The city of Valdez will soon start evaluating new air transportation options to town, after earlier this month announcing a federal request for proposal (RFP) for essential air service.
The impetus for the RFP process comes from what Valdez city officials are calling a lack of reliable and frequent air transportation to the region.
“A significant portion of the Valdez population relies on air travel, particularly for medical appointments, business activities, and connecting with family and friends in other parts of Alaska and beyond,” said Valdez Economic Development Department Director Martha Barberio. “Valdez is somewhat geographically isolated, with limited road access and seasonal ferry service. This makes air travel a vital mode of transportation for residents and visitors alike.”
Valdez, with a population of just under 4,000 people, is located on the northeastern tip of Prince William Sound, around five or six hours from Anchorage by car. Cordova is one of the closest towns to Valdez, albeit off the road system — only accessible by ferry or plane.
In a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) dated April 12, Valdez City Manager John Douglas wrote that Corvus Airlines — which owns Ravn Air Alaska — filed for bankruptcy in 2020. As a result, Valdez was left without any air service until 2021, when Ravn was absorbed by California company FLOAT Shuttle.
Douglas wrote that air service is not only essential to residents’ travel needs, but also as an “Alternate Strategic Port” for DOT military operations and as a “cornerstone” for the seafood industry.
“Frequent cancellations, and changes to scheduled flights have often left our residents stranded in Anchorage with no other public transit options to return home,” Douglas said in the letter. “Many companies in Valdez have implemented policies prohibiting their employees from flying for business purposes due to the unreliable nature of flights.”
Take for example, a Ravn Airlines trip from Valdez to Anchorage from Oct. 1-4: There is only one scheduled departing flight from Valdez to Anchorage on Oct. 1, at 5:10 p.m. The only return flight on Oct. 4 is at 9 a.m. With occasional cancellations and delays, coupled with already limited service, travelers run a high risk for disruption.
Grant Aviation, another Alaska air carrier that services some of the state’s smallest airports, doesn’t fly to Valdez.
Neither Ravn nor Grant fly to Cordova, but City Manager Samantha Greenwood said there are two Alaska Airlines flights per day that stop through town. While Cordova hasn’t requested additional air service, she said she believes it would be popular.
Similarly to Valdez’s needs, Greenwood said air service is crucial for Cordovans for access to medical services, connections back to the road system, and for tourism. She said air carriers also make “the remoteness of Cordova more appealing to people who are considering moving here.”
“In the past we had Ravn flights that would go to Anchorage in the morning and return that same day in the evening,” Greenwood said.
She said Ravn service was “popular” for quick trips to Anchorage, but the city of Cordova isn’t in need of more right away.
“Additional air service would be well received but we have not pursued it at this time,” Greenwood said.
Barberio, the director of the Valdez Economic Development District, told The Cordova Times that the city will determine the final number of air carrier proposals by the RFP deadline of Aug. 22. She said the city doesn’t have a specific date when it’ll make a recommendation, but that officials hope it’ll be “shortly after” the RFP evaluation process.
Once the city chooses a provider, the new air service is scheduled to start on Dec. 1.
