It might be easier to get flights in and out of Unalaska starting in December.

ACE Air Cargo is adding scheduled passenger flights to and from Anchorage on its Beechcraft 1900 Model C.  The plane will hold up to nine passengers each way, and they’re planning on having anywhere between one and four flights a day.

Sherrie Pugh, who does fleet support for Fishing Company of Alaska, says the extra capacity is a relief.

“Every single day, all year, has been horrible.”

PenAir, the only existing passenger carrier, reduced the number of people per flight earlier this year to help ensure baggage delivery. The move effectively cut 21 seats a day, which Pugh says has resulted in a serious seat crunch. 

She was at the airport on Monday to arrange a charter with ACE for 19 fishermen. They had been stuck in Anchorage for several days.

“It’s a lower cost than keeping the boat here.”

ACE Senior Director of Operations Greg Hawthorne says the scheduled flights won’t be in direct competition with PenAir.

“This is not us against them, believe me.  This is about another company coming down there and trying to help out where there is obviously a fairly big void.”

The flights will cost about the same and people flying with ACE won’t be able to earn or use their Alaska Air miles, But Hawthorne says just getting a seat is more important for most people.

 “When was the last time you tried to get a flight out of Dutch Harbor?”

After three days of waiting for a flight to Anchorage, PenAir passenger Doug Dixson was itching to leave.

“I’d pay double easily.  My time is worth $180 an hour.  So go do the math.”

For people traveling beyond Anchorage it might be a more complicated question.  FCA’s Sherrie Pugh says PenAir’s codeshare agreement with Alaska Airlines makes it easier to get people to the Lower 48. 

“It’s gonna be a juggling game I think to figure what the seat fare is Dutch Harbor to Anchorage and then find a cheaper Anchorage – Seattle flight.”

ACE plans to start taking online booking in the next few weeks. Flights are scheduled to begin in early December.