Alaska Airlines Anchorage Base to close?
02-16-2010, 09:00 AM
#1
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Alaska Airlines Anchorage Base to close?
If the SEA ETOPS deal passes membership ratification, Anchorage is going to lose most of its Hawaii flying. Of course, they do a lot of Arctic flying up there, but the 737-400s will all be gone between 2013 and 2015, including the 400 Combi and Freighter. I think we will see Alaska give up the Arctic flying to another outfit, like Northern Air Cargo or Everts (they already have three DC-9 freighters). Unless Alaska converts some of its 737-700s to freighters, then I don't foresee too much flying left to do out of Anchorage. The other angle of looking at the Anchorage base closure is to consider the fact that the AAG BOD is positioning the airline for possible acquisition.
I think the writing is on the wall. The fine folks up there don't want to hear it, but the days of their pilot base up there are numbered.
I think the writing is on the wall. The fine folks up there don't want to hear it, but the days of their pilot base up there are numbered.
02-16-2010, 10:13 AM
#2
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Have you been drinking again? 
After most of the Hawaii flying gets shifted to SEA, they will just add SE Alaska flying to the ANC base, since they are truly the only ones who can land an airplane on a less than 7000 ft runway with contamination.
Alaska will end up ponying up some real cash for some 700Cs from Boeing, thus ending the 400 fleet.
I think closing the ANC base would be a HUGE P.R. mistake within the state of Alaska. It won't happen anyway.
After most of the Hawaii flying gets shifted to SEA, they will just add SE Alaska flying to the ANC base, since they are truly the only ones who can land an airplane on a less than 7000 ft runway with contamination.
Alaska will end up ponying up some real cash for some 700Cs from Boeing, thus ending the 400 fleet.I think closing the ANC base would be a HUGE P.R. mistake within the state of Alaska. It won't happen anyway.
02-20-2010, 12:03 PM
#5
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Horizon?
What about moving some Q's up here to take care of the interstate travel and moving the cargo at night with straight freighters? Alaska has been pushing for 24 hour service at most airports that they serve in Alaska. The only reason I could see that would be necessary is for them to run cargo flights in the middle of the night. I don't see the air group giving up the interstate flying to another company, I'm pretty sure they make money doing it.
02-20-2010, 01:33 PM
#6
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I don't think you will see Horizon in Alaska anytime soon. There is some weird political/double super-secret handshake reason that Horizon isn't there now. It would make sense for many of the smaller communities as far as passengers. However, there would still be a need for 737 freighters to bring in all the supplies.
02-20-2010, 03:05 PM
#7
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Horizon flying in Alaska?
They've been talking about that for years. At least for as long as I was working there. I agree, there is some political bull$hit reason as to why QX isn't there now. Knowing this company, it'll never happen.
They've been talking about that for years. At least for as long as I was working there. I agree, there is some political bull$hit reason as to why QX isn't there now. Knowing this company, it'll never happen.
02-28-2010, 12:01 AM
#8
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Any idea what the political reasons are? It just seems silly for them not to be up here. Any thoughts on the prospects of Horizon in Hawaii? Alaska seems to be hitting that market hard rite now and having your own connection seems like a logical step.
Also, unless crews round trip from Seattle on every flight wouldn't it be more expensive for Alaska not to have a base up here?
Also, unless crews round trip from Seattle on every flight wouldn't it be more expensive for Alaska not to have a base up here?
02-28-2010, 12:11 AM
#9
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When you fly to all the major islands there is no reason to have any inter-island service. Besides, the inter-island traffic is really not that much anymore. It isn't like the old days when all the widebodies would fly into Honolulu and then everyone that needed to go to other islands would jump on the inter-island flights. Now-a-days everyone just flies from the big cities to the outer islands direct.
02-28-2010, 05:46 PM
#10
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When you fly to all the major islands there is no reason to have any inter-island service. Besides, the inter-island traffic is really not that much anymore. It isn't like the old days when all the widebodies would fly into Honolulu and then everyone that needed to go to other islands would jump on the inter-island flights. Now-a-days everyone just flies from the big cities to the outer islands direct.
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