Alaska Central Express, Corvus in dispute over certification

Ravn Alaska launches public charters ahead of scheduled ops

Ravn Alaska (7H, Anchorage Ted Stevens) launched scheduled charter flights on November 13, 2020, as it continues with efforts to secure the necessary certification needed to launch scheduled flights in the near future.

The airline said on its website that it will operate public charters from Anchorage Ted Stevens through the end of 2020, connecting the Alaskan gateway with Dutch Harbor (4x weekly), Homer (4x weekly), Kenai (4x weekly), Sand Point (2x weekly), and Valdez (4x weekly).

Ravn Alaska, which also offers private charters, said it is "in the final stages of receiving its scheduled route authority from the US Department of Transportation". It has yet to announce its scheduled network. `1

The carrier, which was rebranded from Corvus Airlines following the bankruptcy of former owner, RavnAir Group, and the acquisition by FLOAT, currently operates nine Dash 8-100s. Six of the aircraft are owned by FLOAT and the remaining three are dry-leased from Avmax Aircraft Leasing.

Ravn Alaska restarts operations under new owners

Texas's MDI acquires ex-RavnAir Group Part 135 carriers

Texas-based engine maintenance provider and aviation investment fund Monocoque Diversified Interests LLC (MDI) has completed the acquisition of two Part 135 carriers formerly owned by bankrupt RavnAir Group, namely Hageland Aviation Services (H6, Saint Mary's) and Frontier Flying Service (FTA, Fairbanks Int'l).

Judge Brendan L. Shannon of the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved the transaction on September 29, 2020. For a total consideration of USD1.8 million, MDI, through its subsidiary Rambler Air, has bought the full capital stock of both airlines, their certificates, eight Piper (twin piston) PA-31s with engines and propellers, as well as an extensive pool of spare parts.

MDI has not assumed any of Hageland Aviation Services or Frontier Flying Services' liabilities which arose before the transaction. It is also not a legal successor to the two airlines for the purposes of their contractual commitments. The court explicitly underlined that no contract with Alaska Air Group, including Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, is subject to the acquisition.

The only exception is...

Alaska Seaplanes to use Via Airlines AOC for Alaska ops

Alaska Seaplanes (J5, Juneau Int'l) is planning to partner with investment fund Wexford Capital to expand its network of scheduled routes in Alaska using the Air Carrier's Certificate (ACC) of Via Airlines (SRY, Orlando Int'l), which was recently bought by the fund, Alaska Public Media has reported.

The Alaskan seaplane operator had tried to buy Corvus Airlines (7H, Anchorage Ted Stevens) and PenAir (KS, Anchorage Ted Stevens) from bankrupt RavnAir Group in order to boost its presence in the state, but ultimately lost out to Californian air taxi FLOAT.

"Instead of taking over the old Ravn certificates, we will simply move operations out there under a different and new certificate," co-owner and President Kent Craford said.

While not naming the new ACC holder, Craford confirmed that Alaska Seaplanes would partner with Wexford Capital. The Connecticut-based fund acquired Via Airlines during the Florida-based carrier's bankruptcy proceedings in July.

"So we're going to be adding aircraft to that certificate and serving Dutch Harbor and other communities...