Come April, folks looking to get out of Humboldt County will have a new option: direct air service to Portland.

Pen Air, a regional airline based in Alaska, announced via press release that it will soon be adding two daily flights between Portland and Arcata/Eureka, err, the California Redwood Coast - Humboldt County Airport. The airline’s 30-seat Saab 340 turboprop planes will make the flights.

Beginning April 21, the company will start offering flights headed north to Portland departing at 5:50 and 11:20 a.m., with flights into Humboldt departing from Portland at 9:20 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., arriving at 10:50 a.m. and 8 p.m., respectively.

There appear to be some kinks to work out on Pen Air's website (it currently won't let you book a flight departing from ACV) but, at the moment, you can score a roundtrip ticket flying from Portland to ACV for a weekend trip in June for about $400.

For more on Humboldt’s years-long quest to find another air carrier, see past Journal coverage here and here. And for more on Pen Air’s announcement, click the PDF below.

See related PDF PenAir_-_New_PNW_Destinations_Release_2.05.16-2.pdf
And the following is a press release from the County of Humboldt:

Second Airline to Take Flight from Humboldt County in April

Beginning in April, local passengers will have more flights and more destinations available to them when they decide to fly Humboldt. Peninsula Airline, Inc. (PenAir) announced today that it will begin servicing the California Redwood Coast – Humboldt County Airport with flights to Portland International Airport, the largest airport in Oregon.

The agreement means Humboldt County will have two airlines and two destinations serving our regional airport for the first time in nearly five years. The first flights are scheduled to depart on April 21.

Proposed flight schedule:
Monday thru Sunday – daily midday service
April 21, 2016
Arcata/Eureka – Portland
Departs 5:50 AM
Arrives 7:20 AM

Portland – Arcata/Eureka
Departs 9:20 AM
Arrives 10:50 AM


Arcata/Eureka – Portland
Departs 11:20 AM
Arrives 12:50 AM


Portland – Arcata/Eureka
Departs 6:30 PM
Arrives 8:00 PM


“We are thrilled to have PenAir coming to Humboldt County,” said Public Works Director Tom Mattson. “Our community has made it clear that they want more flights to more destinations, and I’m confident that PenAir will do a great job offering quality air service to the people of our area. There are so many positive aspects to this news. I’m excited to see our community reap the benefits.”