Alaska Airlines Anchorage Base to close?
If the SEA ETOPS deal passes membership ratification, Anchorage is going to lose most of its Hawaii flying. Of course, they do a lot of Arctic flying up there, but the 737-400s will all be gone between 2013 and 2015, including the 400 Combi and Freighter. I think we will see Alaska give up the Arctic flying to another outfit, like Northern Air Cargo or Everts (they already have three DC-9 freighters). Unless Alaska converts some of its 737-700s to freighters, then I don't foresee too much flying left to do out of Anchorage. The other angle of looking at the Anchorage base closure is to consider the fact that the AAG BOD is positioning the airline for possible acquisition.
I think the writing is on the wall. The fine folks up there don't want to hear it, but the days of their pilot base up there are numbered.