Congressman Don Young and Senator Lisa Murkowski thanked the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agency this morning for their swift action in re-granting Japan Airlines landing rights at FairbanksInternationalAirport. Staffing shortfalls at the CBP nearly cost Fairbanks 18 direct winter flights from Japan and an estimated $4 million into the local economy.
“I’m grateful to the CBP for revisiting this matter and for recognizing how important these flights are to our local economy in Fairbanks,” said Rep. Young. “I have had my staff involved in this issue and in frequent contact with CBP over the last few weeks trying to resolve the situation and am happy to see it come to a successful conclusion for all of those involved. The Japan Airlines charters have delivered approximately 20,000 international visitors to Fairbanks since it began. To lose them would be a big hit not only to all of the individuals who worked so hard to make the program happen, but to Fairbanks and to our State. Because of our incredible natural landscape in Alaska, we are fortunate to have winter tourism fueling our economy. I appreciate the CBP taking the time to review the case, and for understanding the importance of continuing the charter flights.”
“My office had contacted U.S. Customs and Border Protection to urge that the agency figure out a way to allow these Japan Airline winter flights to continue at FairbanksInternationalAirport. I was pleased to see a mutually acceptable resolution of the matter because these flights represent a real boost to winter tourism in the Interior,” Murkowski said.
