Ravn Alaska CEO Resigns, Casting Doubt on New Pacific’s Asia Routes

The CEO of Ravn Alaska, Rob McKinney, announced his sudden departure on July 1, leaving plans for a transpacific affiliate carrier in limbo. McKinney had been pushing since 2021 to launch a Ravn affiliate that would operate Boeing 757-200 aircraft between Asian and U.S. cities, using Anchorage as a pivotal stopover point. Despite efforts to establish domestic routes in the western U.S. and progress toward U.S.-Asia connecting flights, New Pacific Airways (formerly Northern Pacific Airways) is currently limited to charter flights. McKinney cited a divergence in vision with Ravn’s ownership, stating, “There comes a time in life when you just don’t see eye to eye.”

McKinney had aimed to position Anchorage as a strategic hub for transpacific flights, drawing inspiration from successful stopover airlines like Icelandair. However, the transpacific venture has yet to materialize after three years of concerted effort. Last year, McKinney expressed optimism about launching operations in 2024, envisioning a fully operational model by now. Earlier this year, Ravn Alaska underwent significant layoffs, reducing its workforce by more than 25% from around 400 employees.