OUR HISTORY

Since territorial days, Ryan Air has been an integral link between Bush Alaska and the rest of the world. Village residents have come to depend on our reliable air freight delivery schedule. Here is a bit about our history.

1953

Unalakleet Air Taxi was founded and Wilfred Ryan Sr. begins regular charter flights across Alaska. He flew all the flights for his popular air service. With assistance from his wife Eva, their business prospered.

1960

Wilfred Ryan Sr. hires a pilot and begins handling Alaska mail delivery between Unalakleet, St. Michael, Stebbins and other communities along the lower Yukon River.

1977

In 1977, Wilfred Ryan Sr. died of cancer. His son, Wilfred P. Ryan Jr., known to friends and associates as "Boyuck" took over the family business.

1979-1989

Boyuck took the company, now known as Ryan Air, from a small, three-plane, two-pilot operation to the largest commuter carrier in the state, with a new mission of providing air cargo service in rural Alaska markets.

2010

Today, Ryan Air is one of Alaska’s key Bush freight carriers, operating 14 aircraft out of seven hubs. We serve over 70 villages and employ over 90 people. And we’re 100% focused on providing cargo and mail delivery in Alaska’s Bush.