Regional air carrier Ravn Alaska announced on its website Thursday that it was closing, effective immediately.
A brief note on the site said Ravn was “no longer operating flights in Alaska” and that the company appreciated its years of service.
The Alaska-based airline had struggled since launching in late 2020, laying off staff and eliminating routes.
It first cancelled its route to Dillingham in 2022, less than a year after starting service to Bristol Bay. Just last year, the company laid off 130 employees. Most recently, Ravn announced it would stop serving the Bering Sea island community of St. Paul this fall.
The company’s former CEO, Rob McKinney, left his role last year, and Tom Hsieh — the president of Ravn Alaska’s parent company, FLOAT Alaska LLC — stepped into the top leadership position. Around the same time, the company announced it would cease flights to the Aleutians, including to Unalaska and Sand Point.
Hsieh did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
Ravn Alaska had previously taken over service to the Aleutians from RavnAir, purchasing its license but operating as a distinct company.
Several regional airlines have stepped in to fill the gaps in rural Alaska communities. Aleutian Airways began serving Dutch Harbor and Sand Point in 2023. Last month, Kenai Aviation was accepted as the Essential Air Service provider to St. Paul, though it recently announced that service would begin about six weeks behind schedule due to aircraft maintenance.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the years in which Ravn’s layoffs occurred.
