RavnAir closure reduces Alaska's medical transport options

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Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 6:16 AM

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BETHEL, Alaska (AP) — The bankruptcy of an Alaska air carrier has left officials scrambling to provide transportation for rural patients in need of medical transport.

Alaska’s Energy Desk reported more than a dozen villages are still without regular air service weeks after RavnAir Group announced its bankruptcy.

RavnAir Group cited the COVID-19 virus when announcing the company would halt operations in early April.

The state plans to use the National Guard to help transport patients from communities.

The lack of reliable air service has placed a financial burden on rural healthcare providers that pay more for charter flights to transport patients.

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