Alaska Seaplanes

What Alaska Seaplanes does

Alaska Seaplanes is a privately held regional commuter airline headquartered at Juneau International Airport in Juneau, Alaska, operating since 1997 under co-owners Mike Stedman and CEO Kent Craford (who acquired the company from the Loken family in 2011). The company operates a mixed fleet of 15 aircraft — 6 float planes and 9 wheeled aircraft including Pilatus PC-12, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, Cessna 208 Caravan, DeHavilland Beaver, and Cessna 206 — providing scheduled daily passenger service to 12 remote Southeast Alaska communities (Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Gustavus, Hoonah, Kake, Klawock, Sitka, Ketchikan, Angoon, Tenakee Springs, Pelican, and Elfin Cove) with no road access. Approximately 100 daily flights transport 90,000+ passengers and 2.7 million pounds of cargo annually across 360 operating days per year, with ADS-B avionics and Garmin GPS navigation as the primary onboard technology stack. The company also offers private charters across Alaska, British Columbia, the Yukon, and the Pacific Northwest (via the re-established SeaPort Air entity), cargo and freight shipping with GOLDRUSH priority service, scenic flightseeing tours (bear viewing, glacier hikes) distributed through FareHarbor, and a Higher Flyer Rewards loyalty program.

Revenue is generated through multiple unit-priced streams: per-segment passenger fares, per-pound cargo rates (plus 6.25% FET), quote-based charter contracts, per-passenger flightseeing tour fees, and ancillary fees for excess baggage, storage, special items, and no-shows. The company serves four primary customer segments — Southeast Alaska residents (essential transportation), tourists and adventure travelers, charter and group customers, and cargo/freight shippers — distributed across a 13-station network. Growth has been driven primarily by acquisitions (Air Excursions in 2012, Above and Beyond Alaska in 2022, Island Air Express in 2023) and the 2025 re-establishment of SeaPort Air for Pacific Northwest operations. The company is privately financed, with no external venture or institutional funding disclosed in available sources.

Name

Alaska Seaplanes

Legal name

Alaska Seaplanes

Website

https://flyalaskaseaplanes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Alaska Seaplanes is a privately held commuter airline headquartered in Juneau, Alaska, operating 15 aircraft on scheduled, charter, and cargo service to 12 remote Southeast Alaska communities and through SeaPort Air in the Pacific Northwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Commuter Air Transportation

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

Island & Remote Region Regional Airlines (THABACAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Seaplane & Amphibious Air Taxi (TLAFABAI)

Keywords

• Regional commuter airline
• Scheduled passenger flights
• Air charter services
• Air cargo freight
• Flightseeing tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Juneau

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Scheduled Passenger Service: Alaska Seaplanes generates primary revenue from scheduled daily flights connecting 12 Southeast Alaska communities including Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Gustavus, Hoonah, Kake, Klawock, Sitka, Ketchikan, Angoon, Tenakee Springs, Pelican, and Elfin Cove. Revenue from individual passenger tickets on routes operated year-round.
2. Cargo and Freight Shipping: Air cargo services for shipping goods between Southeast Alaska communities. Standard freight shipped at regular rates with 1-3 day delivery, and GOLDRUSH priority freight for time-sensitive packages. Revenue based on weight, distance (city pairs), plus 6.25% FET.
3. Charter Flights: Private charter services across Alaska, British Columbia, the Yukon, and Pacific Northwest using fleet aircraft including Pilatus PC-12 (up to 9 passengers), Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, Cessna 208 Caravan, DeHavilland Beaver (up to 6 passengers), and Cessna 206 (up to 4 passengers). Revenue from custom itinerary bookings.
4. Flightseeing Tours: Adventure tourism experiences including Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing, Waterfall Creek Brown Bear Viewing, and Fly-In Glacier Hike and Packraft tours. Booked through FareHarbor third-party platform, targeting tourists visiting Southeast Alaska.
5. Excess Baggage Fees: Revenue from baggage exceeding 50 lb allowance per passenger, charged per pound based on destination. Additional fees for single-piece heavy items (51-150 lbs) and special items like unboxed bicycles ($50) and hazardous materials ($50).
6. Higher Flyer Rewards Program: Frequent flyer loyalty program where members earn rewards (10 one-way tickets = 1 free one-way ticket) on Alaska Seaplanes and Island Air Express flights. Not a direct revenue stream but drives customer retention and repeat bookings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alaska Seaplanes operates a regional commuter airline out of Juneau providing year-round scheduled passenger flights, private air charters, air cargo and freight shipping, and flightseeing tours across 12 Southeast Alaska communities and broader Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon, and Pacific Northwest destinations using a mixed fleet of float planes and wheeled aircraft. The company also operates the Higher Flyer Rewards loyalty program and ancillary baggage, cargo, and freight services.

