New Pacific Airlines, formerly known as Northern Pacific Airways, is the strangest airline currently operating in the United States. While the airline was initially supposed to fly from Alaska to Asia, for the past several months it has instead been flying nearly empty planes from Ontario to Reno and Nashville… as one does.
@IshrionA reports on how there’s now a major update, as New Pacific Airlines is discontinuing scheduled flights, and is instead shifting its focus to charters.
In this post:
New Pacific Airlines cuts Nashville & Reno flights
For some background, in the summer of 2023, New Pacific Airlines (at the time known as Northern Pacific Airways) operated a single route 3x weekly, between Ontario (ONT) and Las Vegas (LAS). That route was cut as of December 2023. At that point the airline launched two new routes, and for the past several months has been flying:
- 2x weekly between Ontario (ONT) and Reno (RNO)
- 2x weekly between Ontario (ONT) and Nashville (BNA)
The airline has now cut these routes as well. As of March 21, 2024, New Pacific cut its Reno flights, while as of April 5, 2024, New Pacific will cut its Nashville flights. That will mark the end of regularly scheduled passenger service for the airline, at least for now.
Everything about this situation is just bizarre. As a reminder, the airline initially planned to fly from Anchorage to Tokyo, Osaka, and Seoul, but ended up flying from Anchorage to Las Vegas, Nashville, and Reno. Talk about a pivot!
I just don’t understand what the company’s management was even thinking with launching those routes. The flights were consistently nearly empty, so if you’re going to fly a plane with the goal of minimizing losses, those don’t seem like the routes that you’d add.
New Pacific Airlines claims that it still intends to finally launch transpacific flights in 2024, though there’s no obvious progress with that actually happening. Meanwhile Ravn Alaska, the carrier’s parent company, is in the process of restructuring, and has been laying off staff.
New Pacific Airlines will now focus on charter flights
Even though New Pacific Airlines is ending scheduled passenger service, the airline claims that it’s not going out of business. Instead, the airline will be offering charter services, in partnership with Elevation Aviation Group. I mean, I don’t even know what to make of the press release about this, which starts with:
New Pacific Airlines, a leading airline based in Anchorage, Alaska, is pleased to announce a strategic and exclusive partnership with Miami Beach, Florida based, Elevate Aviation Group, a renowned private aviation services provider.
I’m sorry, but by what metric is New Pacific Airlines a leading airline? The only metric I can think of is that the airline is leading with the lowest load factor of any scheduled airline in the United States.
Then the press release continues as follows:
The exclusive relationship between New Pacific Airlines and Elevate Aviation Group is poised to redefine the landscape of private aviation, offering unparalleled access, flexibility, and luxury to discerning travelers. This partnership brings together the expertise and resources of two industry leaders, reinforcing their commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for clients around the world.
New Pacific Airlines is redefining the landscape of private aviation and is offering “luxury to discerning travelers” with its old, former American Boeing 757s? Guys, this isn’t the Qatar Executive fleet…
Here’s how New Pacific Airlines CEO Rob McKinney describes the partnership:
“At New Pacific Airlines, we are dedicated to redefining the standards of aviation services. Our partnership with Elevate Aviation Group is a testament to our commitment to providing unparalleled travel experiences. Together, we will set new benchmarks for excellence in the private aviation sector.”
Talk about fluff, eh?
Bottom line
As of early April 2024, New Pacific Airlines is completely discontinuing regularly scheduled flights. The airline has already cut its Ontario to Reno service, and will shortly be cutting its Ontario to Nashville service. Keep in mind that this is the airline that initially wanted to connect Anchorage with Asia.
New Pacific Airlines claims it will now be focusing on charter flights instead. However, with parent company Ravn Alaska restructuring, one has to wonder how much longer this airline can be sustained. I still can’t wrap my head around how the airline has been so poorly run…
What do you make of New Pacific Airlines’ situation?
Too bad that this airline is not continuing their flights to Nashville and Reno. I took a flight to Nashville last year on one of their planes and was considering taking another flight to Reno. Unfortunately the flight that I took was delayed by a few hours, but the flight attendants were awesome and they provided drinks and plenty of snacks, all included.
They offered special rates through April 30. We have reservation 4/25-4/29 ONT/BNA. Unable to reach customer service, and nowhere on their website do they mention what they plan to do for scheduled flights after April 5!! Honor or cancel and refund? Of course tix is non-refundable if I cancel but they need to honor the reservation or refund due to their decision to cancel. Unable to reach by phone, 2 emails asking about this with no response. What are we to do??
I had a flight booked last Sunday March 24 from Reno to Ontario. I had booked it through Hopper but I got a text and email from New Pacific Airlines saying my flight (which was gonna be in 2 days at the time) was canceled and sorry for the inconvenience and that my money would be refunded. Well a week has gone by now and I can't even get a hold of anybody. And oddly...
I had a flight booked last Sunday March 24 from Reno to Ontario. I had booked it through Hopper but I got a text and email from New Pacific Airlines saying my flight (which was gonna be in 2 days at the time) was canceled and sorry for the inconvenience and that my money would be refunded. Well a week has gone by now and I can't even get a hold of anybody. And oddly when I call hopper they say it's not showing that the flight was even canceled. Apparently I just wasted my money and now there is nobody to get a hold of.
I literally have a round trip flight scheduled with them April 8-12th from Ontario to Nashville. Have not gotten any notice of cancellation of flights! No one answers the phones, don’t even know how to go about getting a refund. Thank you for posting this! Would have had no idea my flights have been canceled
I knew this was all a scam when I read how New Pacific was going to emulate Iceland Air by giving people stopovers in ANC and then side trips to the Alaska native villages Ravn serves.
