For Alaska, it's the end of the French connection.

Fairbanks International Airport is saying good-bye to Air France Cargo after serving 11 years as a transit stop.

"It's a bummer," said Dave Carlstrom, director of airport marketing for the Fairbanks Economic Development Corp.

In addition, the widebody jet stops had an estimated economic impact of $12.5 million a year on Fairbanks hotels, restaurants, ground handlers and jet fuel sales.

"It's an undeniable setback," Carlstrom said. "In our smaller local economy, Air France is a major customer and user of the Fairbanks airport."

April 6 marked the last day of transit cargo stops for Air France in Alaska.

Each week, Air France made 10 cargo stops in Fairbanks to refuel its flights and swap crews between Paris and Japan.

Each cargo stop brought about $25,000 into Fairbanks coffers, Carlstrom estimated. That's around $250,000 a week.

"The lion's share of that, 90 percent, is in their fuel purchase," Carlstrom said. "That's where the big money is. They took about 30,000 gallons a pop."

The reason Air France will now bypass Alaska is because it recently purchased new Boeing 747s capable of longer flights, eliminating the need for the Fairbanks transit stop.

"Air France just picked up the keys to its new 747-400 ERFs (extended range freighter)," Carlstrom said.

"This is Boeing's latest, greatest ultra-long range freighter aircraft, which Air France believes it can fly non-stop with an economic payload between Paris and Japan over Siberia."

The loss in Fairbanks could be a microcosm of things to come. Carlstrom issued a cautionary note that what happened in Fairbanks can happen elsewhere as aviation technology evolves.

"In the bigger picture, technology is not our friend," Carlstrom said. "As aircraft capabilities improve, fuel stops have a way of fading into aviation history. There is no other industry on earth where the major capital assets can literally fly away over night."

While Anchorage has a strategic location for global cargo flights, and good values on airport fees, it may eventually need more.

"What's needed statewide are reasons other than gas-and-go fuel stops for international cargo operators to be flying to and through Alaska," Carlstrom said.

He cited the FedEx air cargo hub in Anchorage as a prime example of using the state's global positioning for business.

In Fairbanks, Air France was the No. 2 international cargo company behind Lufthansa, the German flag carrier out of Frankfurt, and Cargolux of Luxembourg.

Lufthansa makes 16 cargo stops a week in Fairbanks and Cargolux makes about 7.

Neither Lufthansa or Cargolux have ordered the longer range 747s, Carlstrom said.

Meanwhile, Fairbanks will try to regroup.

"We're always out trolling for carriers," Carlstrom said.

"We're trying. We're out there telling the Fairbanks story, trying to keep an eye on the industry."

The Air France departure did not come out of the blue.

"This Air France matter has been on the radar for a year or more," Carlstrom said. "We haven't been blindsided. We've been working to try and backfill the hole that they'll leave in operations and revenue. But there's nothing imminent to report. It's a pretty tough time for airlines right now in general."

Air France has flown in Alaska more than 40 years. In 1992 Air France moved its refueling stops from Anchorage to Fairbanks.

Fairbanks also will miss the flavor that the French cargo crews brought to town, Carlstrom said.

"Not to be overlooked are the cultural and social connections that we've enjoyed over the last decade plus," he said.

"A lot of the pilots have become good friends with local folks. Those connections will be missed. There's an impact beyond the dollars and cents when something like this happens.

"In a place as far away and isolated as Alaska is, it's a neat side benefit of international aviation for somebody to bring the world to our doorstep. Fairbanks would not be on the normal circuit for this kind of international visitor."