A Whidbey-based shuttle company will soon begin offering daily service to Bellingham International Airport.

Beginning Monday, July 16, WHIDBEY SEATAC SHUTTLE will offer four trips daily from Oak Harbor to the airport. The company will also be shuttling travelers from the airport back to the island.

The new service, which is meant to serve a growing market and satisfy customer demand, will be in addition to the nine round trips the company currently offers to SeaTac International Airport.

According to James Johnson, general manager for the company, a number of new flights are now available in Bellingham and the shuttle service has been watching the expansion closely.

Coupled with frequent requests from customers, he said it became clear that it was the right time to begin the new route.

“The community has been requesting it and we try and listen,” Johnson said. “It just felt right.”

Several carriers have begun offering new flights to locations such as Las Vegas, Nev., and Hawaii. Johnson said island residents have been taking advantage of them and many are reporting a preference to Bellingham over Seattle.

“What we’re hearing from customers is that it’s easier to fly out of Bellingham,” he said, referencing considerations such as reduced difficulty with security.

Although the company is not considering a name change quite yet, if the new service is greatly utilized, Johnson said they may consider adding additional trips or routes.

For schedules and pricing call 679-4003 or visit the company’s website, www.seatacshuttle.com/.