routes back.“It’s vitally important for this region that we do continue commercial air service here, we’re one of six reginal airports in the state and it’s very important,” said Stephanie Kilmer, public information officer for the Coos County airport.Re-establishing the routes is not an easy process, but progress is being made with the help of community partnerships and the grant funds, according to Kilmer.“It’s definitely a negotiation that you have to do and you have to show that there’s a lot of community support for that, so we're in the process of working with many businesses and organizations to establish that incentive package that will match that grant funding to show the airline that there’s a viable option here,” she said.She estimates that the flights to Portland could take place as early as late next year.</div></body>

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Southwest Oregon Regional Airport to expand flights to Portland

COOS COUNTY, Ore. — Southwest Oregon Regional Airport is taking its next steps to once again provide flights from North Bend/Coos Bay to Portland International. The airport received a federal Small Community Air Service Development Grant for $750,000, which requires a local matching grant. In 2017 the local airport...