Airline May Revive Idaho Routes Samoan Company Interested In Boise-Twin Falls, Boise Lewiston Moscow Flights

The owners of a Pago Pago, American Samoa-based airline are studying the feasibility of reviving commercial air service on at least two Idaho routes being abandoned by Horizon Air.

David Allen, manager of the Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls, met last week with Connie Porter, who with her husband, Bill, owns Samoa Air Service. Their study of the Boise-Twin Falls route is just beginning, Allen said, and no decision has been made.

And state Department of Commerce spokesman Keith Kopischke said earlier in the week that the airline, which he said has three or four planes, was also considering service between Boise and the Lewiston-Moscow area.

Horizon Air discontinued its three daily flights to Boise April 19, saying the route became unprofitable because of low-fare competition from larger airlines. Since then, there has been no regular service between Twin Falls and Boise.

And, next month the regional air carrier is ending direct service between Boise and Moscow and cutting in half service between Boise and Lewiston.

“This is a very serious matter to all of us,” Gov. Phil Batt said during a recent meeting with Nez Perce tribal leaders, who have expressed concern about losing service for Lewiston.

“I do intend to see what I can do about this,” the governor said, although he conceded he would likely be able to do little more than jawbone airlines to provide flights. Batt promised to get state Commerce Director Tom Arnold directly involved.

Connie Porter said she is interested in filling an “Idaho niche,” picking up not only routes Horizon Air will drop but also for other unserved areas.

The Porters started Samoa Air Service almost 11 years ago. It offers scheduled service to the Pacific Ocean island. A separate company would be created to serve Idaho and probably fly nine-to 13-seat aircraft, Porter said.