Alaska’s international airports respond to Canadian cruise restrictions, which could cause issues with tourism come summertime in Alaska.
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) expect increases in travelers coming to Alaska heading into summer. Nonstop destinations offered at ANC are nearly back to pre-COVID-19 levels with scheduled inbound seat capacity forecast to be up more than 750,000 seats, an increase of 117% versus last summer. Fairbanks is forecast to be up 62,500 seats, a 126% increase over 2020. According to report, ANC and FAI want to help Alaska’s tourism economy and express determination to safely bring travelers here this summer.
Canada’s cruise ship ban has been extended to February 2022, which spells disaster to Alaska’s tourism industry, as a result. ANC Airport Director Jim Szczesniak said, “We are extremely disappointed in Canada’s decision to restrict cruise ships this summer. However, Alaska is more than just a cruise destination. For this summer, Alaska is forecast to be one of the most popular destinations in the U.S. ANC, and our sister airport FAI, provide access to the wonders of Alaska.”
According to ANC, Americans are eager to travel domestically. The current scheduled summer nonstop markets between Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and the Lower 48 are: Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Portland, Phoenix, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Houston, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Las Vegas. The summer schedule also includes two airlines operating flights from Frankfurt, Germany.
The current scheduled summer nonstop markets between Fairbanks International Airport and the Lower 48 are: Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Minneapolis and Frankfurt, Germany.
