After 77 years in the skies, a much-loved airline has been forced into bankruptcy. Regional carrier Ravn Alaska, which first took flight on June 20, 1948, was once a vital lifeline for many of Alaska’s rural communities.

However, the carrier unexpectedly announced it was to cease all operations in August 2025 and was folded into parent company New Pacific Airlines. “We appreciate the years of service we were able to provide to Alaska communities,” the statement read. “While we are no longer operating flights in Alaska, we’re grateful for the trust you placed in us during our time serving the region.”

Around 270 employees were left without a job, while communities and airports were given hardly any notice of Ravn terminating all services.

The company has not disclosed when or why it halted operations. Its final flight, a route from Valdez to Anchorage, took place on August 5, 2025, marking the end of its service.

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The announcement follows a turbulent period for Ravn Alaska. In February 2024, the airline laid off around 130 employees—more than a third of its workforce—citing inflation, labor shortages, and “unexpected competition” as major challenges.

At the time, CEO Rob McKinny told staff that despite efforts to adjust schedules and pricing, the airline was still not “hitting the profitability mark.”

Federal documents indicate that on December 10, 2024, Ravn informed the U.S. Department of Transportation of its plan to end unsubsidized scheduled flights between Anchorage and St. Mary’s, as well as Unalakleet, effective April 29, 2025, citing increasing operational costs.

“Despite Ravn’s best efforts, the significant increase in operational costs over the past several years has made it economically untenable for Ravn to continue to operate service between ANC and KSM at levels reasonably aligned with the Department’s determination of EAS levels for the community,” Ravn wrote in the December filing.

On January 26, 2026, Float Alaska, the parent company of Ravn Alaska, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, reporting assets of between $1 million and $10 million and liabilities ranging from $10 million to $50 million.