Alaska Airlines Announces New Flight Schedule Connecting Fairbanks, Barrow, Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay

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/.

SOURCE: Alaska Airlines