Alaska Business April 2022

Page 20

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

The Way the T Wind Blows Airlines evolve to meet

customer needs, changing economics By Vanessa Orr 20 | April 2022

urbulence in Alaska’s aviation industry has forced some course corrections in the last couple of years. In-state air carriers have gone through a lot of changes to meet the needs of passengers, cope with supply chain issues, and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The pandemic really changed the dynamics of aviation, especially on the 135 side,” says Dan Knesek, vice president of operations for Grant Aviation. Part 135 of Federal Aviation Regulations applies to helicopters, air ambulances, and commuter planes that carry fewer than ten passengers on at least five round trips per week. Part 121 covers larger scheduled airlines, while private general aviation pilots are under Part 91. Knesek explains, “When Ravn filed bankruptcy [in April 2020], they were operating a 121 and a 135 program, and all of a sudden, smaller carriers in the 135 world had to band together to make sure that the citizens of Alaska who had previously been served by Ravn had other options.” The result was a regional division among four remaining carriers:

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