Pacific Northern Airlines History: Alaska's Constellation Line – Airline Employee Shop

Pacific Northern Airlines History

Pacific Northern Airlines grew from Art Woodley's one-man Alaska bush operation into a Constellation and Boeing 720 airline linking Alaska with Seattle, before joining Western Airlines in 1967. Here's a short history of PNA, plus the Pacific Northern Airlines collection that celebrates them.

Woodley Airways (1932-1945)

Arthur G. Woodley started Woodley Airways in Alaska in 1932, flying charters such as Anchorage to Nome in a single-engine Bellanca. Early aircraft included Stinsons, a Travel Air, a Curtiss-Wright and the Noorduyn Norseman. During the 1940s service spread from Anchorage to places like Bristol Bay, Kenai, Cordova, Yakutat and Juneau.

Pacific Northern Airlines (1945-1955)

On December 17, 1945, the airline became Pacific Northern Airlines. It flew Boeing 247s, then DC-3s and DC-4s. In 1951 the government let PNA fly to Seattle and Portland, putting it head to head with Pan Am and Northwest, and the general offices moved from Anchorage to Seattle that year.

Constellations and jets (1955-1967)

PNA replaced its DC-4s with Lockheed L-749 Constellations starting in 1955, and the "Connies" became the airline's best-known aircraft. Service from Seattle to Kodiak was approved in 1959. PNA ordered Boeing 720 jets in 1961 and received them in 1962. A 1965 timetable showed Anchorage, Cordova, Homer, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan, King Salmon, Kodiak, Seattle/Tacoma and Yakutat.

Joining Western (1967)

A merger with Western Airlines was announced in late 1966 and took effect on July 1, 1967, when PNA stopped flying under its own name.

A few things collectors love

  • PNA's Lockheed Constellations flew the Seattle-Anchorage run into the 1960s.
  • Four Boeing 727s that PNA ordered in 1965 were never delivered to it and went to Braniff instead.
  • The airline began as a sole proprietorship of one pilot, Art Woodley.

Shop Pacific Northern Airlines

Browse Pacific Northern Airlines logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the Pacific Northern Airlines collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag for a classic touch on your next trip.

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