New Pacific Airlines CEO Departs

New Pacific Airlines and Ravn Alaska CEO Rob McKinney has announced his departure from the airline group he led and was incredibly passionate about.

Rob McKinney was instrumental in helping develop New Pacific Airlines, formerly Northern Pacific Airlines, from the ground up and getting the company airborne.

The outgoing CEO says the experience has been amazing, with highs and lows. McKinney was also part of the restructuring that saved Ravn Alaska from bankruptcy.

However, the complexities within the Group were ultimately too great, with New Pacific Airlines struggling to remain airborne. Furthermore, several legal battles and failed service launches in recent years prevented the company from thriving.

McKinney, who led the airline through all these difficulties, said as he departed that there comes a time when you don’t see eye to eye. Rob McKinney immediately leaves New Pacific and said he “owes most of the credit to the amazing team that achieved what seemed like the impossible.”

The New Pacific Airlines Struggles

The departure of McKinney is another blow to New Pacific Airlines, which initially intended to use the Boeing 757 to fly between Alaska and ports in Asia, bringing tourism to the region.

The airline held a launch event at the beginning of 2022. Only months later, conflict broke out in Russia and Ukraine, resulting in restrictions on travel using Russian airspace, thus restricting New Pacific.

Following these restrictions, New Pacific has been left scrambling, attempting to find ways to get Boeing 757s in its name in the air. Several endeavours were explored, such as Mexico flights, flights in the Pacific, and even flights that got airborne across the United States.

However, New Pacific couldn’t sustain these and months ago ceased scheduled flying, vowing to operate charter missions with its 757 fleet.