BETHEL — A western Alaska-based airline that provided passenger and freight service to more than 20 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta has shut down its operations.
Yute Air announced Saturday it would be ceasing its western Alaska operations immediately. No details about what prompted the decision were released in the announcement and Yute Air Director of Operations Dan Knesek could not be reached for comment, KTUU-TV reported.
“All of us at Yute Air would like to thank the people of the YK Delta for your business over the years,” the company wrote on its Facebook page. “We are saddened to tell you that Yute Air has shut down.”
Airline employees say they were caught off guard by the news and will have to look for new jobs.
“They called me yesterday afternoon and told me they’re no longer doing business,” said George Mark, who worked for Yute Air as a village agent in Quinhagak. “Now I’m out of work right now and I guess I’ll have to look for another opening elsewhere.”
Rose Williams, a former Yute Air agent in Akiak, said he also did not receive an advance notice of the company’s move. He said, “they just told me, one phone call and that was it.”
Rvan Alaska said it will honor all purchased Yute Air flight reservations through the end of the month. The Anchorage-based airline has also announced plans to open four new routes from Bethel to the villages of Napakiak, Napaskiak, Goodnews Bay and Platinum this weekend.
“We understand the surprising nature of the discontinuation of Yute Air services and that it may cause disruption in travel plans,” said Ravn President Jim Hickerson in a statement. “Ravn Alaska is committed to filling the void in service immediately, as seamlessly and conveniently as possible.”
