Alaska’s Aleutian Airways is partnering with its sister company to restore lost connectivity in the mainly rural state.
Aleutian on Tuesday announced an alliance with Argentum Airways, which was set up by private investment firm Wexford Capital using assets acquired from the defunct Florida-based Silver Airways. The linkup is expected to support the expansion of air service in the Last Frontier, with Silver’s old ATR-600s deployed to destinations once served by other airlines, though the carriers have not said exactly which routes they are looking to take over or resume.
Aleutian officials said a number of former Silver employees with ATR-600 expertise have joined Argentum, which will make it easier to bring the turboprop aircraft back into commercial service.
Both Aleutian and Argentum are operated by Sterling Airways. Sterling, in turn, is a portfolio company of Wexford Capital.
The long-term plan is to have Argentum operate shorter, high-frequency routes using the ATR-600s, while Aleutian will continue to serve the Aleutian Islands chain with its Saab 2000s. The combination is expected to help reconnect many cities and towns that have been left without reliable air service since the collapse of Ravn Alaska, once the largest of Alaska’s in-state carriers. Ravn pared back routes in the years following its 2020 revival and ceased all operations earlier this month.
The two airlines said the U.S. Department of Transportation and the FAA will have to approve their partnership and the planned route expansion.
