March 30, 2007
Friday AM

Ketchikan, Alaska - Ketchikan's longest operating airline is relocating and expanding. After 21 years at its 1007 Water Street base, Taquan Air is moving to a more spacious site at 4049 Tongass Avenue, property originally owned by now defunct Southcoast Construction. The move is effective April 1st. Taquan Air has operated continuously since it was organized in 1977.

Taquan Air floatplane Photograph by Carl Thompson

The company has a new passenger terminal, freight facility, maintenance hanger and offices under construction at the new waterfront location. Alternate facilities will be occupied until the new construction is completed in May said Taquan Air president and CEO Brien Salazar. A survey of Taquan Air's year-round passenger base was the key factor in making the decision to select the new three acre site. According to Salazar, the passengers indicated that a location with easy access to the airport, ferry terminals and shopping was preferred. "We will have the most spacious and state of the art floatplane facilities in the state in operation this summer," said Salazar.

In addition to providing all-year scheduled passenger, freight and mail service to 18 communities out of Ketchikan, Taquan Air is the contract carrier for the U.S. Forest Service, Ketchikan Public Utilities, and holds federal Essential Sir Service contracts to serve multiple destinations. The airline also has flightseeing commitments with all the major cruise lines serving Ketchikan.

On the Web:

Taquan Air
http://www.taquanair.com/

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Ketchikan, Alaska