explore:NW Summer 2020 | Page 12

L E T T E R F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T We’ll Get Through This Together Todd Banks, President LIKE EVERYONE, I’M WAITING TO reach the light at the end of the ‘coronavirus tunnel.’ It’s a path that’s unfortunately full of twists, turns and unknowns. Which means, finding our way will take a little longer than we first anticipated. But I’m confident we’ll get through the pandemic stronger, more resilient and with a greater appreciation of things we might have previously taken for granted. When Washington issued a mandatory stay at home order in March, no one knew what that exactly meant or how it would affect our daily lives. For us at Kenmore Air, it was a tumultuous time. It still is. Our staff keeps adapting to the changing landscape, committed to providing this essential service to our community. At times, this has looked like charter flights and essential service flights only. Today, our pilots are back to flying regularly scheduled flights on a limited basis, with the intent of one day flying a full schedule. I’d like to say we’re there, but we’re not. Utilizing our full fleet is a ways off. But thanks to everyone doing jorge cavello photo their part, we’re making strides in the right direction. At Kenmore, your safety is always our top priority. So in addition to the rigorous safety protocols we’ve always had in place, we’ve implemented new COVID measures. Facemasks are a requirement for all our employees and passengers while in our terminals and on the aircraft. All employees at Kenmore Air are dedicated to this state-mandated requisite. The science that supports it is unmistakable. Thank you for masking up. Our crew diligently cleans and disinfects all commonly touched areas in the terminals. Before and after every flight, each aircraft is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. And at the end of the day, each plane is again thoroughly cleaned. I’m happy to report that our employees have done an excellent job in this department. We’re asking everyone to practice social distancing. And above all, we’re requesting anyone who feels ill to stay home. No one can say for sure when we’ll reach a ‘new normal’ or what that normal will look like. But if there’s one thing I can say for certain, it’s this: we’ll have a better appreciation for the simple things. Dinner with family. Hugging a friend. Strolling through a crowded farmer’s market in the San Juan Islands. Pressing our nose against the window as a seaplane flies past the Space Needle. No longer are the little pleasantries so little. And that ‘new normal’ is one I hope we maintain. Stay safe. Stay masked. We’ll get through this together.