Northern Pacific Airways, a fully-owned subsidiary and long-haul division of FLOAT Alaska LLC, has announced to purchase its first six Boeing 757-200 airplanes, with the delivery of the first of these aircraft slated to be in December 2021. The airline will receive the first aircraft within this purchase agreement immediately. The first airplane, N206UW, is 26.5 years old and is currently kept at a storage facility in Roswell Airport. Before deploying aircraft for flight operations, they have to undergo a C-check with Certified Aviation Services LLC (CAS) at San Bernardino airport for a maintenance check. Then, aircraft will be delivered from CAS in San Bernardino, California, to Anchorage Ted Stevens, where it will get the new registration number N627NP.
All these six aircraft were retired by its last operator American Airlines. The holding company has entered into a purchase agreement with AerSale (USA) for all six B757-200s. AerSale, as a market innovator and global supplier of aftermarket commercial jet aircraft, currently retains ownership of sixteen B757s, of which 14 are all former American Airlines Boeing 757 units. The US major carrier American Airlines retired 757s as a part of its response to reduce capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also Read: Mid-air tragedy: Four month old baby dies during Cathay Pacific flight
Anchorage-based Northern Pacific Airways completed the purchase agreement to meet its initial aircraft requirement to serve the US and Asian cities. The airline hopes to deploy aircraft for serving points in the US and Asia via Anchorage, Alaska. The initial phase of Northern Pacific Airways’ business plan includes the acquisition of these Boeing units. According to the airline’s CEO Robert Mckinney, the holding is still in discussion with aircraft lessors and traders to render more aircraft so that the initial fleet size goal of twelve B757-200s can be met at the period for its launch, intended for an unspecified date in the year 2022.
Availability of Boeing 757-200s on the second-hand market as American Airlines retired the aircraft type to reduce capacity and avoid unnecessary maintenance and fuel costs is the primary reason Northern Pacific Airways opted for this aircraft type. However, the airline will add new aircraft variants to its fleet in the long run. This way, the Alaska-based carrier will prepare for passenger flights.
For now, Boeing 757s will serve the airline as the foundation of their fleet and help them achieve operating savings and efficiencies while enriching the customer travel experience, the CEO added.
Carrier’s plan with Boeing 757s
Northern Pacific Airways has the plan of enlarging its fleet with dozen planes to operate passenger air services. Regarding the first six 757s, the carrier intends to fly on a low-cost business model while offering a small premium economy cabin. Unlike American Airlines’ business class products, including internationally configured fully flat beds, Northern Pacific Airways won’t feature such products.
First non-stop service in Anchorage-Asia route
Northern Pacific Airways is moving closer to offer first non-stop services from Anchorage, Alaska to Seoul, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka in Asia. The airline is in the process of receiving federal approval to commence the Alaska-Asia services. It is also in talks with IcelandAir to buy other ten jets that will make up the airline operating separately from Ravn at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and being part of its parent company, FLOAT Shuttle.
About Northern Pacific Airways
Northern Pacific Airways is a transpacific startup base at Anchorage which is set to fly from Ted Stevens International Airport to destinations in the US and East Asia by operating as a division of Ravn Alaska using a low-cost business model. The airline is planned to launch operations by the summer of next year, i.e., 2022.
Flying from Anchorage to Asia will be a fast way to travel for customers. It will be economical, too, as the ambitious startup intends to beat its direct connection rivals on price. The airline can stimulate passenger growth in Alaska by leveraging the stopover market, and Anchorage also has a unique position as a transpacific hub between Asia and the lower 48.
FLOAT Alaska LLC
FLOAT (Fly Over All Traffic) Alaska LLC is the parent company owning Ravn Alaska (a regional airline in the US) and Northern Pacific Airways chaired by Rob Mckinney.
