TERRAIN FOR THE TENACIOUS
infrastructure. No doubt our next chapter will be about expanding the system in a responsible and sustainable way to meet market demands as they arise.” FLYING HIGH Alaska’s air carrier infrastructure is vital so that both passengers and essential cargo can be transported into remote communities. Playing a crucial role in transporting people, products, and supplies to and from Alaska is Alaska Airlines, the fifth-largest airline in North America when measured by scheduled passengers carried. Through its airline partners and the oneworld global alliance, Alaska Airlines passengers can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 20 airlines. Headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, just outside Seattle, Alaska Airlines is now the only passenger airline in the United States with dedicated cargo planes, and it connects with large international and integrated carriers to carry ecommerce goods and other critical supplies into and around Alaska. Alaska Air Cargo is the largest scheduled cargo carrier in the Frontier State. Alaska Air Cargo’s growing freighter fleet will expand its reach to Los Angeles (LAX) in spring 2024—the first time its dedicated freighters, which serve 20 communities across the state of Alaska, will connect to cities beyond Seattle (SEA) in the lower 48. The two newest 737-800BCF freighters can carry 10,000 more pounds than the airlines’ three 737- 700 freighters. Many of the groceries, household goods, and essential medicine shipping into the state of Alaska come from Southern California, and this new freighter route will streamline that supply chain, says Adam Drouhard, managing director for Alaska Air Cargo. The bigger freighters will also be in full service in time for the height of the salmon fishing season, allowing fresh sustainable sockeye from Bristol Bay and other fisheries to reach markets across the lower 48 more quickly. “We are excited to build on our long history serving the state of Alaska and forge new
Alaska Air Cargo serves 20 communities across Alaska and is set to launch a dedicated freighter service between Anchorage and Los Angeles, through Seattle, in spring 2024.
connections between communities there and cities across the United States,” Drouhard says. More freighters in the schedule serving the state of Alaska will also improve the reliability of that service. “Our markets in the state will get more dedicated service that’s not shared,” Drouhard says. “We’ll be able to spread that schedule across more aircraft.” Bethel (BET), Juneau (JNU), and Sitka (SIT) will be among the first communities to benefit from the bigger freighters and more frequent service. The aircraft’s expanded range also will allow the cargo team to explore other new routes, such as a possible nonstop from King Salmon (AKN) to Seattle. Prospects for continued growth are excellent, especially against the backdrop of the state’s overall logistics strengths. For example, Alaska Air Cargo’s services are facilitated by Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, which has long played an integral role in the growth of Anchorage and the state. The airport’s geographic location provides unlimited potential for moving goods, services, and infrastructure to be used in the global marketplace. For Alaska Airlines, that means easier connections from rural Alaska to global markets, which is particularly important for the efficient and fast export of wild
Alaskan seafood. There is potential for ecommerce and other goods coming into the state to be transported around Alaska more quickly as well, which is very good news for communities that are not on the road system, allowing faster delivery of goods around the state. SEEING POSSIBILITIES FOR INNOVATION Where others may see only roadblocks, the logistics specialists at Lynden—a family of companies providing transportation and logistics solutions in Alaska, as well as Canada, the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, and around the world—see opportunities to create innovative solutions. “Alaska logistics are different, but not insurmountable,” says Alex McKallor, Lynden’s executive vice president and COO. Offsetting the state’s logistics challenges is its strategic location, offering literal and figurative “top-of-the- world” access to Asian, European, and North American markets. “The strategic location of Alaska is very advantageous,” McKallor says, emphasizing both its air cargo assets and its “incredible” coastline. “Alaska has over 6,000 miles of coastline, and if you count the islands, almost 50,000 miles of actual coastline,” he notes. Some 2,670 named islands
38 Inbound Logistics • April 2024
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