Frontier Flying Service ( d/b/a

Ravn Connect Northern Pacific Airways, Inc., d.b.a. Ravn Alaska, is an Alaskan airline that specializes in serving the small communities in the US state of Alaska. The airline is headquartered in Anchorage, which is also home to its primary hub, Ted Steve ...

) was an American airline headquartered in Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. It operated an extensive network of year-round scheduled commuter services and postal services to Alaska bush

communities A community is a Level of analysis, social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place (geography), place, Norm (social), norms, religion, values, Convention (norm), customs, or Identity (social science), identity. Communiti ...

, primarily north of

Fairbanks Fairbanks is a home rule city and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska and the second largest in the state. The 2020 Census put the po ...

, as well as

charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the rec ...

services to the

lower 48 The contiguous United States (officially the conterminous United States) consists of the 48 adjoining U.S. states and the Federal District of the United States of America. The term excludes the only two non-contiguous states, Alaska and Hawaii ...

and Canada. Its main base was in

( Fairbanks International Airport), with hubs in

Utqiagvik Utqiagvik ( ik, Utqiaġvik; , , formerly known as Barrow ()) is the borough seat and largest city of the North Slope Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. Located north of the Arctic Circle, it is one of the northernmost cities and towns in th ...

(

Wiley Post–Will Rogers Memorial Airport Wiley Post–Will Rogers Memorial Airport, often referred to as Post/Rogers Memorial, is a public airport located in Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), the largest city and borough seat of the North Slope Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. The ai ...

Anchorage Anchorage () is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alaska by population. With a population of 291,247 in 2020, it contains nearly 40% of the state's population. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the neighboring Ma ...

( Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport), Kotzebue (

Ralph Wien Memorial Airport Ralph Wien Memorial Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located on the south side of Kotzebue, a city on the Baldwin Peninsula in the Northwest Arctic Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. Facilities and aircraft Ralph Wien Memorial Ai ...

) and

Bethel Bethel ( he, בֵּית אֵל, translit=Bēṯ 'Ēl, "House of El" or "House of God",Bleeker and Widegren, 1988, p. 257. also transliterated ''Beth El'', ''Beth-El'', ''Beit El''; el, Βαιθήλ; la, Bethel) was an ancient Israelite sanct ...

( Bethel Airport).

History

Frontier Flying Service was established in 1950 by retired Air Force Colonel Richard McIntyre, catering to Alaska bush communities as a scheduled mail carrier for Wien Air Alaska, as well as providing charters throughout Alaska. In 1974, Frontier was purchased by John Hajdukovich. In 2005 the airline merged with Cape Smythe Air Services, taking on their routes and retaining the Frontier Flying Service name. During the spring of 2008 Frontier Flying Service began the process of merging with Hageland Aviation Services, the companies continue to operate separate certificates with Frontier Flying Service providing service between major hubs and focus communities with the Beech 1900C aircraft while Hagleand Air Service provides point to point service out of the hubs and focus communities to smaller villages, both companies do business under the name "Frontier Alaska" and have begun merging resources and operations at all their shared airports. This merger makes Frontier Alaska the largest commuter passenger carrier in the state of Alaska (by fleet size and number of routes). On July 8, 2008, Seattle-based Alaska Airlines announced Frontier Flying Service (d.b.a Frontier Alaska) as a new code share partner beginning in the fall of 2008. On February 27, 2009, Frontier Flying Service's holding company, Frontier Alaska, acquired rival Era Aviation of Anchorage, Alaska. By 2014, with the fleet rationalization and post acquisition of Era Aviation almost complete by the HoTH Airline group, Frontier Flying Service performed the mission of flying cargo and passenger charters for the other Ravn branded companies, Corvus Airlines and Hageland Aviation, but also utilizing the branding of

. After the bankruptcy of Ravn Alaska the assets were sold "in pieces" to other airlines of Alaska in July 2020.

Fleet

The Frontier Flying Service fleet consisted of the following aircraft ():

Destinations

Frontier Flying Service operated scheduled service to the following destinations in Alaska as of 2007:Frontier Flying Service: 2007 Timetable
(

PDF Portable Document Format (PDF), standardized as ISO 32000, is a file format developed by Adobe in 1992 to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. ...

). Retrieved on 2007-08-29. *

(ANC) - Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport * Aniak (ANI) -

Aniak Airport Aniak Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located in Aniak, Alaska, Aniak, a city in the Bethel Census Area, Alaska, Bethel Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. Its location on the Kuskokwim River also allows for the landing of seapl ...

