Launching a new airline in the middleof a pandemic might sound like a fool's errand but the team behind Northern Pacific Airways is adamant Ithat now is the "perfect time" to set up shop, It plans to start operations by the end of 2022 with routes linking the east and west coasts of the United States with Asian cities -all via a base in Anchorage, Alaska. The model mirrors Icelandair's hub-and-spoke network connecting Europe and the US, but for trans-Pacific journeys. In January Northern Pacific unveiled its first Boeing 757 aircraft and livery in a hangar at San Bernardino Airport in southern California. Speaking to AIR International from the event, CEO Rob McKinney said the start-up-would deliver cheaper fares(it is targeting a 20-25% saving on existing comparable tickets) and more convenient connections, since customs and immigration can be cleared at Ted Stevens International Airport rather than notoriously congested hubs in Los Angeles (LAX) or New York (JFK and Newark).
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