By Rob Stapleton
Alaska Journal of Commerce

Transportation companies are normally scurrying this time of year, moving tourists into and across the state.

But this year, bookings have failed to materialize. And transporters are hoping Alaskans will make up for the lost business.

To entice Alaskans to travel within the state, companies like Alaska Airlines and Era Aviation are offering deep discounts for in-state travel.

For two days in June, Alaska Airlines -- normally booked solid this time of year -- offered 25 percent off tickets for flights within the state. Shortly after, Era Aviation announced that it too would offer 25 percent off tickets.

Era Aviation, now consolidated into Frontier Alaska, operates from Anchorage with flights to eight communities in Southcentral Alaska, Bethel, Fairbanks and soon will be seen in Western Alaska villages.

"Our passenger traffic is down by 20 percent, we are trying to attract locals to go to Alaska communities," said Mike LeNorman, vice president of marketing for Frontier Alaska. "This summer is a great time to go out and see the state we live in."

LeNorman pointed out that a host of good in-state deals are available at www.GotoAK.com from other tourism-related businesses.

"There are pages of vendors there that are offering all kinds of discounts," said LeNorman.

Go to AK.com offers "Hot Deals" from the Alaska Railroad, Alaska Wildland Adventures, The Alaska Zoo, Jimmie Jack Fishing, Seward Windsong Lodge and others.

Alaska Railroad this month entered into a special travel promotion, called the Fly-Rail Special, for $199, which offers a one-way trip on the railroad between Anchorage, Wasilla or Fairbanks, with return air service. The railroad's premium Gold Star Service cost is $309 per adult for the same special.

"We have not had too many bookings yet. It is too early to tell," said Suzie Kiger, marketing specialist with Alaska Railroad. "We only offer this for the month of June, and this is the first time for the special."

Booking for travel cannot be made online, only by calling or in-person through the railroad's reservation center, Kiger said.

Even the bus lines seem to be hungry for riders. Gray Line of Alaska, for example, is offering travelers $500 discounts on rail/bus tours that last six days or longer.

While tourist travel for June is off, one positive aspect for Era is the availability of their aircraft for use in other types of flights.

"With the reduction in passengers, it has allowed us to shuffle the aircraft, giving us more capacity for charters," said LeNorman.

Era recently completed charters to Dutch Harbor to provide crews for the fishing season.

"We don't always make these trips, but when the phone rings, we are absolutely going to make arrangements to do a charter now that we have the excess capacity," Norman said.

Despite the downturn, Norman thinks that local traffic will pick up, but to further sweeten travel value, Era has dropped its $10 reservation fee.

"This is the year for people from Valdez to go to Kodiak, and people from Homer to go see Cordova. Just get out and see the state now. I doubt it will ever be this affordable again," said LeNorman.

Rob Stapleton can be reached at robstapleton.@alaskajournal.com.