Northern Pacific Airways is getting ready for its inaugural commercial flight. This flight is slated to occur on July 14, flying from Ontario, California to Las Vegas Harry Reid. The preparations come after the airline has secured its operations specifications (Ops Specs) for its Boeing 757-200s, as confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer, Rob McKinney.
When it commences these weekly seasonal scheduled flights, the airline will operate under the Air Carrier Certificate (ACC) of its sister company, Ravn Alaska. Initially, the launch was intended for June 2. The fleet consists of four in-house B757-200s.
Adjusting Plans to Navigate Challenges
Since Northern Pacific Airways was conceived in July 2021, its plans have undergone several adaptations. The airline initially intended to operate as a low-cost carrier, using Anchorage Ted Stevens as a transit hub. The strategy aimed to connect Asia and the Continental United States, following the model of Icelandair linking Europe and North America through Reykjavik Keflavik.
However, the closure of Russian airspace due to the conflict in Ukraine posed a significant hurdle. This meant flights to Asia would need ETOPS (extended-range twin-engine operations performance standards). The predicament was that Northern Pacific Airways could not apply for ETOPS until it began operations. It was also unable to initiate the regulatory process in Asia until it gained the approval of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As a result, the company considered flights to Mexico from Ontario, California. However, this plan was also set aside, leading to the current decision for limited domestic flights to Las Vegas.
The Backstory of Northern Pacific Airways and FLOAT
Northern Pacific Airways is a subsidiary of FLOAT (Burbank), which also owns the regional carrier Ravn Alaska. In 2018, McKinney co-founded FLOAT (Fly Over All Traffic) Shuttle Inc. This service provides a commuter and corporate shuttle in southern California.
In April 2020, McKinney and his team at FLOAT Shuttle Inc. took over the Ravn Air Group. This acquisition occurred after Ravn Air Group declared bankruptcy due to financial difficulties, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under FLOAT’s ownership, Ravn Alaska recommenced its service across the state using a fleet of DHC-8-100s.
As Northern Pacific Airways prepares for its first commercial flight, we look forward to seeing how this new venture in aviation will unfold.
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