The launch of SeaPort Airlines has given San Juan Island residents easy access to travel to Portland.

SeaPort Airlines, in combination with its Boeing Field terminal neighbor Kenmore Airlines, can get patrons from the San Juan Islands to downtown Portland in about two hours.

Prior to SeaPort Airlines, islanders who wanted to fly only had two options to get to Portland. First, San Juan residents could take a plane to Boeing Field then take a taxi to SeaTac, go through TSA security and then board another plane that lands at PDX. The second option: take a ferry to the mainland and drive to SeaTac to fly into Portland.

SeaPort offers regularly scheduled flights between Seattle’s Boeing Field and its own terminal at PDX, next to Flightcraft, without the hassle of TSA check points or overcrowded airports. Kenmore Airlines has several daily flights departing from Friday Harbor and Eastsound to Boeing Field.

SeaPort opens the gateway for islanders to enjoy Portland’s tax-free shopping, restaurant scene or some of the local festivals:

— Portland Riverfest 2008, Aug. 28 to Sept. 7 (www.portlandriverfest.org)

— 32nd annual N.W. Natural Street of Dreams, Aug. 16 to Sept. 14, (www.streetofdreamspdx.com)

— Art In The Pearl, Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 (www.artinthepearl.com)

— Northwest Chocolate Festival, Sept. 12-14 (www.nwchocolatefestival.com)

— 16th annual Northwest Women’s Show, Oct. 24-26 (www.portlandwomenshow.com)

SeaPort Airlines operates Swiss-built Pilatus PC-12s, a pressurized, fast and comfortable turbo-prop aircraft. SeaPort Airlines is a DBA of Alaska Juneau Aeronautics, an FAA Part 135-certified scheduled air service with 25 years’ experience in commercial aviation.

Alaska Juneau Aeronautics and SeaPort Air’s sister airline, Wings of Alaska, are wholly-owned subsidiaries of SeaPort Air Group, LLC, a Portland-based company founded by Portland investors John Beardsley, Tom Carrollo and Kent Craford.

For reservations or more details about SeaPort Airlines, visit www.SeaPortAir.com or call (888) 573-2767.