Alaska Airlines

Two regional airlines founded in Juneau in the mid-1930s eventually merged with Alaska Airlines, so in that sense they still serve Juneau today. Each began as a one-plane flying company. Sheldon “Shell” Simmons' Alaska Air Transport Company was fledged on this waterfront after a Stinson seaplane named Patco was blown apart by high winds in 1935; Simmons bought the wreckage for $1, had the plane rebuilt with backing from Juneau investors, and established Alaska Air Transport, at one time the only flying service in the Alaskan Panhandle. Marine Airways took to the skies in the form of a Bellanca seaplane piloted by Alex Holden and dubbed “Shakey Jake” because it shook and rattled in the air. In 1940, Holden's company merged with Alaska Air Transport to become Alaska Coastal Airlines. Ellis Air Transport, of Ketchikan, later merged with Alaska Coastal to become Alaska Coastal-Ellis, serving all of Southeast Alaska. In 1965 that company became part of Alaska Airlines.

Juneau, Alaska · United States