Pacific Airways (Ketchikan International) has decided to end operations and shut down due to the combined impact of growing insurance premiums caused by last year's crash as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, local radio KRBD has reported.
"We decided at the end of February that given the potential disaster that this virus outbreak was going to cause, we decided that we weren't going to continue," owner and President Steve Montanus said.
The carrier operated a fleet of DHC-2 seaplanes, flying scheduled passenger services out of Ketchikan International, as well as charter and see sighting flights. The airline was the only one serving Meyers Chuck and Kasaan. On both routes, it carried mail, besides passengers and regular cargo. The US Postal Service said it will now look for a replacement carrier.
