Copyright Anchorage Daily News
There’s lots of action in airline world this week. For those of us who call Alaska home, “airline world” is a big part of “travel world.” After more than 30 days, the federal government remains shut down. That means air traffic controllers and the TSA staff are working without pay. Staffing shortages have led to periodic airport closures and flight delays. Closures and delays at big airports like Newark and Orlando ripple through the entire country, causing havoc with scheduling from coast to coast. Computer problems at Alaska Airlines grounded flights twice in October, causing the airline to bring in outside experts to avoid further meltdowns. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Essential Air Service program is crucial to maintaining flights between far-flung Alaska communities and hubs like Anchorage and Fairbanks. Most of the country’s EAS routes are in Alaska. Air carriers within Alaska receive more than $41 million each year to fly essential routes, including Cordova, Petersburg and Wrangell. Alaska Airlines receives more than $17 million each year. As the government shutdown drags on, this program is essentially operating paycheck-to-paycheck. Most carriers, including Alaska Airlines, Alaska Seaplanes and Kenai Aviation, have stated they will continue flying the essential routes throughout the shutdown. But the uncertainty around the EAS program is unsettling, both for rural Alaska travelers and for the air carriers. Even as the EAS flights continue, crucial negotiations are stalled to secure air transportation to certain rural communities. That includes service to St. Paul Island, where the community is chartering an expensive Lear Jet for essential travel. During this government shutdown, the links between air traffic controllers, airline route networks, computer programmers and remote Alaska communities demonstrates how closely we’re all connected. Crucially, we rely on one another to get things done. Last week, I attended the Alaska Travel Industry Association convention in Anchorage. Ours is a happy-clappy group. We are drawn to the industry because in many ways, it’s the “Department of Fun,” working with vacationers from around the world. This year, there were plenty of laughs to be sure. But headwinds persist: There are concerns with visas for seasonal workers and international visitation is down. More importantly, the remnants of Typhoon Halong tore through Western Alaska, displacing more than 1,000 Alaskans, many of whom are in Anchorage hotels. Between air traffic controller shortages, IT outages at airlines and unpredictable winter weather, I wouldn’t take a trip without travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, trip interruption and delays. The mood I observed at our visitor industry convention was one of cautious optimism, hoping that somehow things will get resolved. Looking at airlines’ future plans, that’s certainly the approach they’re taking when it comes to adding flights. For the first time I can remember, Alaska Airlines is adding more nonstop flights from Anchorage to Honolulu: 12 per week starting Dec. 3. That means each morning, Flight 49 leaves at 8:20 a.m., arriving at 1:54 p.m. in Honolulu. But on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, another flight will leave at 4:42 p.m., arriving at 10:10 p.m. That’s good news for Honolulu travelers, as well as those connecting to Hawaiian’s onward flights to the Neighbor Islands, Rarotonga, Tahiti and Pago Pago. Other airlines are rolling out plans for more flights to Alaska during the summer: Delta will fly daily between Anchorage and L.A. American Airlines announced it is resuming daily flights from Phoenix to Anchorage. Southwest announced new nonstops from Anchorage to both Denver and Las Vegas. United countered by upping its frequency between Anchorage and Denver to four daily nonstops. And Alaska Airlines has increased its twice-weekly nonstop service to daily flights starting in June. Last week Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian got the go-ahead to operate under a single airline certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. That’s an important step for Alaska Air to launch its new trans-Atlantic service with proposed routes from Seattle to Rome, London and Reykjavik. Route planners expect the flights to be available for sale in November for flights starting in May 2026. Speaking of Europe, there still are some incredible rates available for last-minute flights, as soon as next week. Fly from Anchorage or Fairbanks to Barcelona on Delta Air Lines for as little as $437 round-trip. The rate is a little higher from Fairbanks: $457 round-trip. Pay $200 more round-trip for Main, which includes assigned seats, a checked bag and full SkyMiles credit. Fly between now and March 4, 2026. The lowest fare isn’t available on every day, so you might have to fiddle with the length of your trip or the day of the week. Generally, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are cheapest. Christmas travel, Dec. 10-Jan. 11, costs much, much more. Similar flights and fares are available from Anchorage and Fairbanks to Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich and Athens. London costs more: from $590 round-trip. While Delta has the lowest fares today, United’s are priced about the same ... just a little higher. Alaska Air partners American and British Airways are not offering competitive fares. But that could change. Tomorrow. If you want to fly to Asia right away, fly on Delta to Taipei for $759-$787 round-trip. Add $200 for Main. Fly between now and Dec. 12. There’s no advance purchase required. Delta is really promoting its Seattle-Taipei nonstop. Airline world is closely connected to travel world. The government shutdown crisis brings us closer together to remind us about the crucial nature of many federal functions, including air traffic control, disaster relief and Essential Air Service.
