PENDLETON — The Pendleton City Council flew with the recommendation from a selection committee to support Boutique Air as the airline to provide passenger service between Pendleton and Portland.

Boutique Air is looking to renew the Essential Air Service subsidy from the U.S. Department of Transportation for flights between Pendleton and Portland. Alaska Seaplanes and Southern Airways Express also have submitted bids for the route.

“My nine-member selection committee selects Boutique Air to provide EAS to the city of Pendleton,” Eastern Oregon Regional Airport Manager Dan Bandel told the council at its meeting Tuesday night.

Boutique has provided flights to and from Pendleton using the federal subsidy since 2016. The contract expires May 31.

“The Essential Air Service program aims to maintain air service to small communities like Pendleton,” Bandel told the council. “The primary goal is to connect remote areas to the national air transportation system. It ensures that even small communities have access to air travel. The program usually serves rural towns or regions that were receiving scheduled airline service before the deregulation in 1978. These places would have lost service without government intervention.”

Bandel said the Department of Transportation selects air carriers to provide the service to eligible communities and these carriers receive subsidies to operate flights to and from these locations. He said the carriers sign contracts with the department to provide a minimum level of service, such as frequency of flights, available seats and connections to eligible communities.

“This funding helps cover the difference between the cost of providing service and the revenue generated,” Bandel said. “The program faces challenges related to cost effectiveness, changing demand and market dynamics. Balancing service quality with financial viability is essential.”

Boutique, Alaska Seaplanes and Southern Airways each would provide flights 21 times per week between Pendleton and Portland. The DOT will make the final determination of which carrier gets the contract. The city’s recommendation will be sent to the federal transportation department as part of the deliberation process.