Photo by Photo Submitted
NEW WINGS – Alaska Seaplanes of Juneau is planning on using its Pilatus PC-12 for the new Whitehorse-Juneau connection it announced late last week. Photo courtesy ALASKA SEAPLANES
Airline announces Whitehorse-Juneau service
Juneau’s Alaska Seaplanes is planning to offer regularly scheduled flights to Whitehorse from mid-May into September, says the company’s general manager.
Juneau’s Alaska Seaplanes is planning to offer regularly scheduled flights to Whitehorse from mid-May into September, says the company’s general manager.
Carl Ramseth said Monday while in Whitehorse he cannot provide specifics at this point about fares and exact schedules. The airline is still waiting for approval from Transport Canada.
The company is planning to use its new Pilatus PC-12 aircraft to provide the service three days a week, he told the Star.
The Pilatus seats nine passengers, is fully pressurized and has a maximum speed of 483 km/h (300 mph).
Flight times between the two capital cities is estimated at 45 minutes.
Ramseth indicated if demand is there, Alaska Seaplanes can always expand its schedule.
The company has committed internally to give the new route at least three years to prove its business case, the general manager explained.
He said they are working with a local carrier to provide baggage handling and check-in services.
“We feel that it is a good time to do this,” Ramseth said. “The frequency, starting at three times a week, is a good place to start.
“We didn’t want to start high and pull back because that would not send the right message.”
The company started looking at the possibility of the new scheduled route 2 1/2 years ago, he said, adding the recent addition of the Pilatus PC-12 to the company’s fleet really made it make sense.
The general manager announced the airline’s intention last Thursday at a luncheon hosted by the Juneau Chamber of Commerce, as reported by The Juneau Umpire.
It was pointed out the flight could be something of a time traveller, as passengers who leave Whitehorse at 4 p.m. local time would arrive in Juneau at 3:45 p.m. Juneau time.
The Empire quoted Juneau city manager Rorie Watt pointing out how the Whitehorse connection would provide residents of Juneau with greater travelling options.
Whitehorse, he pointed out, provides regular scheduled flights to Europe during the summer.
Air North used to fly a scheduled route to Skagway, but hasn’t for decades.
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Comments (10)
Up 0 Down 0
ProScience Greenie on Apr 2, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Why on earth Wilf, would we want to tie our hydro to the Outside? Don't fall for that snake oil sales pitch.
Let the Outside deal with their wasteful use of their existing energy in their own ways instead of pimping out our waterways for nothing more than a few pennies on the dollar trickled down to the Yukon and our own electrical rates most likely going up because of it.
I love our hydro power and have no issues with expansion for our own domestic use but a big hard no to an Outside line just for the sake of greedy few.
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Yukon Government politician need to get on the ball here on Mar 31, 2018 at 11:21 am
I was in Alaska 8 years ago talking about export energy south.
It would be mostly green energy because they have so many mountain lakes and titled energy.
Build the road and add the energy line to go with it and the Yukon can sell hydro energy and send it on the same line.
Do it with a Public Private Partnership.
There is a major shortage of green energy.
Having many years in project development makes this a no brainer.
But politicians don't listen to anyone in the know.
The only way to make anything in the north is create multi type projects.
Like Teslin has their infrastructure. Canada games center, etc.
Wilf Carter
Up 2 Down 0
Great news - but how much? on Mar 29, 2018 at 3:08 pm
I checked their website, and there are no routes or prices yet. A return fare Skagway to Juneau is $270 US - will be interesting to see what the fare to/from Whitehorse is.
Up 3 Down 0
AL on Mar 28, 2018 at 3:25 pm
A number of years back Juneau in fact was looking to extend road access through to Atlin and then beyond. However the residents and other interested parties in Atlin put a big pin in the balloon. The project was shelved as a result. Money in itself was not the stumbling block.
Up 9 Down 0
Dave on Mar 28, 2018 at 10:23 am
BnR, Juneaus overall economy would increase exponentially if it was connected to the rest of the world via highway, and as a byproduct of that Whitehorse and the Alaska highway corridor would probably see increased spin off activity as well. It wasn't that long ago that Skagway couldn't be accessed by road either and I'm sure people there couldn't imagine going back to life without their road, thanks for your upbeat thoughts on the matter however.
Up 5 Down 2
BnR on Mar 27, 2018 at 7:58 pm
"Now if Alaska will just go ahead and build that d--- road to Juneau already we'd be set."
Dave, at an estimated cost of over half a billion dollars, I'm sure Alaskans can think of something better to do with that cash than fund your weekend getaway.
Up 2 Down 0
BnR on Mar 27, 2018 at 7:54 pm
I miss flying down on Friday nights in ANs Greasy 3. Off to the Red Dog, then skiing at Eagle Crest. Good times.
Up 3 Down 0
ProScience Greenie on Mar 27, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Great news. Juneau is a real wilderness city and lots of fun every visit.
Up 8 Down 0
AL on Mar 27, 2018 at 3:16 pm
A win - win for both Juneau and Whitehorse. Anytime we can connect northern towns/cities by air it is always good news. I can remember the days when AN flew into Juneau - I made several trips to meet up with old friends.
Thanks Alaska Seaplanes...
Up 7 Down 1
Dave on Mar 27, 2018 at 3:08 pm
A forty-five minute flight to Juneau is awesome news! I've been hoping that someday there would be another travel option to get to Juneau from Whitehorse besides spending a full day each way driving to Skagway and taking the ferry. Now if Alaska will just go ahead and build that d--- road to Juneau already we'd be set.