RavnAir to temporarily cut 150 employees amid reduction in air travel

Updated: March 24, 2020 Published: March 24, 2020

A Ravn Alaska Dash 8 sits parked at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Monday, March 23, 2020. Ravn has announced that it is temporaryly reducing its workforce by 150 employees as a result of a sharp reduction in air travel due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Bill Roth / ADN)

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Alaska’s largest regional air carrier announced on Monday that it will temporarily cut 146 employees due to a sharp decline in air travel in Alaska amid the coronavirus emergency.

RavnAir Group said in a statement the company has been forced to “take immediate action and drastically cut costs,” reducing its flying schedule by about 30%.

[As jobless claims in Alaska soar, economists say tens of thousands of workers could be affected]

“We have no further information at this time, because not all of our employees have been notified," Reinwand said.

RavnAir Group is comprised of RavnAir Alaska, PenAir and RavnAir Connect, according to its web page. It serves 115 communities and employs more than 1,300 Alaskans, according to Debbie Reinwand, a spokeswoman for the company.

The layoffs are part of a surge in cuts at businesses statewide as the response to COVID-19 has escalated. Local and state emergency orders last week forced many businesses to close.

Alex DeMarban

Alex DeMarban is a longtime Alaska journalist who covers business, the oil and gas industries and general assignments. Reach him at 907-257-4317 or alex@adn.com.