Holiday Air Traffic for Kodiak Better than Expected

KODIAK - Despite worry that demand would be down due to budget-conscious travelers, locals were just as eager to get off the island this holiday season as they were last year.

Slightly less than 1,000 passengers are scheduled to fly in or out of Kodiak on ERA planes in the peak holiday season between Dec. 22 and 28. Spokesman Mike LeNorman said planes to and from Kodiak are generally filled to about 80 percent capacity.

"We fully expected to be down this year, but we've been flat, so we're happy about that," he said.

Stormy weather Sunday and Monday grounded planes on two of the busiest travel days. ERA has already canceled 12 flights for weather reasons this season.

Danielle Atkins of the Alaska Marine Highway reported via

e-mail that 160 passengers embarked from Kodiak in the week ending Dec. 22. That's up from last year when the ferry Tustumena was out for repairs and only 62 passengers left Kodiak aboard the ferry Kennicott.

Alaska Airlines cut its Kodiak New Year's week schedule from 13 to 11 flights this year, but reported bookings were up from last year on remaining flights.

Spokesperson Marianne Lindsey said via e-mail that Alaska Airline's holiday travel is no match for the summer season, when the airline generally schedules between 13 and 14 flights per week.

Lindsey cautioned Kodiak passengers about new baggage rules that will affect travelers headed south this year.

Travelers on Alaska Airlines flights in Alaska may take up to three

checked bags free. But in the Lower 48 passengers face a $15 fee for the first checked bag, $25 for a second and $50 for a third. Bags more than 50 pounds are subject to a $50 overweight fee.

Bringing gift-wrapped packages is a bad idea. They will be opened and searched whether placed in checked bags or carried onto the plane.