The only problem with that is Ravn only operates 37-seat Dash 100's, so there's not a lot of room for additional passengers, and the villages Ravn serves are really set up for tourists.
Iceland Air gives you a chance...
I knew this was all a scam when I read how New Pacific was going to emulate Iceland Air by giving people stopovers in ANC and then side trips to the Alaska native villages Ravn serves.
The only problem with that is Ravn only operates 37-seat Dash 100's, so there's not a lot of room for additional passengers, and the villages Ravn serves are really set up for tourists.
Iceland Air gives you a chance to explore volcanoes and the like. In Alaska, in the winter, not so much.
WOW!! What a mess. Thank goodness I happen to look at my itinerary today. Noticed my return flight from Nashville to Ontario was no longer showing up. Went to the website to only find that no flights were running after April 5. My flight is April 8. Had to book a return flight on another airline that cost me as much as an original roundtrip would have had I book on that airline in the...
WOW!! What a mess. Thank goodness I happen to look at my itinerary today. Noticed my return flight from Nashville to Ontario was no longer showing up. Went to the website to only find that no flights were running after April 5. My flight is April 8. Had to book a return flight on another airline that cost me as much as an original roundtrip would have had I book on that airline in the first place. I wonder if my flight will be refunded for my return flight. Hopeful for a refund at this point but not holding my breathe. Doesn't seem legal though.
I didn't even know or heard they were flying out of ONT. Maybe better mangerment and advertisement.
This so called new airline will fail.
Did you read the article?
What's stopping them from flying to NRT as originally intended? I think there would be people interested in that route.
Probably the Russian airspace being blocked. I'm surprised that almost no one so far have realised/pointed it out...
No surprise at all. Next they probably will sell their fleet because of lack of business.
I am based out of Kenai alaska. I remember getting emails soliciting to be an investor and giving money for this new airline venture. Glad I stayed far away!
They should have hired Tim Dunn to make fluff up.
It is a loss leading airline. Which is a type of leading... right?
To the commenters question the logic behind the airline: I believe the original plan was to build an operation based in Anchorage for connecting flights trans Pacific on more fuel efficient narrowbodies similar to what Iceland air (and Play) do in KEF for passengers over the Atlantic. Once you account for the fact that one should be able to quickly and efficiently go through customs in Anchorage, then land at the final destination as a...
To the commenters question the logic behind the airline: I believe the original plan was to build an operation based in Anchorage for connecting flights trans Pacific on more fuel efficient narrowbodies similar to what Iceland air (and Play) do in KEF for passengers over the Atlantic. Once you account for the fact that one should be able to quickly and efficiently go through customs in Anchorage, then land at the final destination as a domestic flight, the idea was that the stop in Anchorage wouldn't have added that much to total travel time door to door. But alas, first came covid then Russian airspace closures. The original plan was also to use the 757s temporarily until a321neos could be acquired
They acquired the 121 certificate during COVID, so that was not really a factor in this company’s failure. The Russian airspace closure is more believable, but since that hurdle they have botched decision after decision.
Wish the best to Rob McKinney and hope the costs and inconvenience of NP's actions are returned in kind. Pretty sure this decision was made weeks before the return flight from Ontario to Reno was cancelled on March 24th. This 'business decision' cost me $800 and while maybe not avoidable, could have been handled in a more considerate manner. My best to all travelers impacted by Rob's actions.
You don’t need to wish the best to Rob. He lies to and threatens his employees. Instead of running his company he went to get a 757 type rating and a few days before his checkride he fired 130 people. He blamed this on policies he inherited from the previous owners despite having run the company for four years before the layoffs.
You booked a flight on this airline and you want to blame them for you losing money? The only one here to blame is you.
Another clown show is over. Next one in 3... 2... 1...
Fake airline now doing different fake airline things.
I just want to say I have enjoyed seeing you comment this on every NPA article since the beginning. If we ever met I'd buy you a drink.
Cancelled my flight for Friday on Thursday. Paid through the roof for another flight. We can’t get a hold of customer service for a refund.
I believe they staff 2 customer service representatives. Good luck.
I'd go ahead and file a CC dispute, personally. Try to get your money back ASAP in case they suddenly file bankruptcy.
That's a great idea!!! On it!!
This has to be some sort of con. Money Laundering? Fraud? Tax Evasion Scheme? There’s no way a mentally sound person could run an airline quite so poorly unless they deliberately tried.
Not so easy to run an airline. They wanted to fly Pacific routes so a 737 is not feasible, so they have 757s. If you are not yet ready for Pacific flights, what do you do with 757s? Their answer was ONT-LAS then ONT-BNA then charters but does anyone have a better answer? Maybe ONT-ANC and ONT-OAK?
How about ANC-JNU-SEA-LAX RT
And ANC-ADQ-SEA-LAS RT
They're the leader in guaranteeing fleet availability, being as how I understand they have 4 752s that otherwise aren't doing anything...
WHO on earth wants to fly on such old, overaged planes these days?
Slide Rafts still from Goodyear, maybe not even working anymore if a real accident would happen?
I prefer ANY modern and reliable plane at any time!
Even if they would offer Sub-Charter now, they would have to do that for VERY low rates, still not worth it to fly these old planes.
They’ve only gotten two 757s flying and one is currently down for engine maintenance.