Shocker: New Pacific Airways & Ravn Alaska CEO “Components Methods” With Firm

Right here’s an airline administration shakeup that may shock completely nobody, however first a little bit of background (since most traditional folks most likely don’t have any clue what airways I’m speaking about)…

The fundamentals of Ravn Alaska & New Pacific Airways

For some background, Ravn Alaska is a regional airline in Alaska, which primarily operates turboprops in markets not served by different airways. Whereas the provider’s historical past dates again over 75 years, the airline filed for Chapter 11 chapter safety in 2020, and continues to be in enterprise.

Nevertheless, issues aren’t precisely good on the airline. Earlier this yr, the corporate restructured, and laid off round 130 employees.

In 2021, Ravn Alaska launched a brand new subsidiary, on the time often known as Northern Pacific Airways (later rebranded as New Pacific Airways, on account of a lawsuit). The provider’s plan was to fly Boeing 757s throughout the Pacific, through Anchorage (ANC). The airline then pivoted its enterprise mannequin, and began working scheduled home flights out of Ontario (ONT), initially to Las Vegas (LAS), however then to Reno (RNO) and Nashville (BNA).

I imply, it’s a pure enterprise development, proper? Desirous to from the Icelandair of the Pacific, to the Bachelorette Categorical? Anyway, that didn’t final lengthy, and now New Pacific Airways is solely chartering out its planes, and not has scheduled flights.

There’s now a significant replace when it comes the corporate’s administration…

Rob McKinney is out as CEO of firm

Rob McKinney has been CEO of Ravn Alaska and New Pacific Airways for the reason that begin of the pandemic. It appears the entire New Pacific Airways idea was actually a pet mission of his, as assets went into constructing that airline, seemingly on the costly of investing in Ravn Alaska, the core enterprise with a confirmed observe report.

It has simply been introduced that McKinney is leaving his function on the firm efficient instantly. Because it’s described, “the departure comes as he doesn’t share the ahead imaginative and prescient of the possession and Chairman” (which… I’d be fascinated to know what the 2 visions are).

Right here’s what McKinney needed to say about his time on the airline:

“It has been a tremendous journey to be a part of the resurrection of Ravn from chapter and to expertise the uncommon alternative of launching America’s newest Half 121 airline. Our partnership with Boeing and collaborations with different outstanding firms and people all over the world introduced our imaginative and prescient to life. Nevertheless, there comes a time in life while you simply don’t see eye to eye. Bringing an airline to life is a staff effort, and I owe a lot of the credit score to the wonderful staff that achieved what appeared just like the not possible.”

“It has been an honor to work with such a devoted and gifted staff. Our shared achievements are a testomony to their arduous work and dedication. Whereas our paths diverge right here, I stay immensely pleased with what we now have achieved collectively and look ahead to the longer term.”

I’m clearly getting this announcement from the PR staff representing McKinney reasonably than the airline, because it highlights all of his wonderful accomplishments on the airline, together with:

• “McKinney led the profitable resurrection of Ravn Alaska after its 2020 chapter, reestablishing the airline and enabling it to renew operations and repair numerous Alaskan communities.”
• “He spearheaded the launch of New Pacific Airways, connecting Anchorage with key locations in Asia and the Decrease 48 states. This initiative included buying a fleet of Boeing plane to reinforce connectivity.”
• “Beneath McKinney’s management, New Pacific Airways created a whole bunch of native jobs and generated substantial tax income for Alaska. The airline’s operations are projected to spice up the state’s economic system by extending the tourism season and attracting year-round guests.”
• “McKinney positioned Anchorage as a strategic hub for trans-Pacific flights, impressed by different profitable stopover airways. This mannequin not solely affords a handy stopover for passengers touring between Asia and the US but additionally promotes native tourism by encouraging layovers in Alaska.”

That’s… umm… an attention-grabbing perspective. Like, let me simply quote a kind of factors once more:

“He spearheaded the launch of New Pacific Airways, connecting Anchorage with key locations in Asia and the Decrease 48 states. This initiative included buying a fleet of Boeing plane to reinforce connectivity.”

So yeah, he completely did the italicized half. However did I miss the place he did the bolded half? As a result of until Ontario moved to Anchorage, and Reno moved to Asia, I don’t suppose there’s even a morsel of reality to that assertion.

I’m curious what’s subsequent for Ravn Alaska and New Pacific Airways. It’s clear that McKinney was the one pushing the entire 757 operation. So is the imaginative and prescient of the proprietor and chairman to simply abandon the entire 757 vainness mission, or one thing else?

I imply, I believe Vasu Raja has some free time, and I’ve heard El Paso (ELP) is a good place to arrange a hub these days…

Backside line

Ravn Alaska and New Pacific Airways CEO Rob Kinney has lastly “parted methods” with the corporate. It’s truthfully puzzling how he had the job for therefore lengthy. I assumed that every one the senior executives on the airline had the identical “imaginative and prescient” as him, or else they might’ve ended this malarkey sooner.

What do you suppose is subsequent for Ravn Alaska and New Pacific Airways?