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 – Ravn option G or C
Robert Smith – I think RAVN’s Option E & G would open Valdez up to some new opportunities and make it more accessible to the state. Having connectivity with two major Alaskan airports as well as allowing the movement from two of Alaska’s major cities would be a great benefit to tourism, business but more importantly it gives Valdez more access to the rest of the state. That means quicker access to doctors, events, family, etc. I would prefer my grandparents fly to Anchorage to see a doctor over driving in the winter. A major part of that is the completion and reliability of flights though, if its not reliable service people will choose to drive or become frustrated when it doesn’t fly. I currently don’t fly in or out of Valdez because it’s never been reliable enough for the price and my schedule of travel. I think the fare’s listed are reasonable but I would maybe like to see a discount for round trips or for locals or some incentive. Regardless, I would like to see flights to Valdez improve drastically and to see what increasing the connectivity to Anchorage & Fairbanks could bring to Valdez.
Anonymous – I would give Ravn a second chance. They have never received a subsidy and it looks like they are passing the subsidy on to the citizens of Valdez. They also talk about replacing the Dash8 with newer planes which would, in turn, have newer technology on them. Another thing, if they don’t fly, they don’t get paid by the subsidy. If weather is a factor they would attempt to fly when weather breaks on those Valdez weather days. They would also be flying at least 2 times per day. I would pick option F from their proposal
Jessica Mangram – Ravn should have to provide data on how often they are making it to Valdez currently. The on-time arrival data is incorrect if they are not including how many flights just don’t ever leave Anchorage currently.
Anonymous – I particularly like Options E or F, and I believe it would be beneficial to include FAI as an additional route. The pricing layout seems good too if they adhere to it.
Anonymous – Having lived in Valdez for over 3 years the problem is Ravn not being reliable. To use the term controlled ontime and controlled flights making it is the problem. Why continue a plan that has failed in the past. Kenai Aviation is proposing a solution to weather issues and minimums that would make flying in and out more reliable. I would focus on this the most.
K Kramer – Ravn proposal F or G. Opening flights to/from Fairbanks would be a game changer for Valdez. It would benefit locals not only in Valdez but Fairbanks as well. The trip would be much more affordable and accessible. Tourism would increase – Valdez would be easily more accessible and desirable for folks who may not be interested in driving 6-8 hrs one way. Weekend getaways or shorter trips would be doable. Opportunities for businesses in both communities would increase as well. It also provides a means for moving freight to/from Fairbanks/Valdez by utilizing air cargo. As a local business owner I would really like to see this option made available to the communities of Valdez and Fairbanks.
Z N – So looking at this as a Valdez citizen of almost 7 years, I find it absolutely insulting that Ravn is promoting a new ticket price of $100 max after the entirety of 2023/24 has been over $250 for a one way ticket to Anchorage, with absolutely terrible consistency, claiming anything from mechanical to weather issues. This airline has been a downfall of this town since I arrived here. They cancel flights frequently and without reason on some occasions. And their answer is to give flight vouchers that don’t make up for lost time, travel changes, hotel cost in ANC, and expire after a certain deadline.
Anonymous – I think Ravn’s options E & G would be a significant benefit to Valdez for doing commerce throughout the state. I am thrilled to see the affordable flight options with a subsidy proposal like this, and I love that Ravn has detailed a maximum fare value. However, I question Ravn’s ability to deliver on these ambitious schedule proposals due to the weather conditions in our area and the lack of proper instrumentation at the airport. Currently, the plane is unreliable typically due to low-cloud cover. Without the necessary instrumentation upgrades, no subsidy will fix that. Still, I would much rather Valdez select the Ravn proposal over Kenai Aviations.
Anonymous – I have lived and grown up in Valdez Alaska for the last 20 years. I also, am an employee of TAP’s. Several of my coworkers commute from outside of Valdez to work their scheduled shifts weekly. Myself, being one of them. It would be extremely nice to see an airline provide reliable flights to and from Valdez. I would utilize the flights knowing there was more than a 20% chance of flying out. Valdez is extremely prone to foggy, rainy or otherwise difficult conditions to fly VFR. It would be nice to get an upgrade in technology whether this is to the aircraft itself, or the airport. To allow for an increase for reliable travel. I wish there was an interest from Alaska Airlines, to include a route tied in with Cordova.
Anonymous – We should not have RAVN here. They have already proven to be a poor choice. It will be great to start then they will revert back to their old ways so lets not even give them a chance to do that to the Valdez community. Get rid of RAVN!!
Anonymous – I have lived in Valdez for over 20 years and RAVN has provided the worst service ever. Why would you reward their poor performance with more money??? They had a chance and didn’t do it. Now they see more money and suddenly all the problems with flying into Valdez go away. Please don’t even consider them!!!!
Anonymous – Why would you even think about giving RAVN air a chance? They have already proven to be unreliable and inconsistent. They should not be given a chance at all. They had a chance and screwed it up. Please pick someone else.
