Regional carrier Ravn Alaska has ceased operations after years of financial struggles.
The airline, a subsidiary of commuter service FLOAT Alaska, flew its last flight on Aug. 5. It was at one time the state’s largest rural airline, and a key player in the patchwork of regional carriers that ties together Alaska’s many remote cities and towns.
“We appreciate the years of service we were able to provide to Alaska communities,” a message on the airline’s website read. “While we are no longer operating flights in Alaska, we’re grateful for the trust you placed in us during our time serving the region.”
CEO Tom Hsieh confirmed to the Anchorage Daily News that Ravn Alaska’s future flights “have been canceled.” When asked, he could not say how many employees would be out of work as a result of the closure.
Ravn Alaska had its main hub at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and, within the last several years, served locations such as Homer, St. Mary’s, St. Paul Island, and Valdez.
The carrier was part of a chain of companies and subsidiaries that descended from Economy Helicopters, founded in Anchorage in 1948. The business was eventually renamed Era Aviation and reorganized as Ravn Alaska. At its peak, the airline served larger cities like Fairbanks alongside dozens of smaller villages in Alaska’s interior and coastal regions.
This incarnation of Ravn Alaska filed for bankruptcy in 2020 after a collapse in demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline ceased operations, laid off around 1,000 workers, and sold off its assets.
Later that year, though, the brand was revived by FLOAT Alaska, and flights resumed.
Despite an initially sunny outlook, Ravn Alaska continued to struggle. According to the Anchorage Daily News, it slashed many rural routes and in 2024 laid off 130 employees from a total staff of over 400.
A recent route map shows that by the time of the shutdown, Ravn Alaska was only flying between Anchorage and Valdez.
