Morris Air Service, a charter company based in Salt Lake City, will begin operating discount jet flights between Seattle and Spokane on June 1, the company said.
Morris will offer round-trip service for fares as low as $118, said Doug Terry, vice president of sales and marketing.The current low rate for the trip is $190 on Seattle-based Alaska Airlines or its commuter line, Horizon Air, which dominates the Spokane market.
Morris, founded in 1984, has operated flights from Seattle for several years.
Morris has contracted with Sierra Pacific Airlines of Tucson, Ariz., to operate two round trips daily between Seattle and Spokane. Sierra Pacific, a scheduled charter carrier, will use Boeing 737 jets, Terry said.
Morris flights will leave Spokane at 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Return flights from Seattle will be scheduled at 8:15 a.m. and 6:45 p.m., Terry said.
Alaska and Horizon, which offer hourly service between Seattle and Spokane, will match Morris fares only on flights departing about the same time, said Greg Witter, a spokesman for the two lines.
Spokane Parties, a group of civic and business leaders formed to improve airline service, lobbied Morris for the routes a couple of months ago, said Spokane Chamber of Commerce spokesman Mike Archer.
It worked, Terry said.
"We're petitioned by many cities to come in," he said.