UNUSUAL FLIGHTS: ALASKA'S MILK RUN

The Alaska Airlines Milk Run is a unique flight route operated by Alaska Airlines, which serves small, remote communities in Southeast Alaska. This route is akin to a "milk run," a term originally used to describe a delivery route that makes frequent stops, similar to a milkman's deliveries in the past. The Milk Run provides essential services to these communities, often transporting goods, mail, and passengers along a circuitous path with multiple stops. The Milk Run flights make several stops along the way, typically including cities like Seattle, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, and Juneau. The exact stops can vary depending on the specific route and flight schedule. 

These flights are vital for the communities they serve, often delivering necessary supplies, mail, and providing passenger service where other modes of transportation may be limited or unavailable. The route offers breathtaking views of the Alaskan landscape, including mountains, glaciers, and waterways, making it popular not just for its utility but also for the experience.  The Milk Run supports the local economies of remote Alaskan communities by facilitating the transport of goods and services. It ensures that these isolated areas remain connected to larger hubs, providing access to essential services and travel options. For tourists, the Milk Run offers a unique way to see multiple Alaskan destinations and experience the state's rugged beauty. The Milk Run is a testament to Alaska Airlines' commitment to serving even the most remote and challenging locations, reflecting the airline's adaptability and dedication to providing comprehensive service to the people of Alaska.

What is The Milk Run?

Alaska Airlines Milk Run is more commonly referred to as "The Milk Run," but could just as easily be known as “The Salmon Run” or “The Grocery Run.” If you’re looking out the oval window of a 737, you might call it the “Peak-and-Glacier Run.” The Milk Run refers to the daily circuit of Alaska Airlines flights that hop between towns in Southeast Alaska, serving as a lifeline for the communities that aren’t always connected by roads to the outside world. In some ways, the Milk Run flights reflect the airline’s heritage in the state where it earned its name, and the resilient bush pilots in the 1930s who transported mail, medicine, and furs to all kinds of places through most kinds of weather. These days, it helps that Alaska Airlines pioneered Required Navigation Performance procedures that allow for reliable service to some of the most weather-socked and terrain-challenged airports in Alaska. That reliability makes a difference if you’re waiting for supplies or heading to a hospital to have a baby.

How Did the Milk Run earn its name?

The Milk Run flights have been living up to their nickname for many years, with Alaska Airlines delivering milk and other vital supplies to the towns it serves. Many towns in Alaska are uniquely reliant on air service, due to the lack of roads. In aviation, the term “milk run” refers to a scheduled flight with many stops, or a routine and uneventful journey. In logistics, a milk run refers to a round trip that facilitates both distribution and collection, similar to the way a milkman delivers full bottles and picks up empties around a neighborhood. It also refers to the dairy industry practice of picking up mixed loads from different suppliers – when one tanker truck collects milk from several farmers for delivery to a central processor. For these Alaska Airlines flights, all the definitions seem to fit. The name has stuck.

History of The Milk Run

The concept of the milk run can be traced back to the early days of aviation in Alaska when bush pilots would deliver mail, supplies, and passengers to remote communities scattered across the vast and rugged landscape. These early flights were critical in connecting isolated settlements to the outside world. During World War II, the need for reliable transportation in Alaska grew due to the strategic importance of the region. The military constructed numerous airstrips, which later facilitated civilian air travel. In 1944, Alaska Airlines was founded,  initially focusing on regional routes within Alaska. The airline played a significant role in establishing regular air service to remote communities. In 1947, the Civil Aeronautics Board granted Alaska Airlines permission to operate scheduled passenger and cargo flights, solidifying its role in connecting Alaskan communities. Between the 1950s-1960s, the "milk run" routes began to take shape as Alaska Airlines expanded its network. The airline started to operate multi-stop flights that linked several small towns along the coastline and the Inside Passage. These flights were vital for transporting goods, including groceries, medicine, and other essentials, to communities without road access. Between the 1970s-1980s, the milk run became more formalized, with regular schedules and designated aircraft. Alaska Airlines continued to modernize its fleet, improving the reliability and efficiency of these routes. The Boeing 737 became a staple of the milk run, replacing older propeller-driven planes. Currently, the Alaska milk run remains a crucial part of the region's infrastructure. The flights not only provide essential services but also support tourism, allowing visitors to explore the scenic beauty of Southeast Alaska. The typical milk run route includes stops in cities such as Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, and Juneau, often starting or ending in Anchorage or Seattle. 

What makes The Milk Run Special?

The Milk Run routes are often flown by Alaska’s five 737-400 Combi aircraft – the cabin is divided in half, with cargo up front and 72 seats in the back. A wall divides the people from the packages. On each Combi, there’s room for four cargo containers known as igloos. At the Anchorage airport, Alaska Air Cargo employees loaded igloos before a Milk Run flight south to Cordova and Yakutat: a box of Polaris parts, baby diapers, Campbell’s Tomato soup cans, four tires, and a used mattress set (unwrapped). 

Tips for The Milk Run

Alaska Airlines Milk Run flights:

Flight 61: Seattle (7:50 a.m.)-Juneau-Yakutat-Cordova-Anchorage (1:54 p.m.)

