New Pacific Airlines (7H, Anchorage Ted Stevens) will discontinue scheduled flight operations from April 5 to focus on the more lucrative charter niche.
"Rule number one is stay in business," CEO Rob McKinney told FlightGlobal. "We've got to go where the business and where the money is, and right now we see [charters] as the lowest-hanging fruit and our best efforts can be put in the charter market in the short run."
The company rebranded from Northern Pacific Airways in September 2023 in response to threatened trademark litigation. McKinney initially sought to use Anchorage Ted Stevens as a connecting hub between the continental United States and Asia, inspired by the transatlantic model of Icelandair (FI, Reykjavik Keflavik).
However, that plan was fraught with setbacks. Covid-19 and the Ukraine war resulted in ETOPS limitations. Following repeated restrategising, including plans to serve Mexico, the carrier eventually debuted on July 14, 2023, with US domestic flights exclusively serving Ontario International in California and Las Vegas Harry Reid, followed by Reno/Tahoe and Nashville International.
Shortly before quitting the scheduled market, New Pacific Airlines announced a partnership with Miami-based Elevate Aviation Group, an executive aviation operator. The deal aimed to "redefine the landscape of private aviation, offering unparalleled access, flexibility, and luxury to discerning travellers," the parties said in a statement.
ch-aviation has reached out to McKinney for comment.
New Pacific Airlines used two B757-200s for its scheduled services. These units are owned by its parent FLOAT Alaska, according to the ch-aviation fleets ownership module. Otherwise it operates eight DHC-8-100s and one DHC-8-300.
