Alaskan startup Northern Pacific Airways is best known for its plans to fly between the United States and North Asia via Anchorage. The airline has applied for rights to fly between the US and Japan and South Korea. But this week, Northern Pacific Airways has also applied for rights to fly somewhere a little closer to home, with an application to fly between the US and Mexico adding a little twist to the Northern Pacific startup story.

Northern Pacific says it wants to start flying between the US and Mexico this year

In an August 3 application to the US Department of Transportation, Northern Pacific Airways asks for a certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing the airline "to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail to the fullest extent authorized under the US–Mexico Air Transport Agreement."

One interpretation of this application is that it is a handy piece of paper for the new airline to have should it ever need to fly to Mexico on an ad hoc or charter basis. But the application clearly states, "Northern Pacific intends to start scheduled service between the United States and Mexico with its B-757 aircraft later this year."

Northern Pacific Airways Boeing 757-200
Northern Pacific Airways plans to operate a fleet of Boeing 757-200 aircraft (pictured). Photo: Northern Pacific Airways

Is the Northern Pacific Airways operating model changing?

With only five months left of the year, the clock is ticking on these flights happening. Further, Mexico is a fair way from North Asia, and quite a departure from previous route announcements focused on Seoul and Tokyo. However, those previous announcements didn't clarify where the flights would originate in the United States. The airline's home port of Anchorage is simply a stopover. Northern Pacific's slightly retro point of difference is providing one-stop rather than non-stop services between the US and North Asia.

The application for flying rights between Mexico and the US raises a couple of scenarios. Could it be that the numbers simply don't stack up when it comes to offering one-stop flight options between the US and Asia in 2022? Has Northern Pacific Airways quietly pivoted to another business model - flying between US cities and Mexican cities? Alternatively, are they up to something genuinely off-beat - considering offering a route such as Mexico City - Anchorage - Seoul?

Northern Pacific Airways Boeing 757-200
Northern Pacific has five months left to make the flights happen this year, as indicated. Photo: Northern Pacific Airways

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Like other US carriers, Northern Pacific Airways was a blanket certificate

Like other US-based carriers such as Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, Northern Pacific Airways wants a blanket US– Mexico exemption/certificate that allows for "operational flexibility" and the opportunity to fly "convenient new services." Specifically, the blanket US– Mexico exemption/certificate would give Northern Pacific the right to :

"[S]cheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail (a) from a point or points in the United States to a point or points in Mexico; (b) from Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio to Mexico City, Toluca, and Acapulco, and beyond to points in Panama and beyond; (c) from New York, Washington, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and Houston, to Mexico City and Toluca, and beyond to a point or points in Central and/or South America; and (d) from a point or points in the United States, via an intermediate point or points, to a point or points in Mexico, and beyond, as mutually agreed in writing by the aeronautical authorities of the Parties". . . "Scheduled foreign air transportation of property and mail (a) from a point or points in the United States, via an intermediate point or points, to a point or points in Mexico, and beyond; and (b) from a point or points in Mexico to any point."

Simple Flying has approached Northern Pacific Airways about this application and what the airline is looking to do with it.