Ravn Alaska halts service to Unalaska and 2 other Western Alaska communities

Citing a need for sustainability, troubled airline Ravn Alaska said Tuesday it will suspend its service to Unalaska, Cold Bay and Sand Point in Western Alaska, starting on Aug. 16.

The decision leaves just six communities as scheduled destinations for Ravn. It follows major cutbacks and changes at the regional carrier over the last year.

Representatives with Ravn, including new chief executive Tom Hsieh, could not immediately be reached for an interview Tuesday.

The latest move will allow Ravn Alaska to focus on other destinations in Alaska, the company said in an online statement addressing “frequently asked questions.”

“This change comes as part of a broader initiative to optimize operations and ensure long-term sustainability and growth for the airline,” Ravn Alaska said in the statement. “By reallocating resources and capacity, Ravn Alaska/New Pacific Airlines aims to enhance service reliability and customer satisfaction across its core network.”

“This was not an easy decision, but it is a necessary step in our long-term strategy to strengthen the overall success of our airline and this shift allows us to concentrate on routes where we can make the most significant impact,” the statement said.

The elimination of the three communities leaves Anchorage, Homer, Valdez, St. Paul Island, Unalakleet and St. Mary’s as Ravn’s scheduled destinations, according to the company’s website.

Another regional carrier, Aleutian Airways, flies to Unalaska, Cold Bay and Sand Point, among other Alaska destinations.

Officials in Unalaska, a city of 4,200 and a major U.S. commercial fishing port, could not immediately be reached for comment late Tuesday.

Ravn laid off 130 employees early this year, a big cut to its workforce of more than 400 at the time. Last fall, Ravn also halted flights to the communities of Kenai and Aniak.

More recently, it replaced its chief executive and lost a mileage-redemption agreement with Alaska Airlines.

Ravn refunds for affected tickets to Unalaska, Cold Bay and Sand Point will be processed automatically, within 14 business days of the end of service to the communities, the company said in the statement.

“There is no need for passengers to take any action to receive their refunds,” the statement said.

“We understand how disruptive and inconvenient this situation is and deeply regret the impact it has had on your travel plans, as well as the communities we’ve served,” Ravn said in an email to passengers.

The airline has had a rocky history.

Ravn Alaska’s predecessor, RavnAir Group, filed for bankruptcy in June 2020, amid high debts and a sharp drop in passenger traffic during the pandemic.

Ravn Alaska launched in late 2020, after new ownership including McKinney acquired part of RavnAir Group’s assets in a $9.5 million bankruptcy sale.

A new company affiliated with Ravn Alaska, meanwhile, has launched an ambitious bid to create an international airline.

New Pacific Airlines, formerly called Northern Pacific Airways, is listed as the parent company of Ravn in Alaska business records.

New Pacific has plans to provide passenger flights to Asia and the Lower 48 with Anchorage stops, using Boeing 757 jets. The company had planned to begin flying to scheduled destinations such as Tokyo and Seoul in 2022.

But it is currently providing only charter flights, according to its website.