Bering Air files for Nome terminal extension, Unalakleet permit

Bering Air filed applications this week with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to extend its Nome Airport terminal lease for five years and to amend authorized uses at its Unalakleet Airport lease.

The Nome extension would keep Bering Air in its 60,000-square-foot terminal space for an additional five years at $13,020 annually, plus associated fees. Authorized uses include operation and maintenance of a terminal building for airline passengers and air cargo, operation of a scheduled airline business, airline equipment storage and parking, employee and customer parking, fueling of the carrier's aircraft, and aircraft servicing and parking. The application was filed under Alaska Statute 02.15.090(c), which allows the department to grant certain airport land lease term extensions without competition.

The Unalakleet amendment proposes to change the authorized uses of Lease ADA-71262, which covers 10,518 square feet at $2,282 annually, plus associated fees. Current authorized uses include Part 135 air taxi operations, passenger transportation, scheduled air service, charter flights, and fixed-rotor wing operations.

Bering Air operates scheduled passenger service from Nome to 18 villages across the Bering Strait and Norton Sound region. The carrier maintains a hub-and-spoke network centered on Nome, Unalakleet, and Kotzebue.

Public comment on the Nome extension closes at 4:30 p.m. July 6. The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities will then determine whether to extend the lease.