Alaska problems: Ravn Airlines files bankruptcy

Anchorage Daily News


After RavnAir Group announced Sunday that all operations would stop and the company filed for bankruptcy, other carriers across the state have scrambled to serve communities left behind.

In Utqiagvik and Deadhorse, issues arose Sunday because Ravn had been operating ground operations in those communities, including sorting mail and cargo and operating hangars. The abrupt bankruptcy announcement came with a mandate to close up facilities that are still needed to deliver mail and cargo.

As Ravn announced the closure Sunday, Unalaska was left without a commercial airline. The area is the busiest seafood port per volume in the country. Alaska airlines said it is “working with partners and regulatory agencies to initiate service to Cold Bay with the intention of providing access to Unalaska/Dutch Harbor.”
Ravn employed more than 1,300 people and served 115 Alaska communities with 72 planes, according to the bankruptcy filing. The company said in a written statement that passenger revenue declined 90% due to COVID-19 concerns.