In-State Airlines (Scheduled Airlines)

Flying isn’t just for tourists in Alaska. In fact, to Alaskans, planes are a way of life—and we have more pilots per capita than the rest of the United States to prove it. When you hop on a plane, you’ll run into locals traveling for work, recreation – even to get to school sporting events.

Why fly within Alaska?

Save time. Until you’ve been in Alaska, it can be hard to really understand just how large the state is – and how long it can take to get from place to place. If you want to see several locations on a tight schedule, air travel can help you fit them all in your itinerary.

Great views. Alaska’s landscape is dynamic and breathtaking, from jagged mountain peaks and icy white glaciers to lakes, rivers and expanses of tundra. Flying allows you to watch as miles and miles of uninterrupted wilderness roll out below you.

Connecting with Alaskans. Air travel is a necessity in Alaska, and you’ll meet locals on every flight. You might chat with oil workers on their way to the North Slope, high school athletes traveling to a tournament, scientists headed out for fieldwork, teens coming into Anchorage or Fairbanks for orthodontia, or families visiting relatives.

Where can I fly and how?

Alaska has a well-developed flight network with planes crisscrossing the state on hundreds of scheduled flights every day. Jets and turbo-props serve larger communities and regional hubs, including Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kotzebue, Dillingham, and Bethel. Smaller aircraft bring both passengers and supplies to and from rural areas, from the Arctic Circle to a host of villages in western Alaska.

Jet Service

Alaska Airlines has been operating in Alaska since 1932, and offers jet service to nearly twenty communities, usually with one or two flights a day. You can expect the security process, boarding procedures, and baggage specs to be similar to other major airlines, and you can book your flight online.

Regional Airlines

Ravn Alaska has been operating in Alaska for 70 years, and serves more than 115 communities, with more than 400 flights each day. (You can easily book these online.) This regional airline will give you a taste of typical Alaska travel, and you’ll notice quite a few differences from the larger airlines.

• Smaller aircraft seating a maximum of 37 passengers on a DeHavilland Dash-8.
• Ravn Connect flights to rural communities seat between 6 and 19 passengers.
• Easy and convenient boarding as you head straight to the gate.
• Baggage can be accommodated, although carry-on space is tighter.

• While Ravn is not a flightseeing service, the view is often superb. Its smaller aircraft fly at a lower altitude, offering more chances to take in Alaska’s gorgeous landscape.
• Airline employees and passengers often know each other well, and are sometimes even family members! You’ll get a sense for the role airline travel plays in keeping Alaskan residents connected to essential services and to each other.

Air Taxis

If you’re heading to remote rivers, lakes or lodges, you’ll need to take a still smaller plane (typically 6-12 passengers) to your final destination. In some cases you can find a scheduled flight, or you may need to book a charter. This is more affordable if you have a group. Expect to be limited in the amount of gear you can bring. As with travel on a regional airline, you’ll have excellent views at a lower altitude, and convenient boarding/security procedures.

Copper Valley Air Service provides scheduled service and mail plane flights between Anchorage and McCarthy.