New commuter airline for southeast.

• Author: Bonham, Nicole A.
• Position: Taquan Air

KETCHIKAN - Among Ketchikan's success stories of recent years, the folks responsible for Southeast's Taquan Air are doing it again.

This time, the impact of their efforts will be felt strongly across the state.

Pilot and entrepreneur Jerry Scudero, in partnership with Kootznoowoo, Inc., the village corporation for Angoon, celebrated the 20th anniversary of the scheduled intra-state air-carrier Taquan Air - considered Alaska's second largest in its class - by substantially expanding that operation. It's a flight service that Scudero developed from a single Cessna 185 amphibian bought in 1977.

Now, Scudero and Kootznoowoo have joined forces again as Taquan Air Service, Inc., establishing AirOne.

Simply put, this means quick and convenient service between Alaska's Capitol City and its Panhandle neighbors via the comfort of a fleet of Jetstream 32s - a 19-passenger twin, turbo-prop, pressurized aircraft manufactured by British Aerospace.

Starting April 15, AirOne will service Juneau, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka and Klawock - a first for Prince of Wales Island - using the following routes:

* Juneau to Ketchikan non-stop

* Juneau - Petersburg - Wrangell - Ketchikan

* Juneau - Sitka - Klawock (Prince of Wales Island) - Ketchikan

AirOne will also provide year-round service between Prince Rupert's Digby Island and Ketchikan International Airport. The flights are scheduled to connect with Canadian Airlines at that British Columbia hub and also Alaska Airlines flights servicing Ketchikan.

Taquan Air, meanwhile, will continue its own operation separately - a fleet of 27 floatplanes serving 31 communities out of its Ketchikan...