Ryan Air, Inc., is an American airline that serves over 70 villages in Bush Alaska out of hubs in Anchorage, Aniak, Bethel, Emmonak, Kotzebue, Nome, St. Mary's, and Unalakleet. Offering primarily cargo services, Ryan Air also operates scheduled passenger service out of Aniak, and passenger or cargo charters throughout Alaska.
History Ryan Air was established in 1953 as Unalakleet Air Taxi by Wilfred Ryan Sr. as a charter airline. In the 1960s, the company began handling USPS mail delivery and transportation of schoolteachers for the Bureau of Indian Affairs between communities along the lower Yukon River. In 1977, Wilfred P. Ryan Jr. took over the company after his father died of cancer.
In 1979, the company expanded service beyond the Norton Sound and changed their name to Ryan Air. With a new fleet of Beech 1900s and Beech 99s, Ryan Air grew to the largest commuter carrier in Alaska by 1987, serving 85 cities and villages with a fleet of 28 planes. However, a series of 12 accidents, culminating in a fatal crash of flight 103 on 23 November 1987https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR0401.pdf p. 91 that killed 18 of the 21 people on board, led the FAA to shut down the airline in January 1988.
In the 1990s, Ryan Air converted to a cargo-only airline and changed their name to Arctic Transportation Services (ATS), adding CASA 212 cargo planes to their fleet. They changed their name back to Ryan Air in 2010.
In 2011, Ryan Air began passenger charters out of Anchorage, using a newly acquired Pilatus PC-12.
In 2014, Ryan Air resumed regularly scheduled passenger services out of Aniak, AK using their Cessna 207 aircraft.
In 2015 Ryan Air acquired a fifth CASA 212.
In 2017 Ryan Air adds 2 SAAB 340s, based in Anchorage, to their fleet.
In 2019 Lee Ryan is appointed as President of Ryan Air, Inc.
In December 2022 Ryan Air was acquired by Saltchuk.
In June 2024 Ryan Air acquired a fourth Cessna 208 EX.
In July of 2025 Ryan Air acquired a second Pilatus PC-12. The new PC-12 is the NG model with executive interior, upgraded avionics and PT6-67P engine/propeller combination.
Destinations Ryan Air Services maintains the following scheduled passenger routes (as of January 2021):
From/to Aniak Aniak - Holy Cross - Anvik - Grayling - Shageluk - Aniak Aniak - Kalskag - Russian Mission - Aniak Aniak - Chuathbaluk - Crooked Creek - Sleetmute - Stony River - Aniak Aniak - Bethel - Aniak (non-stop) Aniak - Anchorage - Aniak (non-stop)
From/to Bethel Bethel - Chevak - Hooper Bay - Scammon Bay - Bethel Bethel - Mekoryuk - Toksook Bay - Tununak - Bethel Bethel - Atmautluak - Marhsall - St. Mary's Bethel - Aniak (non-stop) Aniak - Bethel (non-stop)
From/to Anchorage Anchorage - Aniak - Anchorage (non-stop)
Fleet , the Ryan Air Services fleet consists of 20 aircraft, including: +Ryan Air Services fleetAircraftNumberPassengersNotesCASA 212-2006—CargoCessna 207115Passenger or freight operationsCessna 208 EX49Passenger or freight operationsPilatus PC-1229Passenger or freight operationsSaab 3402 (as of August 2025)—CargoTotal25
Accident On 23 November, 1987, Ryan Air Services Flight 103, a Beechcraft 1900C operating a domestic flight in Alaska from Kodiak Airport to Homer Airport, crashed near the runway at Homer Airport, while approaching it. 18 of the 21 people on board were killed. It was determined that the cause of the crash was an improper loading, which led to a loss of control during landing.
References
External links
NTSB Aircraft Accident Report for Flight 103