Harris Aircraft Services (Sitka) has been granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity allowing it to operate scheduled interstate flights ferrying persons, property, and mail.
Although the US Department of Transportation (DOT) issued the Alaskan operator a show-cause order almost a year ago, two rival carriers - Air Excursions (X4, Juneau International) and Pacific Airways (Ketchikan International) - raised objections leading to a delay in the final certificate's issuance.
Air Excursions and Pacific Airways had argued that Harris Air did not possess the financial means to sustain scheduled passenger flights and was therefore ineligible to them under US laws and regulations.
A subsequent DOT investigation concluded that in fact, Harris Air does possess the resources necessary to carry out regular interstate flights with its final documentation now issued.
Harris already operates regular flights from its Sitka base to Juneau International, Gustavus, Haines, Hoonah, Angoon, Pelican, Tenakee Springs, Kake, Petersburg James A. Johnson, Wrangell, Port Alexander, Skagway and Klawock using two Piper (twin piston) Chieftains, one DHC-2 amphibian, and one Cessna (single piston) 185F amphibian. As such, it plans to use its new certification to seek US Mail as well as additional Essential Air Service (EAS) contracts.
