Wright Air keeps Lake Minchumina flights for two more years, with a bigger federal subsidy

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday picked Wright Air Service to keep flying subsidized flights between Lake Minchumina and Fairbanks for two more years, a day before the carrier's contract ran out.

Residents who wrote in backed Wright Air. The Lake Minchumina Homeowners Association wrote that the twice-weekly schedule "is ideal for our community" and praised the carrier's response to medevac requests, according to the department's order. Other residents cited reliable passenger and freight service. The department said it "did not receive any community support" for the other bidder.

Lake Minchumina was the only one of seven roadless Alaska communities in this round of the federal Essential Air Service program to draw two bids. Tatonduk Outfitters, doing business as Everts Air Alaska, asked for $330,000 a year. Wright Air asked for $234,900, about 29% less. One resident raised concerns about Everts' proposed fares and freight reliability, the order says.

Wright Air's new subsidy is up from $213,600. The carrier told the department its request was about 10% higher than in 2024 because of fuel, wages, insurance and other costs. It has served Lake Minchumina since 2010 and will fly two round trips a week through October 2028, one on a nine-seat Cessna Caravan and the other on a Caravan or a four-seat Cessna 206.

The order warns that money may not be available to pay for the service after Dec. 11 unless funds are made available to the department.

Lake Minchumina is the first of the seven communities to get a carrier. Decisions are still pending for King Cove, Ekwok, Angoon, Elfin Cove, Pelican and Tenakee Springs.