Effective July 1 PenAir will no longer be flying to Atka or Nikolski - or at least they hope not. For years the airline has received the federal government’s Essential Air Service subsidy in exchange for serving the two Aleutian communities, but the company announced recently that it would not be bidding on the subsidy this year.

PenAir President Scott Bloomquist says it’s been difficult to serve the communities. 

“We’re serving them both with the wrong type of aircraft.”

Currently, PenAir flies a 30-seat Saab turboprop to Atka three times a week and a nine-seat Grumman Goose to Nikolski twice a week. According to Department of Transportation documents, between 2008 and 2010 PenAir completed only one third of its scheduled flights to Nikolski.

Bloomquist is hoping another airline will step into the market.

“If somebody else can do a better job, then let’s see if they’re out there.  Now, if nobody else bids it, then we’re held in.”

The way the subsidy works, the last airline serving the community has to continue until another company steps up. That could mean delaying the retirement of the Goose, which is scheduled to go out of service this summer after the runway in Akutan is completed.

“They’d probably require me to keep the Goose in service," Bloomquist says.

Meanwhile, community reactions are mixed. Atka City Administrator Julie Dirks says while it’s true that PenAir’s service isn’t always stellar, they have been flying to Atka for a long time. She’s hoping ACE Air Cargo will bid on the routes. ACE is the only other airline that currently flies to Atka and Nikolski.

“Their last indication was that they did want to serve Atka.  They have done stuff like get a passenger aircraft and become qualified to fly passengers in.  So, and they have experience out in the Aleutian region, which to our community, that’s important.”

ACE couldn’t be reached for comment, but Dirks says it’s comforting to know that one way or another Atka will have air service.

“So the village won’t totally be cut off.”

Final bids are due March 23. Then the DOT will publish the results and take public comment on the carrier proposals. A decision is expected to follow shortly thereafter.