Anchorage-based start-up airline Northern Pacific, whose business plan was based on using its Alaska location to do for transpacific flights what Iceland does for transatlantic has turned instead to sell tickets for flights to Mexico.
The abrupt shift, the airline says, will still let it meet its plan to start flying passengers in December, but the original routes are off the table for the time being due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The planned flights to Japan and Korea required flying over now off-limits Russian airspace.
In the meantime, Northern Pacific has moved ahead with putting its branding on its first 757s, keeping the original seating but changing the upholstery. The first four came from American Airlines and before that USAir. Northern Pacific’s own planes won’t fly the initial services, however; they will be handled by four 757s wet-leased from Icelandair until its own planes are ready.
