Summary
For aviation enthusiasts looking for unusual airlines and aircraft, Alaska has always been somewhere special.
Its vast distances, isolated communities, challenging weather and limited road network mean aviation remains an essential part of everyday life in a way that has largely disappeared elsewhere.
One airline worth putting on your radar is Aleutian Airways.
Based in Anchorage, it links some of Alaska’s most remote communities with the state’s largest city, flying across spectacular and often unforgiving terrain.
Aleutian Airways is one of the world’s last remaining passenger operators of the Saab 2000.
And while a new ATR 42-600 is beginning the next chapter in its fleet story, those fast Swedish turboprops are still very much part of the operation.
What Is Aleutian Airways?
Aleutian Airways is a relatively young airline, with scheduled operations beginning in November 2022.
The airline brand is operated by Sterling Airways and was established as a joint venture with the aim of improving air links between Anchorage, the Aleutian Islands and other communities around Alaska.
The first scheduled flight took place on 16 November 2022, with the airline initially offering weekday services between Anchorage and Dutch Harbor using Saab 2000 turboprops. Since then, Aleutian Airways has steadily expanded.
Today its aircraft can be seen heading out from Anchorage towards a collection of remote destinations which will sound particularly exotic to many aviation enthusiasts.
Where Does Aleutian Airways Fly?
Anchorage is the airline’s main hub. From there it serves destinations including Dutch Harbor/Unalaska, Cold Bay, Sand Point, King Salmon and Homer, with its network having also included places such as St Paul Island, Unalakleet and Kenai as the carrier has developed its schedules.
These are not conventional regional airline routes. Many of the airports on the airline’s network are both remote and challenging. Flying is often the only practical way for passengers to reach these destinations.
Dutch Harbor, in particular, is one of the most fascinating commercial airports in the United States. Located on Amaknak Island it has a relatively short runway surrounded by water and mountainous terrain.
One of the Last Places to Fly a Saab 2000
WWWHHHHYYYYYY, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
For enthusiasts, however, the aircraft may be an even bigger attraction. Aleutian Airways currently lists four Saab 2000s in its fleet.
That makes this small Alaskan airline one of the increasingly rare places where you can still find the type operating scheduled passenger services.
The Saab 2000 was developed during the late 1980s and early 1990s as a much faster and larger development of the successful Saab 340. Powered by two Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprops, it was designed to offer near-jet speeds while retaining the economics of a turboprop.
The Saab 2000 could cruise at around 360 knots and typically accommodate roughly 50 passengers. In many respects, it was one of the ultimate developments of the high-speed regional turboprop. Unfortunately for Saab, it arrived at exactly the wrong time.
Regional airlines were increasingly turning towards jets such as the Bombardier CRJ and Embraer ERJ family, while the slower but more economical ATR 42 and ATR 72 dominated much of the traditional turboprop market.
Only 63 Saab 2000s were built before production ended in 1999.
A quarter of a century later, passenger examples are consequently becoming very difficult to find. That makes Aleutian Airways particularly interesting.
The Saab 2000 Is Well Suited to Alaska
The aircraft also makes considerable sense for Aleutian’s operation.
Its speed is particularly useful when flying across the huge distances involved in Alaska, while the relatively small cabin suits routes where passenger demand could never justify a large jet.
Aleutian Airways’ Saab 2000s are configured for between 41 and 50 passengers, depending on the aircraft and destination.
The airline says the Saab can operate between Anchorage and Dutch Harbor nonstop in both directions without needing an intermediate refuelling stop.
That provides an important advantage for passengers travelling to and from the Aleutian Islands.
But operating an aircraft into Dutch Harbor is anything but straightforward.
The Saab 2000 Accident at Dutch Harbor
Anyone familiar with recent Alaskan aviation history may remember the serious accident involving a Saab 2000 at Dutch Harbor in 2019.
It is important to point out that this was not an Aleutian Airways aircraft. The accident involved PenAir Flight 3296, operated by Peninsula Aviation Services, on 17 October 2019.
The Saab 2000, registration N686PA, was arriving at Unalaska from Anchorage with 39 passengers and three crew aboard. After going around from its first approach, the aircraft made another attempt to land on Runway 13.
Shortly before landing, the crew was advised of winds which meant the aircraft would encounter a significant tailwind. The Saab nevertheless continued its approach and touched down with a calculated tailwind of around 15 knots, and was unable to stop.
It overran the runway, passed through the airport perimeter fence and crossed a road before coming to rest on rocks at the edge of Dutch Harbor.
One passenger was killed and another seriously injured.
The accident became a stark demonstration of just how little margin for error can exist when operating into remote Alaskan airports.
Bringing the Saab 2000 Back to Dutch Harbor
When Aleutian Airways subsequently planned to restore Saab 2000 service to Dutch Harbor, getting approval was therefore no simple matter.
The airline says it went through an extensive process with the Federal Aviation Administration before being authorised to begin operations.
Its teams worked with Saab, Rolls-Royce and aviation performance specialist AeroData to analyse operations at the airport and demonstrate that the Saab 2000 could safely operate there. Aleutian also recruited pilots with extensive Saab 2000 and Dutch Harbor experience.
FAA approval was eventually received in 2022, allowing the type to return to scheduled service between Anchorage and Unalaska.
For aviation enthusiasts, that makes today’s flights particularly interesting. The Saab 2000 is performing precisely the kind of demanding regional flying it was designed for – carrying relatively small numbers of passengers quickly over substantial distances to airports where operational conditions can be challenging.
A New Aircraft Has Now Joined the Fleet
Photo: Aleutian Airways
The Saab 2000 is no longer alone at Aleutian Airways. In 2025 the airline announced that it would acquire its first ATR 42-600 through a partnership with aircraft leasing company Azorra.
The aircraft has since entered the fleet, with Aleutian now listing one ATR 42-600 alongside its four Saab 2000s.
The ATR represents a significant development for the airline. While it is slower than the Saab 2000, it offers excellent short-runway capabilities and good economics on regional routes.
Aleutian says this will allow it to consider serving communities which were previously inaccessible to its Saab fleet.
So could the ATR eventually replace the Saab 2000?
Possibly. But for now, both types form part of the fleet. And that makes Anchorage an interesting place for turboprop enthusiasts.
A Rare Airline Worth Watching
Aleutian Airways is a small carrier performing an essential role in one of the most demanding airline operating environments in North America.
Its aircraft link Anchorage with isolated fishing communities and settlements scattered across enormous distances, often flying to airports surrounded by spectacular mountains, coastline and wilderness.
And for aircraft enthusiasts, there’s the added attraction of those Saab 2000s.
With only 63 examples ever built and very few still carrying scheduled passengers, opportunities to fly aboard one are becoming increasingly scarce.
And if you’ve always wanted to fly on one, Aleutian Airways might just be one of the most interesting airlines to add to your aviation bucket list.
You can book with the airline here.
Have you flown with Aleutian Airways – or experienced a Saab 2000 elsewhere? Let us know in the comments below.
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