(Fairbanks, Alaska) – United Airlines announced that they will add nonstop summer seasonal service between Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) beginning summer of 2019. The service from SFO will operate Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday departing at 7:51 p.m. arriving in Fairbanks at 11:56 p.m. and will depart FAI Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 12:47 a.m. arriving in San Francisco at 6:42 a.m. The route will begin June 6 and operate through Aug.18, 2019.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Fairbanks as a recipient of the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) grant in July. Fairbanks was awarded $750,000 to help improve air service in which the grant will be used as a revenue guarantee and marketing initiatives for new nonstop service to SFO.

“We look forward to working with United, tourism businesses and the community of Fairbanks to make these flights successful,” said Deb Hickok, president and CEO of Explore Fairbanks. “This schedule combined with already-existing flights should result in increased visitation to Interior Alaska this summer.”

FAI and Explore Fairbanks worked collaboratively with community partners to establish public-private partnerships with many local businesses to help secure the SCASDP grant.

“San Francisco is one of our largest unserved west coast markets” said Angie Spear, Acting Airport Manager. “United’s decision to expand their summer seasonal service to serve that market is filling a demand our community needs.”

“This new service connecting to Fairbanks will bring thousands of tourists from all over the Lower 48 to experience Alaska’s natural beauty next summer, and will connect Alaskans to the world through our San Francisco hub” said Janet Lamkin, United President of California. “We look forward to working with our partners in Fairbanks to ensure these flights are a success.”

Unrelated to the SCASDP grant, United Airlines announced earlier this month that they were adding direct seasonal service from Denver International Airport (DEN) to FAI in addition to their existing summer seasonal service to Chicago, providing Fairbanks residents and visitors with additional connecting options. The DEN service will operate Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday departing Denver at 6:56 p.m. arriving in Fairbanks at 10:37 p.m. and will depart FAI at 11:37 p.m. arriving in Denver at 6:52 a.m.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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