Next-Gen NAC Jet Sports Old-Style Flair
The newest 737-800 in the Northern Air Cargo fleet sports an old-style livery to mark the company’s 70th year of operations in Alaska.
Photo Credit: Northern Air Cargo
Retro-styled livery adorns the newest jet in the Northern Air Cargo (NAC) fleet. Alaska’s largest all-cargo airline received its newest Boeing 737-800 freighter as it celebrates its 70th year of serving Alaska.
Next Gen Jet
The addition comes as NAC marks its 70th year serving Alaska. The new jet’s livery design honors NAC’s roots, while the airframe itself represents continued investment in the fleet to serve the state for years to come.
“As we celebrate seventy years, we are focused on what comes next,” says NAC President Dave Karp. “Northern Air Cargo is committed to Alaska. We are investing in our fleet, strengthening our operations, and continuing to build the kind of cargo airline our customers and communities can depend on.”
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September 2026
The 737-800 adds 40,000 pounds more of freight capacity per flight, giving NAC greater ability to meet customer demand and providing more flexibility when weather, maintenance, or other disruptions affect the network, ensuring reliable, consistent cargo service.
“For seventy years, Northern Air Cargo has adapted to meet the unique needs of Alaska,” Karp says. “This aircraft is an investment in being there for the communities we serve when we say we are going to be there. It gives us greater reliability, greater flexibility and another tool to keep freight moving when Alaska inevitably presents challenges.”
NAC is an operating company of Seattle-based logistics conglomerate Saltchuk.
A year ago, NAC inaugurated a new direct cargo route between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport using a Boeing 737-800 Next Generation freighter, supported by Boeing 737-300 and 737-400s. The service was designed for same-day rural delivery, such that shipments from Seattle can connect directly into NAC’s statewide network. Communities like Nome and Kotzebue can receive freight in as little as 12 hours while others such as Utqiaġvik and Bethel can be serviced in around 18 hours.
What happens when a city with fewer than 300 residents becomes a major freight and tourism hub, despite being accessible only by boat, plane, or a one-lane highway/railroad tunnel managed on a strict schedule?
If you’re in the City of Whittier, you get busy. The city has two separate transportation planning efforts underway, including a safety action plan under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All initiative, which focuses on improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and emergency responders. The second is Whittier Moves, the city’s transportation master plan, which serves as the long-term roadmap for growth.