The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded Corvus Airlines (Anchorage Ted Stevens), doing business as Ravn Alaska, the Essential Air Service contract for the McGrath, AK-Anchorage Ted Stevens route.

The contract runs from October 1, 2018, through November 30, 2020. The airline will operate the route 3x weekly using Dash 8-100 equipment for an annual subsidy of USD245,124 in the first year and USD275,848 in the second.

McGrath is currently served by PenAir (Anchorage Ted Stevens) under an unsubsidised EAS contract. The airline announced its intention to terminate the route in August 2017, but was ordered by the DOT to maintain the service until a successor airline is selected and commences operations.

PenAir operates the route with a Saab 340B. McGrath also sees 2x weekly cargo service to Anchorage operated by Northern Air Cargo.

Alaska Central Express also bid for the EAS contract, offering to serve McGrath 8x weekly, including six passenger services and two cargo-only, with a Beech 1900C without a subsidy.