DOT Plan Hopes to Lure More Flights to Alaska

Flying to the Lower 48 can be tough with high prices, limited schedules and lots of transfers, but it might get a little easier if a new incentive program succeeds at bringing more flights to Alaska’s biggest airports.

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By Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Story Created: Aug 12, 2011 at 10:53 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 12, 2011 at 4:37 PM AKDT

FAIRBANKS — Flying to the Lower 48 can be tough with high prices, limited schedules and lots of transfers, but it might get a little easier if a new incentive program succeeds at bringing more flights to Alaska’s biggest airports.

A newly announced program by the Alaska Department of Transportation, which is out for public review, will waive certain fees for airlines that expand or create new passenger or cargo service to Fairbanks International Airport and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

That’s good news for everyone from tourists to travelers and local businesses, said Deb Hickok, the president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“We’re not like most of the Lower 48, where you can drive anywhere or you have multiple carriers offering competitive flights,” she said. “Access and direct flights are very important for tourism development in our community.”

With longer flights and a lower population, creating service to Alaska can be a hard sell for many airlines, said Angie Spear, spokeswoman for the Fairbanks airport.

“We’re a long-haul flight,” she said. “It’s not easy to create new service, especially with the rising prices of fuel.”

The program works by cutting landing fees for the new or expanded services for a limited time. But don’t expect to see these new services popping up overnight, she said, as those fees alone aren’t enough for an airline to consider investing.

But combined with other support, travelers could see new and extended services over the next year as airlines look at their options.

“The possibilities are kind of endless and we want to market ourselves as aggressively as possible,” she said.

Spear suggested new flights, like a direct flight to Portland, Ore., could be a possibility.

“But at the end of the day, the carriers dictate where they’re going to fly,” Spear said. “We’re very pleased that we have the ability to offer this incentive program.”


 

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jjj said on Sunday, Aug 14 at 1:11 AM

here is an idea. STOP MOLESTING OUR CHILDREN TSA!!!!!!!!

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dawn said on Saturday, Aug 13 at 10:07 AM

Like Alaska Air will give up the monopoly they have here. NOT!!

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Juneau is a Stepchild said on Saturday, Aug 13 at 8:30 AM

The capital shouldn't even be there. The only reason it is at this point is so that entire community doesn't die. Anchorage, Wasilla/Palmer, Fairbanks and Kenai are Alaska. We should give Southeast to Canada so they can deal with the crybabies. You CHOOSE to live on an island. How can you complain about airfare?

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Annoyed said on Saturday, Aug 13 at 7:39 AM

Pretty positive the airport was there long before your house was. If you complain now, what will you sound like if commercial air traffic was cut off to the state completely? "What? Nothing in the grocery store for me to eat?" "Why is the local economy in the toilet? BooHooHoo."

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Bob said on Friday, Aug 12 at 10:54 PM

In SE we call Ak airlines "Elastic Airlines" since their schedule is just sort of a rough guess. Hopefully this will evolve into more choices for SE.

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Chinh Nguyen said on Friday, Aug 12 at 9:55 PM

The global warming makes summer time longer and winter shorter in Alaska and should help bring more tourists. If we have a casino, it will even bring more tourists and many new jobs will be created. We need to do something to help young people to get jobs so they won't get in trouble.

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Red said on Friday, Aug 12 at 9:16 PM

again, Juneau is left out in the dark. it costs more to fly Juneau-Seattle then it does Anchorage-Seattle. When are you going to stop treating Juneau like a stepchild???

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Bill said on Friday, Aug 12 at 8:36 PM

Not so "great" if you happen to live near Stevens Airport or under the "Temporary" flight path that's been waking us at midnight since the powers that be placed the major runways under "repair" almost 3 years ago!

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