PenAir

History

Peninsula Airways was founded by Orin Seybert in 1955. Seybert was 19 years old, living in Pilot Point, Alaska and owned a 1946 two-seat Taylorcraft. In 1956, a four-seat Piper Tri-Pacer was added. On March 1, 1965 Peninsula Airways became incorporated and purchased the fixed base operation (FBO) in King Salmon.

In 1967, Peninsula Airways became a full-time subcontractor to Reeve Aleutian Airways, meeting Reeve's certificate obligations to Chignik, Perryville and Ivanoff Bay.

In 1969, Peninsula Airways acquired all assets of Tibbetts-Herre Airmotive, which had operated from Naknek since 1950. By 1973, regular service was provided between King Salmon and the Pribilof Island communities, St. Paul and St. George. Charter service was also extended into the Aleutian Islands, Dutch Harbor, Atka and Adak with Grumman G-44 Widgeon amphibious aircraft.

In 1977, two Grumman Goose amphibious aircraft were purchased from Reeve Aleutian Airways, and the sub-contract was expanded to cover all locations certificated to Reeve throughout the Alaskan Peninsula and Aleutian Islands. This required setting up an operating base at Cold Bay, with hangars, offices and employee housing.

In 1980, the Civil Aeronautics Board awarded a Part 401 Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Peninsula Airways, and all aircraft operations were conducted under Part 135 of the Federal Air Regulations.

In 1983, Peninsula Airways acquired its first turboprop: a Cessna Conquest operated out of Cold Bay. Peninsula Airways was the first Alaskan air carrier to qualify for CAB Part 419 subsidy, allowing the airline to operate Essential Air Service (EAS) routes to Atka, St. George and Kodiak Island.

In 1985, Peninsula Airways acquired all assets of Air Transport Service, Inc., based in Kodiak. Included in the deal was a hangar and office facility with approximately six aircraft and scheduled year-round service to all points on the Island. A base was established in Anchorage with two Cessna Conquest turboprops offering charter service from Anchorage to the Pribilof Islands. Scheduled service from Anchorage to King Salmon and Dillingham was added a year later.

The first Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner propjet was placed into service in 1987 and Metro aircraft remained in the fleet until 2011.

In 1988, several bush operators in Dillingham had their certificates revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), prompting Peninsula Airways to set up an operation there. A hangar and aircraft were purchased and service to the surrounding communities began.

In 1989, Peninsula Airways was contracted by Exxon to support the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup. At the same time, a contract was awarded to Peninsula Airways by Alaska Regional Hospital to provide 24-hour medevac service. Peninsula Airways' operations were inspected and approved by Exxon Corporation, U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Aviation Services (OAS), U.S. Department of Defense, and two (FAA) NASIP "white glove" inspections.

In 1991, Peninsula Airways began doing business as PenAir and became a code sharing and Mileage Plan partner with Alaska Airlines. PenAir transitioned to FAA Part 121 regulations in 1996, operating under both Part 135 and 121. PenAir was the first regional airline in the United States to make the 10-19 seat required conversion, including a dispatch department.

In 1997, PenAir acquired two Saab 340B aircraft and, in 1998, moved into a new hangar/office complex in Anchorage, Alaska. The airline commenced operations from Boston's Logan International Airport in 2012 after being awarded Essential Air Service routes from Logan to Bar Harbor, Maine, Plattsburgh, New York and Presque Isle, Maine.

In 2016, PenAir bid on multiple Essential Air Service (EAS) routes to be operated between Denver, CO and several small cities in Kansas and Nebraska. These bids proposed the creation of a hub in Denver (DEN) and service to several cities currently served by Great Lakes Airlines: Dodge City and Liberal, Kansas; Kearney, North Platte, and Scottsbluff, Nebraska. All of these cities' respective airport authorities have recommended PenAir to provide service. PenAir has since announced it will initiate new service between Denver and these destinations.

According to the July 1, 2016 Alaska Airlines system timetable, PenAir is currently operating all code sharing flights in the state of Alaska with Saab 340B and Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft with the Saab 2000 being a larger, high speed version of the Saab 340B while all Alaska Airlines code sharing flights in the lower 48 states in the U.S. are operated by PenAir with the Saab 340B.

Fleet

As of January 2016 the PenAir fleet consists of the following aircraft:

PenAir was among the very last airlines in the world to operate the venerable Grumman G-21A Goose seaplane on scheduled flights. This piston powered amphibious aircraft was used to resupply remote coastal locations where no land-based airstrip existed. On December 21, 2012, the last Grumman Goose made its last flight from Unalaska to Anchorage and was officially retired from the fleet. PenAir also previously operated another piston powered amphibious aircraft type being the Grumman G-44 Widgeon.

The airline previously operated several turboprop powered aircraft types as well such as the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and Cessna 441 Conquest as well as different Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner models including the Metro II, Metro III and Metro 23.

Previously operated piston powered land plane aircraft included the Piper Navajo Chieftain and Piper Saratoga.

