by Greg Lincoln
Bethel is due for an updated study to determine if more passenger flights are needed to accommodate the needs of the Yukon Kuskokwim delta region, says the Bethel City Council.
The City of Bethel council passed a resolution requesting that the United States Department of Transportation, Essential Air Service Program, complete a service needs assessment to determine if the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta region has adequate passenger flight services to meet the needs of travelers to and from the region.
Resolution 23-05 was introduced by council member Sophie Swope. It passed on the consent agenda during council’s March 14th, 2023 regular council meeting.
The Essential Air Service (EAS) program, funded by the United States Department of Transportation, was created to ensure that smaller communities served by air carriers receive a minimum level of service, states Resolution 23-05. Approximately 60 communities in Alaska currently receive services from EAS subsidies.
According to the resolution, Bethel qualifies for the EAS, allowing carriers to provide federally-subsidized flight services to Bethel but none was currently receiving the subsidy.
The Yukon Kuskokwim region consists of 56 communities with approximately 25,000 residents. These communities are not connected by the road system.
“Bethel is the largest hub community in the region with the only airport large enough to accommodate large passenger flights to Anchorage, the closest service hub on the road system which is 400 miles away, requiring residents and visitors to the region to funnel through Bethel to access passenger flight services,” Res. 23-05 says.
Currently, only one commercial carrier provides passenger services between Bethel and Anchorage.
“In 2002, there were 1,324 departures from the Bethel Airport, by the only commercial passenger carrier with service to Anchorage; in 2021 (the last full year of data available), that number dropped to 677 departures from the Bethel Airport; an average difference of 24 flights per week to 13 flights per week,” per 23-05. “This reduction has left the 25,000 residents and many visitors and essential personnel without adequate air services to and from the region.”
The last study was conducted in 1980 through the Vici Aeronautics Board (Order No. 80-1-167), which determined that Bethel should have 16 large aircraft flights per week during peak season and 14 large aircraft (60 seats) flights per week during the off-season. Peak season and off-seasons were not defined.
Bethel’s population was 3,576 in 1980. Today it is approximately 6,300 – a 55% increase, says the resolution.
“Given the population growth in the region of over 50% since the last EAS determination, it is time for a new determination for Bethel and the YK Delta to see if the region’s needs are being met by the current service level.”
The resolution was attested by Mayor Rose Henderson and City Clerk Lori Strickler.
