ANC adds new non-stop routes to 11 US cities

Anchorage International Airport (ANC) is increasing its network by adding routes to Chicago (ORD) and Las Vegas (LAS), and expanding service to Phoenix (PHX) and Maui (OGG) from seasonal to year-round.

Three new cities also will get summer-season nonstop routes: Denver (DEN), Minneapolis (MSP) and San Francisco (SFO). With 11 destinations, this gives us more nonstop flights between Anchorage and cities across the country than any other carrier.

“We’ll fill the bellies of those planes with seafood as our customers see they can send their fish straight to cities like Chicago,” says Shannon Stevens, sales manager for the state of Alaska, Alaska Air Cargo.

With our network of more than 100 destinations, the new routes make it seamless to expedite fresh Alaskan seafood to more markets across North America.

The new nonstop flights from San Francisco also will bring more fresh California produce to Alaskan customers. “There’s a high demand for fresh berries and greens,” Shannon says. “And then of course, those routes will carry fresh Alaskan seafood back to California.”

Going big for summer: Seasonal Alaska freighter routes start in May

Our twice-weekly 737-700 freighter service returns to Dillingham (DLG) May 10, in time for the peak of salmon season on Bristol Bay. Every year, our aircraft carry millions of pounds of fresh Alaska seafood from remote communities destined for markets across the country. Those communities also rely on our freighters to bring in everything from auto parts to plywood to home appliances. “With places like Barrow and Bethel only accessible by plane, cargo is a totally different game up here,” Shannon says. She keeps a close watch on communities’ needs and makes cargo adjustments accordingly. “You can’t be running out of food at the hospitals,” she says.

Twice-weekly freighter service also returns to Unalakleet (UNK) in June. And King Salmon (AKN) and Dillingham (DLG) will have expanded 737 belly cargo service for the summer, in addition to freighter service.

Each freighter carries up to 40,000 pounds of cargo, and the aircraft can handle three sizes of cargo containers.