Alaska Airports are key drivers of the state’s economy and an area for growth. That’s the message of Deputy Commissioner of Aviation Steve Hatter. Hatter was in Fairbanks for a quarterly meeting of the Governor’s Aviation Advisory Board, and also spoke to the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. Alaska is a major stopover for international air carriers. Anchorage is among the world’s busiest cargo airports and Fairbanks is in the top 100. Hatter says Alaska is well positioned as a refueling stop.
Hatter says major facility upgrades at Fairbanks and Anchorage airports allow for new growth, beyond just refueling.
Alaska airports are also vital in state. A new report that looks at 12 Alaska airports, identifies Fairbanks International as a hub for more than 50 communities in Interior and Northern Alaska for freight, mail, and commuter services. Over 2,100 Fairbanks jobs, 1 in 20 in the community, are attributed to airport related business that totals $261 million in wages, capital project and operating expenditures.
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Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