* Anvik (ANV) -

Anvik Airport Anvik Airport is a public airport located one mile (2 km) southeast of the central business district of Anvik, a city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska of the U.S. state of Alaska.The airport is owned by the state of Alaska and ...

* Atqasuk (ATK) - Atqasuk Edward Burnell Sr. Memorial Airport *

Barrow Barrow may refer to: Places England * Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria ** Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, local authority encompassing the wider area ** Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency) * Barrow, Cheshire * Barrow, Gloucestershire * Barro ...

(BRW) -

Barter Island Barter Island is an island located on the Arctic coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, east of Arey Island in the Beaufort Sea. It is about four miles (6 km) long and about two miles (3 km) wide at its widest point. Until the late 19th ...

/ Kaktovik (BTI) - Barter Island LRRS Airport *

(BET) - Bethel Airport *

Brevig Mission Brevig Mission ( ik, Sitaisaq or ; russian: Бревиг-Мишен) is a city in Nome Census Area, Alaska. The population was 388 at the 2010 census, up from 276 in 2000. It is named for the Norwegian Lutheran pastor Tollef L. Brevig, who served ...

(KTS) - Brevig Mission Airport * Buckland (BKC) - Buckland Airport *

Deadhorse Deadhorse is an unincorporated area, unincorporated community located within the Census-designated place, CDP of Prudhoe Bay in North Slope Borough, Alaska, North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States, along the Alaska North Slope, North Slope nea ...

(SCC) - Deadhorse Airport * Deering (DRG) -

Deering Airport Deering Airport ( Iñupiaq: ''Ipnatchiam Mirvia'') is a state-owned public-use airport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) southwest of the central business district of Deering, a city in the Northwest Arctic Borough of the U.S. state of ...

Elim Elim may refer to: Places * Elim Aboriginal Mission, Queensland, Australia Africa * Elim, Western Cape, a village on the Agulhas Plain in the Western Cape of South Africa * Elim (Bible), one of the places where the Israelites camped following t ...

(ELI) - Elim Airport *

(FAI) - Fairbanks International Airport * Fort Yukon (FYU) - Fort Yukon Airport *

Galena Galena, also called lead glance, is the natural mineral form of lead(II) sulfide (PbS). It is the most important ore of lead and an important source of silver. Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals. It cryst ...

(GAL) -

Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located in Galena, a city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 7,784 passenger boardings ...

Gambell Gambell ( ess, Sivuqaq, russian: Гамбелл) is a City (Alaska), city in the Nome Census Area, Alaska, Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. Located on St. Lawrence Island, it had a population of 640 at the 2020 United States Ce ...

(GAM) -

Gambell Airport Gambell Airport is a public airport located in Gambell, a city in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. The airport is owned by the state. Facilities Gambell Airport covers an area of which contains one asphalt and concrete pa ...

* Golovin (GLV) -

Golovin Airport Golovin Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located in Golovin, a city in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 1,753 passenger boardings (enplanements) in ca ...

Grayling Grayling or Greyling may refer to: Animals Fish * Grayling, generically, any fish of the genus ''Thymallus'' in the family Salmonidae ** European grayling (''Thymallus thymallus''), the European species of the genus ''Thymallus'' ** Arctic grayli ...

(KGX) - Grayling Airport *

Holy Cross Holy Cross or Saint Cross may refer to: * the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus * Christian cross, a frequently used religious symbol of Christianity * True Cross, supposed remnants of the actual cross upon which Jesus was crucified * Feast ...

(HCR) - Holy Cross Airport * Huslia (HSL) - Huslia Airport * Kalskag (KLG) - Kalskag Airport *

Kaltag Kaltag (Koyukon: ; ik, Qałtaq) is a city and village in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 190, down from 230 in 2000. History Kaltag was a Koyokon Athabascan area used as a cemetery ...

(KAL) -

Kaltag Airport Kaltag Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) southwest of the central business district of Kaltag, a city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. Facilities Kaltag Airport ...

* Kiana (IAN) -

Bob Baker Memorial Airport Bob Baker Memorial Airport is a public airport located one mile (2 km) north of the central business district of Kiana, a city in the Northwest Arctic Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. The airport is owned by the state. Facilities ...

Kivalina Kivalina ( ik, Kivalliñiq) is a city and village in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, United States. The population was 377 at the 2000 census and 374 as of the 2010 census. The island on which the village lies is threatened by rising sea ...

