Alaska Seaplanes continued to spread its wings ever wider as it expands its service to Wrangell, the 15th community the airline serves, in a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday at Wrangell Airport.
Bringing service to Wrangell will open up new opportunities and expand health care options for residents of the community of more than 2,000, said Dan Harris, senior vice president and chief financial officer of the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium.
“It gives better access to health care. And it opens up more access to travel,” Harris said in a phone interview. “The folks at Seaplanes have been good partners.”
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The expansion brings the Southeast closer together, and greatly simplifies the Wrangell-to-Sitka connection, said Seaplanes general manager Carl Ramseth.
Mike Stedman, co-owner of Alaska Seaplanes cuts a ribbon alongside his cousin, Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, during a ceremony celebrating Seaplanes opening service to Wrangell on May 26, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
“It’s connecting more of the Southeast,” Ramseth said in an interview. “It’s a key community for SEARCH. They’re one of our partners.”
The new route will allow Wrangell residents with out-of-town health care needs easier access to better facilities in Sitka, which is a much easier hop than flying up to Juneau or down to Seattle, Harris said.
“We have a little bit bigger hospital in Sitka than Wrangell. It’s a little more convenient for folks,” Harris said. “Having the ability to travel if you need some health care for us is a big deal.”
Harris praised the long-standing partnership between SEARHC and Seaplanes.
“We have a good relationship that started in 2014,” Ramseth said. “As they grow their health care facilities around the Southeast, we’ve grown our reach. We’re kind of the town bus of the Southeast.”
An Alaska Seaplanes PC-12 makes its approach to Wrangell on May 26, 2022 during the company’s inaugural flight to the community. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Locals and dignitaries came to the brief ceremony and enjoyed refreshment and the chance to check out some of Seaplanes’ aircraft.
“It’s great to see the turnout,” Ramseth said.
State Sen. Bert Stedman, a Republican whose district includes Wrangell, took part in the ceremony, speaking briefly before cutting the ceremonial ribbon.
“This will open up a lot of opportunities for Wrangell,” Stedman said in an interview. “It’s always nice to see commerce expand in the Southeast.”
Other Wrangell locals were also excited about the expansion of services.
Brittani Robbins, executive director of the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce and her assistant Luana Wellons pose in front of an Alaska Seaplanes aircraft during an event celebrating the new route to the Southeast community on May 26, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
“It’s great for the small islands. Now we don’t have to worry as much about the ferry,” said Brittani Robbins, executive director of the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce. “It’s really exciting to have Seaplanes here. They’re the newest members of the chamber.”
The expansion of services, in addition to allowing for more regular passenger traffic from Sitka or Petersburg to Wrangell, will also allow for more effective freight transportation, Robbins said.
Seaplanes will fly the route with the Pilatus PC-12 or Cessna C-208 Grand Caravan, according to a news release announcing the development. The route will go once a day, Ramseth said, taking off from Sitka at 1 p.m., making a stop in Petersburg, and then landing in Wrangell before returning to Sitka to complete the triangle route.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
Alaska Seaplanes aircraft sit on the flight line during an event celebrating the company’s new route to Wrangell on May 26. 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
