Woodley Airways

Woodley Airways was an air carrier based in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. The airline was founded in 1932 by Arthur G. "Art" Woodley who passed away on May 30, 1990 at the age of 84 following a long and colorful career in aviation.

Woodley Airways initially operated charter services in Alaska including flights between Anchorage and Nome with a Bellanca single engine aircraft. It was a one plane, one pilot operation run by Art Woodley. The air service to Nome quickly caught on as an alternative to a dogsled trip. Woodley charged customers 150 dollars for the five and one-half hour flight; the month-long sled trip cost 750 dollars. In 1943, Woodley Airways attempted to change its name to Alaska Airlines; however, that name went to Star Air Service which briefly operated as Alaska Star Airlines and currently operates as Alaska Airlines.

In 1945 Woodley Airways changed its name to Pacific Northern Airlines (PNA). In 1958, Pacific Northern was operating four engine Lockheed Constellation and Douglas DC-4 aircraft as well as twin engine Douglas DC-3 aircraft with the Constellations being operated nonstop between Anchorage and Seattle in addition to Anchorage - Juneau - Ketchikan - Seattle service as well as on Anchorage - Cordova, AK - Yakutat, AK - Juneau - Ketchikan - Seattle flights with the airline also operating nonstop Constellation flights between Seattle and Portland, OR at this time.

By 1965, Pacific Northern was operating Boeing 720 jetliners in addition to Lockheed Constellation and Douglas DC-3 propliners with the 720 jets being operated nonstop between Anchorage and Seattle as well as on Anchorage - Juneau - Seattle and Juneau - Ketchikan - Seattle flights. Also in 1965, Pacific Northern president and founder Art Woodley attempted to order four new Boeing 727-100 jets from the manufacturer but then had to cancel the contract because he could not raise the financing with this development then prompting Mr. Woodley to consider selling his airline. Thus, in 1967, Pacific Northern was acquired by and merged into Western Airlines, a major air carrier based in Los Angeles. Following the sale of PNA, Mr. Woodley joined the board of directors at Western.

Destinations served by Pacific Northern Airlines in 1965
According to its October 1, 1965 timetable route map, Pacific Northern was serving the following destinations with those cities noted in bold receiving Boeing 720 jet service:


 * Anchorage, AK
 * Cordova, AK
 * Homer, AK
 * Juneau, AK
 * Kenai, AK
 * Ketchikan, AK (served via the Annette Island Airport)
 * King Salmon, AK
 * Kodiak, AK
 * Seattle/Tacoma (served via the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport)
 * Yakutat, AK

In 1967, Western Airlines was continuing to serve all of the above destinations following its acquisition of Pacific Northern.