Anonymous – I believe the issue is more about the flight minimums which restrict the airline from coming in during poor weather. It would be nice to reduce the cost to fly in and out of Valdez with a subsidized air carrier.
Possibly a conversation about a GPS approach is needed as well to provide a safer and more reliable approach for any aircraft to fly into Valdez.
However I am not a pilot and do not know the regulations on different approaches and what aircraft/pilots are allowed to fly what approaches.
The whole community would definitely benefit from a GPS approach if that is what the answer is…..especially with all of the medivacs we have in very poor weather conditions.
Anonymous – Ravn air is the reason Valdez is seeking essential air service (ESA). Sooo many cancelled flights and unused vouchers. Facebook is full of requests from stranded community members and out of town guests looking for transportation to Anchorage and elsewhere. Ravn will continue to miss the mark if awarded this contract. They might entice people with proposed low fairs, but the pilots and/or management will continue to cancel flights creating havoc for travelers as well as generating unnecessary expenses and risks when people start resorting to hitching rides from strangers because they have no other options to get out or in to Valdez. Ravn Air has a high rate of cancelled flights. Ravn cannot be the choice. Let’s give Kenai air an opportunity or extend the opportunity for airlines to make offers. Anything will be better than Ravn air. Valdez is in need of ESA because of Ravn air’s inability to provide consistent and reliable air transportation!
Maureen Radotich – My perception for priorities for Valdez air travel is reliability and affordability.
RAVN submittal:
The RAVN proposal is very clear about the commitment they are making. My preference is Option B: 2 flights a day 7 days a week. This would be valuable for both business and personal travel, be able to go up in the morning and back in the afternoon, or on any day to travel to ANC you could come back the next day. If a flight is cancelled due to weather, there is another flight at least scheduled within a short timeframe. I appreciate having the times the same each day for planning purposes. That would meet the reliability priority.
The RAVN proposal states that the one-way fare for the flight would be between $49-$99. That would make the flights affordable priority.
I did attend the RAVN proposal and appreciated the candor as well as commitment. They also talked of future growth. The contract would be for 2 or 4 years, which would give time to assess their reliability.
Kenai submittal:
I do not see a fare proposal in the Kenai submittal. I was told they would keep the fares much higher, which does not meet the affordability priority. The proposal does state that they will have up to 7 flights a day, the planes hold 9 passengers. I didn’t see a flight schedule proposal, so not sure of the proposed times if they are convenient for travel. I am not sure that direct flights to Fairbanks have a daily market need or is a priority here.
Thank you to everyone doing the work to have Valdez eligible for the Essential Air Service Proposal.
Anonymous – Fairbanks is important to me as I have family there, I hope to see Ravn succeed. I like the pricing they offered and hope they can make the upgrades needed to be dependable.
Caren Oberg – RAVN’s inability to serve the Valdez community is literally the reason for the EAS contract. The numbers in DOT’s RFP Appendix 1 shows the overall decrease in the number of persons/seats moving between ANC and VDZ from 2022 to 2024 (An example: April 2022: 761 left VDZ, April 2023 487 left VDZ, April 2024 301 left VDZ). This is all under current RAVN scheduling/flights/technology. RAVN’s consistently cancels flights due to “weather.” It should be noted on the final page of the DOT request describes what a completed trip entails — “aircraft take-off and landing at its scheduled destination constitutes a completed flight; absent an explanation supporting subsidy eligibility for a flight that has not been completed, such as certain weather cancellations,”. RAVN’s proposal does not include any changes to or new equipment or technology that may be solutions to Valdez’s well known weather and could still claim weather under this contract. Their proposal does not address their constant cancellations or the year over year drop in numbers. As a resident of Valdez who drives to Anchorage regularly because RAVN cannot currently fulfill its purpose, I am asking you NOT to award the Essential Air Service contract to RAVN.
James Lee – RAVN has been “providing air service” that is best described as very expensive, unreliable and inconvenient. Their success rate of actually making it in to Valdez is so bad I drive. Every. Single. Time. If I know I need to make it to or from Anchorage I drive. RAVN could go away tomorrow and I wouldn’t miss them. I was disappointed when they emerged from bankruptcy as I hoped that maybe, just maybe another carrier would take their place. Their service is worse now than before as their schedule changes monthly and the flights are seemingly cancelled more often than they actually fly.
Anonymous – I believe Ravn should be given a second chance with the subsidy. If you are at the city Council meeting, they talked about getting rid of the dash eight and getting newer planes. They have stayed in Valdez trying to provide service. Although not very good service. If you read both proposals, Ravn’s pricing will be affordable for individuals as well as families traveling. When Ken and I spoke with the city council, they are going to leave the fares to and from Anchorage at $300 each, which is still not affordable for a lot of people. Also, if you compare both proposals, Ravn is asking for less then Kenai Air aviatio and not reducing their fares. So I think that we should give Ravn a second chance with the subsidy. If Ravn doesn’t deliver on what they say, they will deliver, I believe it states that the city can request ending the contract
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 Kenai Aviation Proposal