Flight 66: Anchorage (3:35 p.m.)-Cordova-Yakutat-Juneau-Seattle (11:10 p.m.)

Flight 64: Anchorage (11:40 a.m.)-Juneau-Petersburg-Wrangell-Ketchikan-Seattle (8:35 p.m.)

Flight 65: Seattle (7:55 a.m.)-Ketchikan-Wrangell-Petersburg-Juneau-Anchorage (3:08 p.m.) 

Flight 62: Fairbanks (6 a.m.)-Anchorage-Juneau-Sitka-Ketchikan-Seattle (4:04 p.m.)

Flight 67: Seattle (3 p.m.)-Ketchikan-Sitka-Juneau-Anchorage (9:22 p.m.)

Passengers are required to stay on the aircraft during the hourlong stops at each airport, but if you’d like to spend more time checking out each town, a reservations agent can help you book a flight with 24-hour layovers in each stop along the way. Call 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522). 

HOW TO BUY A MILK RUN TICKET: Alaska Airlines operates about 20 nonstop flights a day between Seattle and Anchorage, but only a handful of Milk Run flights, which are intended to connect the smaller towns to each other and to the bigger cities. To reserve space for local residents, tickets aren’t sold for the full length of a Milk Run flight that starts in Seattle and ends in Anchorage, or vice versa. The best option is to book a Milk Run flight that includes Seattle or Anchorage at only one end. Check our check our Low Fare Calendar. Search by your origin city and final destination city, then scroll down to the bottom to see the flights with the most stops.

BEST VIEWS: For the best views of the coastline when flying north, find a window seat on the right side, when facing toward the front of the plane. Sit on the left side when flying south.

A FLIGHT THROUGH HISTORY: The Milk Run is also a walk through the history of Alaska Airlines. In 1968, Alaska Airlines picked up many of the Southeast Alaska routes by merging with both Alaska Coastal Ellis and Cordova Airlines. Alaska Coastal founder Shell Simmons and Ellis founder Bob Ellis were bush pilots and aviation legends in Southeast Alaska who later served on Alaska’s Board of Directors.  In Cordova, the airport is named after Merle “Mudhole” Smith, who was president of Cordova Airlines and joined Alaska’s Board of Directors after the airline acquired Cordova. In Petersburg, the James A. Johnson Airport is named after a former Alaska Airlines senior vice president of public affairs who was known as “Mr. Alaska Airlines” in the state.

Impact on Communities

Alaska Airlines has served Southeast Alaska for several decades. In 2014, Alaska Airlines donated nearly $3 million to more than 300 nonprofit groups supporting youth, education, arts, cultural, medical and social causes in the state of Alaska. In Southeast Alaska, donations consisted of in-kind and monetary support for organizations including the Petersburg Arts Council, Copper River Wild Festival in Cordova, Yakutat Tlingit Tribe Food Bank, Friends of the Irene Ingle Public Library in Wrangell, Honor Flight and the Salvation Army. The milk run is more than just a series of flights; it is a lifeline for many Alaskan communities. It helps maintain social and economic connections, allowing residents to travel for medical care, education, and employment.

Why Fly Alaska's Milk Run?

One of the Milk Run routes, Flight 65, starts in Seattle and stops in Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg and Juneau before landing in Anchorage. Another, Flight 66, starts in Anchorage and stops in Cordova, Yakutat, and Juneau before arriving in Seattle. Along the way, passengers are treated to views of a rugged coastline, where jagged peaks rise from the sea and blue-ice glaciers flow back down. Mount Saint Elias, between Yakutat and Cordova, rises 18,008 feet in just 10 miles – it’s the second-highest summit in the United States. Passengers are a mix of residents and outdoorsy tourists, commercial fishermen, and cannery workers. In the smaller towns, airport terminals are sturdy, utilitarian buildings with passenger waiting areas not much bigger than a double-wide trailer – no restaurants or long TSA lines. In Cordova, coffee is available on the honor system. You also won’t find baggage belts or jetways – travelers board using air stairs at the back of the plane. At these outposts, employees wear many hats. In Petersburg, for example, the station agents are jacks of all trades – rampers, customer service agents, and cargo agents all in one. 

The Milk Run offers breathtaking views of Alaska's rugged coastline, glaciers, fjords, and mountains. The flight path takes you through some of the most stunning landscapes in the world, providing a bird's-eye view of natural beauty that is often inaccessible by other means. The route connects several small towns and villages, each with its own unique character and culture. Passengers have the opportunity to experience the local way of life in remote Alaskan communities such as Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, and Juneau. For many of the small communities along the route, the Milk Run is a vital transportation link, providing access to goods, services, and connections to larger cities. It plays a crucial role in the local economy and daily life of residents. Unlike typical commercial flights, the Milk Run involves multiple takeoffs and landings as the plane stops at various small airports along the way. This can be an adventure in itself, offering a different pace and style of travel. The Milk Run can serve as a gateway to numerous outdoor adventures, including hiking, fishing, kayaking, and exploring national parks and forests. It's a great starting point for those looking to immerse themselves in Alaska's wilderness. Overall, flying Alaska's Milk Run is more than just a means of transportation; it's an opportunity to experience the raw beauty, rich culture, and unique lifestyle of Southeast Alaska.