News
Grant Aviation Provides Scheduled Air Service to Akutan Airport
November 28, 2012
Akutan, AK – November 28, 2012 – Grant Aviation is now offering scheduled air service between Unalaska and Akutan. Daily flights except Sunday are available. For more information contact Grant Aviation at www.flygrant.com or call 1-888-359-4726.
Akutan Mayor Joe Bereskin is very pleased that scheduled service is now available.
“Providing scheduled airline service for the City of Akutan is very important to our residents,” said Mayor Bereskin. “Knowing that we can rely on regular service for medical emergencies and to improve our quality of life gives us peace of mind. I appreciate the cooperation and effort of all the parties involved in making this new service possible,” he added. “I especially want to recognize Grant Aviation, the Aleutian East Borough and Alaska DOT&PF.”
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities opened the new Akutan Airport on September 1st and is in the process of installing an Automated Weather Observation System that will improve operational safety in this region.
“The Akutan Airport is a tremendous asset to the entire region,” said Aleutians East Borough Mayor Stanley Mack. “The airport is strategically located immediately west of shipping lanes through Unimak Pass. The airport will also improve state and federal response capability to any potential shipping emergencies in this area.”
Akutan Airport Fact Sheet
The new Akutan airport has a 4,500-foot paved runway, a taxiway and an apron. It’s a vital link for the residents of this remote Aleutian Islands community, providing safe, reliable and affordable access.
Plans to develop the airport started 12 years ago with the initiation of an Airport Master Plan. PenAir was expected to retire the Grumman Goose, an aging World War II amphibious aircraft, within a few years. For decades, the community had been dependent on the Goose, which had a 40% success rate of operating scheduled flights. The new airport will provide more reliable passenger, cargo and emergency access for the region.
Grant Aviation, an Alaska-owned and operated commuter airline, has been transporting passengers, mail, freight and cargo throughout the state since 1971. The commuter airline serves more than 50 communities across Alaska.
Grant Aviation has been providing charter service to the new land-based Akutan airport and delivering mail since late October 2012, when PenAir suspended regular service to Akutan. Grant will provide 12 nonstop round trips per week between Unalaska and Akutan. The airline will continue to deliver the mail to the community.
Several air carriers have flown in and out of the new airport since it opened Sept. 1, 2012, including Grant Aviation, PenAir, Lynden, Security Aviation, Kenai Float Planes and ACE.
A hovercraft serves as the marine link between the airport, located on Akun Island, and the City of Akutan, which is six miles away.
Passengers needing overnight lodging on Akun Island can stay at Surf Inn. The lodge offers 63 beds, dual-occupany rooms, full meal service, laundry facilities, internet access and fitness equipment.
The Aleutians East Borough is the municipal government encompassing the southwestern portion of the Alaska Peninsula and a number of the easternmost Aleutian Islands. It extends 300 miles along the eastern side of the Alaska Peninsula and includes the communities of Akutan, Sand Point, Cold Bay, King Cove, False Pass and Nelson Lagoon. For more information, visit http://www.aleutianseast.org/ .