Alaska Airlines Announces New Flight Schedule Connecting Fairbanks, Barrow, Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay
24 Aprile 2006 - 10:21PM
PR Newswire (US)
Seeks to Minimize Impact Following Change in Barrow Bypass Mail
Routing ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Alaska Airlines today announced a new flight schedule connecting
the destinations of Fairbanks, Barrow and Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay,
Alaska. The revised schedule, which will become effective June 4,
was prompted by a routing change for Barrow bypass mail recently
announced by the United States Postal Service (USPS). The new
schedule will reduce the total number of daily flights routed in
the region from three to two. However, the two daily flights will
operate year round and stop more frequently in both Barrow and
Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay during each route, resulting in more arrivals
and departures for both destinations. Weekly departures will
increase from 12 to 14 in Barrow and from six to 14 in
Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay. The new schedule continues to allow
passengers to take day trips to Barrow from both Anchorage and
Fairbanks, and creates a new option for day trips to
Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay from Fairbanks. "Despite strong concerns with
the change in the bypass mail program, we are committed to serving
Barrow and Prudhoe Bay with the most comprehensive schedule we can,
while keeping prices consistent with previous levels," said Bill
MacKay, Alaska Airlines' senior vice president of the Alaska
region. "The revised schedule reflects the deep commitment we have
to serving these Arctic communities." Under the
congressionally-mandated bypass mail program, air carriers deliver
bypass mail for the USPS throughout rural Alaska, ensuring Alaskans
receive mail and essential supplies in a timely and cost-efficient
manner. Alaska Airlines currently flies Barrow bypass mail directly
from Fairbanks to Barrow. The USPS recently announced Barrow bypass
mail will be trucked from Fairbanks to Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay and
then flown to Barrow. Alaska Airlines' new schedule to the region
will allow the airline to continue participating in the Barrow
bypass mail program by flying mail between Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay
and Barrow. Alaska Airlines currently serves the region with three
flights on the majority of days operated on Boeing 737-200 "combi"
aircraft that carry both passengers and cargo. Two flights are
routed from Anchorage to Fairbanks and Barrow before returning to
Fairbanks and Anchorage. This route is flown once daily instead of
twice on Wednesdays and Fridays. The third flight is routed Monday
through Saturday from Anchorage to Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay and back
to Anchorage. The revised schedule starting June 4 will provide two
daily flights. A morning flight will be routed from Anchorage to
Fairbanks, Barrow and Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay before returning to
Fairbanks and Anchorage. An afternoon flight will be routed from
Anchorage to Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay, Barrow and Fairbanks before
returning to Anchorage. Alaska Airlines and sister carrier, Horizon
Air, together serve 88 cities through an expansive network
throughout Alaska, the Lower 48, Canada and Mexico. For
reservations visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information,
visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air newsroom at
http://newsroom.alaskaair.com/. DATASOURCE: Alaska Airlines
CONTACT: Amanda Tobin, +1-206-392-5134, or Caroline Boren,
+1-206-392-5799, both of Alaska Airlines Web site:
http://www.alaskaair.com/
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