4Y TUD Founded 1950s Hubs Bethel, Alaska | TUD TUNDRA Ceased operations March 5, 2017 Fleet size 14 | |
Flight Alaska (d/b/a Yute Air) was an American airline based in Bethel, Alaska, USA. It operated scheduled services to over 22 villages in Alaska and also provided charter services throughout Alaska. Its main base was Bethel Airport.
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The air carrier announced abruptly that it was ceasing operations on March 5, 2017, effective immediately.
History
The airline began flying from Dillingham, Alaska in the mid-1950s as Bob Harris Flying Services. the certificate was purchased by Phillip and Demptha Bingman and renamed Yute Air Alaska meaning "the people" in Yupik. Yute Air was sold to William Johnson in 1988 in 1999 William Johnson filed for bankruptcy The company and operating certificate were acquired by the Flight International Group in April 2000 and shortly thereafter renamed "Flight Alaska". Under the Flight Alaska name, it operated with a multitude of aircraft in addition to the original Cessna 207 aircraft, including a Lear 35, King Air 200, and four CASA 212-200's. Operations included bypass mail, scheduled passenger and freight service, lodge and private charters, and government smokejumping contracts. Yute Air was then acquired by Tim Vottis, in 2004. The airline was downsized to only hub out of Bethel, AK and only serve the surrounding area. The name reverted to Yute Air, which it used until going out of business in 2017.
Services
Yute Air operated services to the following domestic scheduled destinations (at June 2012): Bethel, Chefornak, Eek, Goodnews Bay, Kipnuk, Kongiganak, Kwigillingok, Newtok, Nightmute, Platinum, Quinhagak, Toksook Bay, Tuntutuliak and Tununak, Atmautluak, Nunapitchuk, Kasigluk, Kwethluk, Akiachak, Akiak, Tuluksak, Kalskag and others.
Fleet
As of August 2012, the Yute Air fleet consisted of Cessna 172 and Cessna 207 aircraft.