(KVL) - Kivalina Airport * Kotzebue (OTZ) -

* Koyuk (KKA) - Koyuk Alfred Adams Airport * Koyukuk (KYU) -

Koyukuk Airport Koyukuk Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located in Koyukuk, a city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. As per Federal Aviation Administration records, this airport had 1,018 passenger boardings (enplanemen ...

* Noatak (WTK) - Noatak Airport * Nome (OME) - Nome Airport *

Noorvik Noorvik ( ik, Nuurvik, meaning "A place to move to") is an Iñupiat city in the Northwest Arctic Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 694, up from 668 in 2010. Located in the NANA Region ...

(ORV) - Robert (Bob) Curtis Memorial Airport * Nuiqsut (AQT/NUI) - Nuiqsut Airport *

Nulato Nulato (; "chum salmon fish camp" in Koyukon; russian: Нулато) is a city in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 239. History Nulato was a location for trade between the Koyukon peop ...

(NUL) -

Nulato Airport Nulato Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located one nautical mile (2 km) northeast of the central business district of Nulato, a city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. As per Federal Aviation ...

* Point Hope (PHO) - Point Hope Airport * Point Lay (PIZ) -

Point Lay LRRS Airport Point Lay LRRS Airport is a public and military use airport owned by the United States Government and located in Point Lay, in the North Slope Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is also known as Point Lay Airport. The acronym LRRS stands f ...

* Ruby (RBY) -

Ruby Airport Ruby Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) southeast of the central business district of Ruby, a city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. As per Federal Aviation Admini ...

* Russian Mission (RSH) - Russian Mission Airport *

Savoonga Savoonga is a city in Nome Census Area, Alaska. It is located on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. As of the 2020 census, Savoonga's population was 835, up from 671 in 2010. Savoonga was incorporated in 1969. In 1971, it became joint owner ...

(SVA) -

Savoonga Airport Savoonga Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) south of the central business district of Savoonga, a city in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. Savoonga is located on St. Lawrence I ...

* Selawik (WLK) -

Selawik Airport Selawik Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located in Selawik, a city in the Northwest Arctic Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. Facilities Selawik Airport has two gravel surfaced runways: 3/21 measuring: 3,002 x 60 ft (915 ...

* Shageluk (SHX) -

Shageluk Airport Shageluk Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) north of the central business district of Shageluk, a city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. Facilities Shageluk Airpo ...

Shishmaref Shishmaref ( ; ik, Qigiqtaq, ; rus, Шишмарёв, p=ʂɨʂmɐˈrʲɵf) is a City (Alaska), city in the Nome Census Area, Alaska, Nome Census Area, Alaska, United States. It is located on Sarichef Island in the Chukchi Sea, just north of ...

(SHH) -

Shishmaref Airport Shishmaref Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) south of the central business district of Shishmaref, a village in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has one asphalt paved runway d ...

* St. Mary's (KSM) - St. Mary's Airport * Tanana (TAL) -

Ralph M. Calhoun Memorial Airport Ralph M. Calhoun Memorial Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) west of the central business district of Tanana, a city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. As per Federa ...

Teller Teller or telling may refer to: People * Teller (surname) * Teller (magician), one half of the duo Penn & Teller Places * Teller, Alaska, United States ** Teller Airport * Teller County, Colorado, United States Other uses * 5006 Teller, a minor ...

(TLA) -

Teller Airport Teller Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) south of the central business district of Teller, a city in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. Facilities and aircraft Teller Airport ha ...

* Wainwright (AIN) - Wainwright Airport * Wales (WAA) - Wales Airport * White Mountain (WMO) - White Mountain Airport

Community awareness

Frontier Flying Service, along with Bering Air, Grant Aviation, Northern Air Cargo, PenAir, and Ryan Air, participated in the Flying Can service, which allows rural Alaskan communities to recycle aluminum cans and PET bottles in cooperation with Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling.

Accidents and incidents

*On October 30, 1979, Douglas C-47B N99663 was written off in a landing accident at Bettles Airport, Alaska. The aircraft struck three parked aircraft. It was on a cargo flight from Fairbanks International Airport, Alaska, to

Ambler Airport Ambler Airport ( Iñupiaq: ''Ivisaappaat Mirviat'') is a state-owned public-use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) north of the central business district of Ambler, a city in the Northwest Arctic Borough of the U.S. state of Al ...

, Alaska via Bettles. All four aircraft were substantially damaged.

References

{{Airlines of the United States 1950 establishments in Alaska 2009 disestablishments in Alaska Airlines established in 1950 Airlines based in Alaska Defunct airlines of the United States Companies based in Fairbanks, Alaska American companies established in 1950