Aleutian Airways
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | November 16, 2022 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Southwest Alaska |
Key people | Wayne Heller (CEO of Sterling Airways, partner) |
| Products | Scheduled passenger air service |
| Parent | Wexford Capital (via Sterling Airways), Alaska Seaplanes (via Air Excursions LLC and Kalinin Aviation LLC) |
Aleutian Airways is a collaborative enterprise formed by Sterling Airways and Alaska Seaplanes, offering scheduled air service connecting Anchorage with various locations in Southwest Alaska.
History
The airline operates routes that were once under the purview of PenAir, which was purchased by the Ravn air group in 2018. Following a significant downturn in air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ravn declared bankruptcy, leading to the availability of PenAir's operational certificate for purchase once again. Alaska Seaplanes, which had previously been outbid by Ravn in 2018, attempted to acquire the certificate but did not succeed.
In response, Alaska Seaplanes joined forces with Sterling Airways to establish Aleutian Airways, concentrating on serving Southwest Alaska. The carrier utilizes former PenAir Saab 2000 aircraft and employs staff who previously worked for PenAir.
Scheduled operations began on November 16, 2022, with flights running between Anchorage and Dutch Harbor.
Corporate Structure
Aleutian Airways is structured as a joint venture involving Wexford Capital, Mckinley Alaska Private Investment, and FAA-certified operators Air Excursions LLC and Kalinin Aviation LLC, which conduct business as Alaska Seaplanes. Alaska Seaplanes oversees ticketing and administrative tasks, while Sterling Airways, a subsidiary of Wexford, is responsible for aircraft maintenance and flight operations.
Sterling Airways
Wexford Capital acquired the Florida-based carrier ViaAir with plans to rebrand and expand services across Southeast, Midwest, and Alaskan markets. The airline was renamed Sterling Airways, replacing its Embraer fleet with four leased Saab 2000 aircraft. Presently, Sterling operates exclusively under the Aleutian Airways brand.
Wexford brings extensive experience in aviation management, dating back to its acquisition of assets from the former Alaskan airline MarkAir in 1995 and subsequent restructuring of Republic Airways. Key Sterling executives, including CEO Wayne Heller, have professional backgrounds linked to Republic Airways.
Destinations
| City | Country (Subdivision) | IATA | Airport | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | USA (Alaska) | ANC | Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport | Primary hub |
| Cold Bay | USA (Alaska) | CDB | Cold Bay Airport | |
| Unalaska / Dutch Harbor | USA (Alaska) | DUT | Unalaska Airport | |
| Homer | USA (Alaska) | HOM | Homer Airport | |
| Kenai | USA (Alaska) | ENA | Kenai Airport | |
| King Salmon | USA (Alaska) | AKN | King Salmon Airport | Seasonal service |
| Sand Point | USA (Alaska) | SDP | Sand Point Airport |
Fleet
As of , Aleutian Airways' fleet consists of:
| Aircraft type | Quantity in service | Orders pending | Passenger capacity | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATR 42-600 | 1 | — | [2] | |
| Saab 2000 | 4 | — | Aircraft formerly operated by PenAir.[3] | |
| Total | 5 | — | ||