Alaska

According to its route map as well as the Alaska Airlines system timetable, PenAir operates scheduled service with Saab 340B and/or Saab 2000 turboprops to the following destinations in Alaska as of July 2016 with all flights being operated as code sharing service on behalf of Alaska Airlines:

1. Anchorage (ANC) – Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (Hub) (to Aniak, Cold Bay, Dillingham, Dutch Harbor, King Salmon, McGrath, St. George, St. Paul, Sand Point, Unalakleet)
2. Aniak (ANI) – Aniak Airport (to Anchorage)
3. Cold Bay (CDB) – Cold Bay Airport (to Anchorage)
4. Dillingham (DLG) – Dillingham Airport (to Anchorage)
5. Dutch Harbor / Unalaska (DUT) – Unalaska Airport (to Anchorage)
6. King Salmon (AKN) – King Salmon Airport (to Anchorage)
7. McGrath (MCG) – McGrath Airport (to Anchorage)
8. Sand Point (SDP) – Sand Point Airport (to Anchorage, Cold Bay)
9. St. George (STG) – St. George Airport (to Anchorage, St. Paul)
10. St. Paul (SNP) – St. Paul Island Airport (to Anchorage, St. George)
11. Unalakleet (UNK) – Unalakleet Airport (to Anchorage, Aniak)

Former destinations in Alaska served by PenAir include:

1. Akutan (KQA) – Akutan Seaplane Base (to Dutch Harbor)
2. Aleknagik (WKK) – Aleknagik Airport
3. Atka (AKB) – Atka Airport
4. Bartletts / Egegik (BSZ) – Bartletts Airport
5. Big Creek (BIC)
6. Blue Mountain (VBM) – Blue Mountain Airport (to King Salmon)
7. Cape Newenham (EHM) – Cape Newenham LRRS Airport
8. Chignik Bay (KCG) – Chignik Bay Airport (to King Salmon)
9. Chignik Lagoon (KCL) – Chignik Lagoon Airport (to King Salmon)
10. Chignik Lake (KCQ) – Chignik Lake Airport (to King Salmon)
11. Cinder River (RCP)
12. Clarks Point (CLP) – Clarks Point Airport
13. Coffee Point (CFA)
14. Egegik (EGX) – Egegik Airport (to King Salmon)
15. Ekwok (KEK) – Ekwok Airport (to Dillingham)
16. False Pass (KFP) – False Pass Airport (to Cold Bay)
17. Igiugig (IGG) – Igiugig Airport (to King Salmon)
18. King Cove (KVC) – King Cove Airport (to Cold Bay)
19. Koliganek (KGK) – Koliganek Airport (to Dillingham)
20. Levelock (KLL) – Levelock Airport (to King Salmon)
21. Nelson Lagoon (NLG) – Nelson Lagoon Airport (to Cold Bay)
22. New Stuyahok (KNW) – New Stuyahok Airport (to Dillingham)
23. Nikolski (IKO) – Nikolski Air Station (to Dutch Harbor)
24. Manokotak (KMO) – Manokotak Airport (to Dillingham)
25. Painter Creek (PCE)
26. Perryville (KPV) – Perryville Airport (to King Salmon)
27. Pilot Point (PIP) – Pilot Point Airport (to King Salmon)
28. Port Heiden (PTH) – Port Heiden Airport (to King Salmon)
29. Port Moller (PML) – Port Moller Airport (to Cold Bay)
30. Portage Creek (PCA) – Portage Creek Airport
31. South Naknek (WSN) – South Naknek Airport (to King Salmon)
32. Togiak (TOG) – Togiak Airport (to Dillingham)
33. Twin Hills (TWA) – Twin Hills Airport (to Dillingham)
34. Ugashik (UGB) – Ugashik Bay Airport (to King Salmon)
35. Wildman Lake (EWD)

East Coast United States

Using Boston's Logan Airport as a hub, PenAir operates scheduled Saab 340B turboprop service to the following destinations in the northeastern United States as of July 2016 via a code sharing agreement with Alaska Airlines:

1. Bar Harbor, Maine (BHB) – Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (seasonal service to Boston)
2. Boston, Massachusetts (BOS) – Logan International Airport (Hub) (to Bar Harbor, Plattsburgh, Presque Isle)
3. Plattsburgh, New York (PBG) – Plattsburgh International Airport (to Boston)
4. Presque Isle, Maine (PQI) – Northern Maine Regional Airport at Presque Isle (to Boston)

Northwest United States

Using Portland International Airport (PDX) as a hub, PenAir operates Saab 340B turboprop service to several cities in northern California and Oregon. PenAir initiated code sharing service on behalf of Alaska Airlines in the Pacific Northwest during the latter part of 2015. As of July 2016 PenAir announced future service to Klamath Falls, OR (LMT). Klamath Falls service had been on hold pending TSA staffing of a security checkpoint for passengers; however, this new PenAir Saab 340B service is now scheduled to begin on October 5, 2016.

1. Arcata, California & Eureka, California (ACV) – Arcata-Eureka Airport (to Portland)
2. Crescent City, California (CEC) – Del Norte County Airport (to Portland)
3. North Bend, Oregon (OTH) – Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (to Portland)
4. Portland, Oregon (PDX) – Portland International Airport (Hub) (to Arcata, Crescent City, Eureka, Klamath Falls, North Bend/Coos Bay, Redding)
5. Redding, California (RDD) – Redding Municipal Airport (to Portland)
6. Klamath Falls, Oregon ((LMT) - Klamath Falls Airport (to Portland)

New service from Denver

According to its website, PenAir initiated new service from a small hub located at the Denver International Airport (DEN) to Dodge City, KS and Liberal, KS effective August 1, 2016. PenAir has also announced new service from Denver to Kearney, NE and North Platte, NE effective November 1, 2016 and to Scottsbluff, NE effective November 2, 2016.

Community awareness

PenAir, along with Bering Air, Frontier Flying Service, Grant Aviation, Northern Air Cargo, and Ryan Air Services all participate in the Flying Can service, which allows rural Alaskan communities to recycle aluminum cans number 1 PET bottles in cooperation with Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling.