KVAK took the time to compile all the comments regarding Essential Air Service into a single page for each airline on our website so it’s easier for people to read.
As Posted by the Department of Transportation
All comments available as of 9am Sept. 23rd included.
Anonymous – I like the fact that there are going to be many times to fly per day due to Valdez weather. I don’t like the fact that they are still going to charge $300 for a one way flight. Their taking the subsidy and not passing it on to the community like it seems Ravn is. They are making money from the government as well as the community. $11,513,413 + another $5millionish in revenue from paying passengers…. Like everyone else sees Valdez as a cash cow!!!
Valdez Resident – This proposal seemed well thought out and hit the major point I was looking for regarding improved technology allowing for flights in and out during our inclement weather. As a resident who currently does not even consider flying due to the unreliability of the air service because of weather, finding a solution to flying when the weather is not ideal would be the key to the majority of locals reassessing their traveling plans. I do not favor the smaller aircraft with 9 passenger maximum, however, the proposal of multiple flights(I believe 5-7) would transport the same number of individuals as the Ravn proposal on a given day.
Anonymous – I would choose Ravn as the carrier and either their option G or C is what I think is most appropriate.
Anonymous – This is an outrageous proposal.$11 million for “essential” flights? Your bidder has greatly exagerated the need for scheduled flights. If the need was so great then they should already be flying in here and making lots of money. Your bidder has not been consistent in their marketing and effort in filling planes. They may have a ticket counter at the airport but it is not staffed. The road is almost always open and when it is closed you would not want to be flying in a small plane anyway. NINE flights a day? That is an insane number. Likely their financial officer has figured out that they an use the subsidy to try and take care of their overall business expenses of their other network. What happens if there is not the demand they think there is? Are taxpayers on the hook for this for three years? Why Fairbanks? There is not much need to go there. Also the oil industry will not pay for a flight on a non turbine powered aircraft so there goes even more demand. Again if demand is so great Kenai Aviation should not wait for a subsidy and just fly. If the city of Valdez wants this so badly then they should pony up the money to pay for it. What is the subsidy per passenger? What is Kenai Aviation’s financial situation with all these new airplanes? What is the ticket price they are proposing to see if the service is so essential or not?
Anonymous – I agree with other commenters that this is not proposal in the best interest of the Valdez community. Taking a subsidy and still charging such an exorbitant amount for flights defeats the purpose of using taxpayer dollars to improve transportation to Valdez. Additionally, without upgrades navigation equipment, we will be in the same position we are now where the plane is completely unreliable due to cloud cover. Kenai Aviation pockets a huge subsidy, and Valdez gets no meaningful benefit. Please do not select this proposal.
Bruce Privett – Kenai Aviation , with its fleet of smaller planes would be a welcome addition to the community of Valdez . More options are needed to bring people and freight into town. If a route with lower altitude requirements weee opened up there would be more opportunity to get needed materials and personnel to town. Hopefully this proposal is approved.
Lanette Oliver – I have lived in Valdez for 16 years. I would like to express my support for the proposal from Kenai Aviation for the essential air service to Valdez for several reasons. 1. I think it is better to “spread the wealth” by giving this to Kenai Aviation, than keeping it “in one pot” by giving it to RAVN. 2. I think it is better to spread the “responsibilities” of services rather than keeping it all with essentially only RAVN. 2. Kenai Aviation is more family and local and less corporate and removed than RAVN. I have had problems with “corporate bureaucracy” things with RAVN in the past. 3. Kenai Aviation has invested a lot in the past to attempt to provide these services. It is time they got some support on that.
Todd Wortham – I’ve grown up and lived in Alaska for 55 years, so I know the difficulties of travel in Alaska. As the son of a prominent businessman in Alaska, and now a physician who oversees two practices in remote areas of Alaska I know how much travel can affect our livelihood and also the delivery of healthcare in the remote areas of Alaska. We need reliable and dependable flights to get our providers to Valdez to help our patients and also keep the cost of healthcare down for the people of Valdez. Joel and kenai aviation can help do that if they are able to bring this to Valdez.
Michelle Beyer – Would love to see another airline in Valdez as well as more reliable flights. However I do have some reservations over such small aircraft and would love to see more reasonable prices, Having to pay almost 1800 round trip for me and my two kids is one reason I currently don’t travel by plane.
Anonymous – Kenai Air is the only option for reliable essential air service in Valdez especially if Raven air is the only other carrier that turned in a proposal. Ravn air has failed this community time and time again. It’s time to let it go and try something new. People’s lives and livelihood depend on essential air transportation in and out of Valdez. Ravn air has got to go. Extend the proposal period to see if any other carriers are interested or select the only viable option: Kenai air. Ravn air has proven that it cannot support the needs of our community.
Anonymous – Based on the info in the proposal and what I know about these two companies, I am supportive of Kenai Aviation’s proposal. The ability to have several daily flights in and out of Valdez will allow people to actually rely on flight service again. I haven’t flown with Kenai Aviation, but have heard good things from members of the communities that they serve and believe they would be an asset to the Valdez community. People actually like flying with them which is not the case for RAVN.
I have serious concerns about the ability of RAVN to fulfill the reliability component (factor A) of the EAS criteria. Since the most recent ownership change, flights have gone from somewhat consistent to completely unreliable. Everyone I know plans to drive to and from Anchorage rather than gamble with flights. Quite frequently, planning to fly with RAVN means being delayed several times then cancelled, then having to scramble and change plans, then drive anyway. I don’t what criteria were used to calculate the 98% controllable completion rate, but I would view that number with a high level of skepticism.
I have been part of the Valdez community for 14 years and would love to have a reliable option to travel instead of having to drive. I am excited to see scheduled service between Valdez and Fairbanks on both proposals, as I travel that route at least 6 times per year, and would be able to increase this frequency if travel was an hour long flight instead of a 7+ hour drive.
Walter Sobchak – My hopes are the EAS is awarded to Kenai Aviation. Why? Because RAVN provides unreliable service! They are garbage. I don’t know why they even bother to offer a schedule and as they cancel more flights than they fly. They might as well have a schedule that reads “maybe”, “if we’re feeling it”, “yeah… not today”, “weather hold indefinitely”, “Mmmm… but it’s kinda cloudy”, “Oop! It might rain”, and finally “mechanical, due to not enough filled seats”. They’ve gone from bad to worse since they emerged from bankruptcy. When they were gone a private charter company was able to make it in and out of Valdez with far more regularity than RAVN ever has.
Ravn already went out of business for good reason. Give Kenai Aviation a chance. I’m excited about the possibility of another airline wanting to provide service to Valdez.
Tim Redder – I am writing in support of Kenai Aviation to provide Essential Air Service to the Valdez community. I have had the privilege of working with the Kenai Aviation ownership family and team for several years. The owners and their team have developed and maintained a top shelf culture of safety, service, reliability and trust in the Kenai community. They are laser focused on enhancing safety in Alaska’s aviation industry. If their bid is selected for the EAS contract, they will maintain their focus on doing the right thing for their customers. They will also bring their culture of reliability to the people of Valdez. Kenai Aviation has the right team in place to take on this contract. Please seriously consider and provide your support for Kenai Aviation. Thank you.
Southwest Alaska Pilots Association – CLICK to view document
Anonymous – I like to see that there is in fact a fully Alaskan owned company in this mix. One bidder looks to be applying modern technologies and advancements with the ultimate goal of improving service into challenging airports. Another bidder appears to be revisiting the days of old where money made by the regional Alaskan flights was funneled into a bigger project, and one not so local. It’s not cheap to run modern top of the line aircraft into a challenging area. Nor is it cheap to keep up a fleet of aging old high time aircraft. Choose like your life kinda depends on it.
Anonymous – I am writing to express my support for Kenai Aviation’s proposal. The increased frequency of flights—up to seven or eight per day—would significantly boost economic activity in Valdez, while providing a more dependable service for both residents and business travelers. As a rural community, Valdez often faces challenges in retaining essential professionals such as doctors, teachers, and administrators. This makes the community reliant on commuting or shift scheduling for these individuals. To successfully implement such schedules, consistent and reliable air service is crucial. It is also suggested that Kenai Aviation has developed a proprietary approach to landing in Valdez, enabling their aircraft to operate under conditions where Ravn may not be able to. This further underscores the reliability of Kenai Aviation’s service.
Ravn’s reliability has been questionable, casting doubt on the 98% on-time performance claimed in their proposal. Over the past year, Ravn has withdrawn from both the Kenai and Unalaska (Dutch Harbor) markets. Their exit from Kenai occurred 12 months after Kenai Aviation began offering scheduled service, providing passengers with an alternative. Similarly, Ravn left Unalaska 20 months after Aleutian Airways introduced scheduled flights. In both cases, Ravn struggled to compete due to the inconsistency of their service. Given this history, I have serious reservations about their ability to deliver more reliable service, even with the benefit of a subsidy.
Lydia Bird – Please bring Kenai Aviation to Valdez! We need an airline service that is reliable and professional (and highly experienced!). I have had my best Alaskan flights in a small plane with Kenai Aviation. Their planes are new and actually feel spacious inside with their modern design–I feel more comfortable knowing they have two engines. Having Kenai Aviation in Valdez would be a huge asset to the community.
Bob Rngebretson – I believe Kenai Aviation should be given highest consideration as a provider of EAS to Valdez,AK. Their ability to bring reliability and affordability will be a huge improvement given Valdez has had neither since the COVID/RAVN bankruptcy debacle in early 1920. Businesses have been negatively impacted. Medical travel is nearly curtailed. Fishermen can’t even hotshot needed boat spares from PANC with any degree of reliability. Kenai Aviation has deeper AK roots than does RAVN under its new owners. Their understanding of the AK and Valdez market is more realistic, as is their proposal to serve it. Please extend EAS funding to Kenai Aviation.
CLICK HERE to access proposals, public comment links and access to podcast interviews with Jacob Caldwell of Kenai Aviation and Tom Hsieh of Ravn Alaska.
CLICK for comments on New Pacific Airlines dba Ravn Alaska Proposal