Unalaska, AK – Local seats are still available for flights back to Unalaska after this winter's holiday season.

Alaska Airlines staff in Anchorage say that many seats on Anchorage to Dutch Harbor flights set aside for local residents on December 29, 30, and 31 and January 2 have so far gone unclaimed this year. The airline started reserving the local seats during last year's holiday season. That was in response to complaints that the large number of seasonal workers flying out to Unalaska before the January start of pollock A season and the opilio crab season was making it impossible for residents not employed by the seafood industry to get to and from the island for the holidays.

But this year, a lot of the seats set aside are still open. The airline expects to start releasing the tickets to the seafood companies and other customers a couple weeks before Christmas if they still aren't booked by then. Unalaska residents can book the tickets by calling the Alaska Airlines seafood commercial wholesale desk at 1(800)747-0101.