Passenger service Alaska style: eight airlines provide service to and from the Lower 48.

• Author: Orr, Vanessa

Anyone living in Alaska knows the importance of air transportation. In some cities, it's one of the only ways to get out; in other cities, it's the preferred way for thousands of tourists to get in. Despite the fact that airline traffic as a whole has suffered a number of setbacks over the past few years, including the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and a weak national economy, travel to and from the 49th state is still going strong--and looks to fly even higher in the future.

There are currently eight airlines that fly between Alaska and the Lower 48 on a seasonal or yearly basis. Some airlines, like Alaska, Northwest, Continental, Delta, United and Hawaiian Vacations, offer service year-round; others, including American Airlines and Sun Country Airlines, only fly to Anchorage during the summer season. Almost all, however, add extra flights in summer to meet the demands of leisure travelers who want to visit the Last Frontier.

MEETING TOURIST DEMAND

"Our season lasts from Memorial Day to Labor Day," said Jim Stack, director of marketing and communications for Sun Country Airlines. "Traffic starts and stops fast--every flight is full, full, full--until the day after school starts; then we find ourselves all alone."

Sun Country Airlines is a low-cost carrier that offers service to eight locations outside the U.S., and 19 domestic locations, including seasonal routes to places like Anchorage and San Francisco. In 2003, Sun Country offered trips to Anchorage two times a week from Minneapolis/St. Paul--a route they plan to double in 2004.

"Alaska is a very strong market for us, and we want to make sure that if people decide to go to Alaska, they go on Sun Country," Stack said of the airline that carried 5,712 passengers to the state in 2003. "That's why, in 2004, we've decided to offer four flights a week from Minneapolis/St. Paul."

In addition to the extra flights, Stack says his company is working with outfitters and guides in Alaska to design tour packages, and is in discussions with a local aviation company to schedule Sun Country's flights to coincide with that airline's flights to other locations in Alaska. This would enable passengers in the Lower 48 to book a ticket on Sun Country's Web site that would let them travel to cities outside Anchorage.

The company is also putting together packages that include everything from outfitting adventures to fishing trips. "We want to offer passengers anything from a 'civilized trip' to Denali to...