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June 2 Launch Date for Northern Pacific Airways

Mar 8, 2023 | News, Transportation

Rob McKinney NORTHERN PACIFIC

Northern Pacific Airways CEO Rob McKinney aboard a refurbished 757-200.

Northern Pacific Airways

T-minus three months. Countdown has begun for the first revenue flights of Northern Pacific Airways, the intercontinental carrier using Anchorage as its hub. The launch date has been set for June 2, 2023.

Over the Mojave

The first route will not be out of Anchorage, however, and it is entirely within the continent: a one-hour hop from Ontario International Airport, inland from Los Angeles, to Las Vegas. The normal schedule will depart for Las Vegas on Fridays, with a return flight on Sundays.

Northern Pacific Airways CEO Rob McKinney calls the announcement a major milestone. “The airline now has a live flight schedule, purchasable tickets, and refurbished aircraft ready to go, and I can’t wait for passengers to meet our team onboard and fly with us,” he says.
Routes through Anchorage, to the East Coast, and international destinations in Japan and South Korea are still in the planning stages. The first domestic route enables the startup to earn revenue.

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“I know that our weekend getaway flights will be an incredibly convenient and cost-effective way for people to enjoy themselves in the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas,” says McKinney. “I’m especially thankful to our team around the world and especially to those in Anchorage for their dedication and hard work.”

Initial bookings are available only on select online travel agencies and through travel agents; direct booking will be available soon. Fares start at $69 one way.

Northern Pacific is the sister airline of Ravn Alaska, the in-state carrier that McKinney’s California-based FLOAT Shuttle bought at a bankruptcy auction in 2020 for $8 million. Northern Pacific Airways began acquiring a fleet of refurbished Boeing 757-200 aircraft in 2021.

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JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF ALASKA + INDUSTRY SUPPORT
January 2026
In our first issue of 2026, we are again featuring two special sections: Junior Achievement of Alaska and Industry Support.

We’re honored again this year to celebrate our partnership with Junior Achievement of Alaska, a nonprofit that educates local youth about enterprise, business, money, and financial literacy. In the special section, three Junior Achievement of Alaska students weigh in on their experience with the exceptional volunteers and teachers involved with the program.

And in Industry Support, we explore the range of varied services that industry in Alaska requires, from mancamps to spill response to off-grid energy solutions.

Outside the special sections, make sure to check out the 2026 Economic forecast, where Alaska leaders share their insights on what may lie ahead in the coming year. Enjoy!

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