Product overview

Alaska Seaplanes operates as a regional commuter airline serving Southeast Alaska with a portfolio of interconnected services. The core offerings consist of scheduled passenger flights (operating both seaplanes and wheeled aircraft to 13 communities), private air charters (using Pilatus PC-12, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, Cessna 208 Caravan, DeHavilland Beaver, and Cessna 206 aircraft), air cargo and freight shipping (with standard and GOLDRUSH priority options), and scenic flightseeing tours (including bear viewing and glacier experiences). The company also maintains a Higher Flyer Rewards loyalty program for frequent travelers. Acquired brands include Above and Beyond Alaska (tours) and Island Air Express, operating under the unified Alaska Seaplanes brand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scheduled Flights Daily scheduled passenger air service connecting 12-13 Southeast Alaska communities including Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Gustavus, Hoonah, Kake, Klawock, Sitka, Ketchikan, Angoon, Tenakee Springs, Pelican, and Elfin Cove, operated year-round using seaplanes and wheeled aircraft. Targeted at residents, tourists, and visitors needing reliable intra-region transportation.
• Private Air Charters Custom private charter flights available across Alaska, British Columbia, the Yukon, and the Pacific Northwest using Pilatus PC-12 (up to 9 passengers), Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, Cessna 208 Caravan, DeHavilland Beaver (up to 6 passengers), and Cessna 206 (up to 4 passengers). Targeted at groups, businesses, government agencies, and individuals needing flexible routing or access to destinations not served by the scheduled network.
• Air Cargo & Freight Shipping

Quantifiable outcome

• 90,000+ passengers transported annually across 12 communities
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SeaPort AirminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In 2025, Alaska Seaplanes under CEO Kent Craford's leadership re-established SeaPort Air, which now operates routes in the Pacific Northwest with a fleet of Pilatus PC-12s. This is a separate operating entity co-branded with Alaska Seaplanes.
• Island Air ExpresscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Alaska Seaplanes acquired Island Air Express, based in Klawock, in 2023. Island Air Express operates regional flights serving Prince of Wales Island communities and has been integrated into Alaska Seaplanes operations, with their frequent flyer program eligible for earning Higher Flyer Rewards on Alaska Seaplanes flights.
• Above and Beyond Alaska (ABAK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Alaska Seaplanes acquired Above and Beyond Alaska in 2022, a tour company operating out of Juneau that conducts whale, bear, and glacier tours. This acquisition expanded Alaska Seaplanes' presence in the adventure tourism market.
• Air Excursions LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Alaska Seaplanes acquired Air Excursions, a long-time Gustavus-based air taxi company founded by Steve Wilson and later owned by veteran pilot/mechanic Mike Loverink, in 2012. The company was merged with Kalinin Aviation LLC (dba Alaska Seaplanes) in Spring 2013 under one brand. Transportation is provided by both Air Excursions LLC and Kalinin Aviation LLC.
• Taku Aviation Services, Inc.minorOthersAlaska Seaplanes co-owner Mike Stedman is a current shareholder in Taku Aviation Services, Inc., the leasing company that holds the equipment used by Wings Airways operating turbine DeHavilland Otters from downtown Juneau.
• Kalinin Aviation LLCcoreOthersKalinin Aviation LLC is the operating entity for Alaska Seaplanes brand alongside Air Excursions LLC. Both entities provide transportation services marketed under the Alaska Seaplanes brand.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Misty Fjords Airways: Ketchikan-based floatplane operator focused on flightseeing tours and charter flights in the Misty Fjords area. Competes with Alaska Seaplanes' ABAK-acquired tour business for adventure tourism bookings.
• Taquan Air: Ketchikan-based float-plane carrier providing scheduled and charter service throughout Southeast Alaska and Prince of Wales Island. Direct competitor on tourist and cargo routes, including service to communities also served by Alaska Seaplanes.
• Wings of Alaska: Juneau-based float-plane operator running turbine DeHavilland Otters on commuter and charter routes overlapping Alaska Seaplanes' Southeast Alaska footprint. Operates from the same harbor/dock environment and serves a similar resident + tourist mix.
• Kenmore Air: Seattle-based seaplane operator offering scheduled passenger service, charters, and flightseeing across the Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, and British Columbia. Closest Lower-48 analog to Alaska Seaplanes' scheduled + seaplane service mix.
• Tofino Air: Tofino, BC-based seaplane carrier connecting Vancouver Island coastal communities with Vancouver and other Pacific Northwest destinations. Comparable floatplane commuter and charter model for the Alaska Seaplanes / SeaPort Air network.
• Harbour Air: Largest seaplane operator on the North American Pacific coast, running scheduled and charter services across British Columbia and into the Pacific Northwest with a fleet of Twin Otters and Caravans. Directly comparable business model and aircraft selection to Alaska Seaplanes' Pacific Northwest expansion via SeaPort Air.
• Baranof Air: Juneau-area float-plane operator running Bearskin Lake, Sitka, and Angoon routes that directly overlap Alaska Seaplanes' commuter schedule. Closest head-to-head competitor in the Southeast Alaska seaplane commuter market.
• Island Air Express: Klawock-based regional carrier serving Prince of Wales Island communities, acquired by Alaska Seaplanes in 2023. Prior to acquisition it was a direct competitor on Southeast Alaska intra-island routes and remains integrated under the Alaska Seaplanes brand.

Emerging players

• TEMSCO Helicopters: Ketchikan- and Juneau-based helicopter operator running flightseeing tours, bear-viewing excursions, and charters overlapping Alaska Seaplanes' tourism business. Adjacent aviation product (rotor vs. fixed-wing) competing for the same discretionary tourist spend.

Broad incumbents

• Ravn Alaska: Larger Alaska regional airline operating turboprop and small-jet service across a broader state network including Southeast Alaska hubs. Overlaps Alaska Seaplanes on connections to Anchorage and Fairbanks feeder traffic but with much larger fleet and route scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AlaskaSeaplanes
• Facebookfacebook.com/akseaplanes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alaska-seaplanes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alaska Seaplanes