![One of Kenmore Air’s seaplanes is wrapped in the Puyallup Tribe’s and Emerald Queen Casino’s colors and salmon. [Courtesy: Kenmore Air]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/p-1.jpg)
You know summer has returned to the Pacific Northwest when Kenmore Air resumes flights from its seaplane base in Tacoma, Washington. The seasonal flights between Tacoma and British Columbia resume June 4, with the de Havilland Otters sporting Native American-inspired livery flying between the base on Ruston Way and Victoria.
Since 2023, Kenmore, in collaboration with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, has operated seasonal seaplane flights between the two points, along with local scenic flights.
This year the airline is adding a nonstop flight to the seaplane base on Lake Union in Seattle.
According to Kenmore, the Seattle-Tacoma flights are designed for travelers who want a unique bucket-list travel experience or are looking to avoid crowded freeways and long drives as they travel to and from sporting events, in-person work meetings, or date nights.
“From the start, this partnership has been about making the region feel closer—more connected, more accessible,” David Gudgel, president of Kenmore Air, said in a statement. “This season, we’re bringing that same spirit to both sides of the Sound: summer getaways from Tacoma, plus a new, easy way to move between Seattle and Tacoma during the peak of summer activity.”
The base at Ruston is on tribal lands. The Puyallup Tribe is a sovereign nation of more than 6,000 members.
The tribe is one of the largest employers in Pierce County. Puyallup Tribal Enterprises operates the Emerald Queen Hotel and Casino in Fife, billed as the entertainment capital of the Northwest.
The Tribal Council said the seasonal return reflects the strength of the partnership with Kenmore, and the tribe’s ongoing work to welcome visitors to the waterfront while supporting regional travel and economic opportunity.
“This service continues to create connections between communities, destinations, people, and the South Sound waterfront,” the Tribal Council said. “We’re proud to build on this partnership and the opportunity it brings to our region.”
About Kenmore Air
Kenmore Air was founded in March 1946 by Bob Munro, Reg Collins, and Jack Mines. All three men were aircraft mechanics. The company’s first seaplane base was located at the northern end of Lake Washington in the community of Kenmore. The airline was founded with a single airplane, an Aeronca K that had been salvaged from the lake.
Today, the company is the largest seaplane airline in the U.S., flying de Havilland Beavers and Otters. The airline flies more than 90,000 passengers annually.
In addition to providing travel to water-based destinations, Kenmore offers charter services and scheduled service with its wheeled aircraft division operating Cessna Caravans between King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KBFI) and the San Juan Islands.
