Kenai Municipal Airport

Although Congress has voted to reopen the government, Knesek says it could still take some time for flight schedules to return to their previous level of operation.

Efforts to bring the three bronze bears to Kenai started two years ago. The installation had an estimated cost of around $200,000. But Bondurant said Thursday the actual cost came in under budget – around $172,000.

The company said in a Facebook post it was “financially insolvent” after accruing debt during the pandemic, and would stop flying by the end of the day.

The bears are scheduled to arrive in Kenai from Utah next month, in time for an unveiling at the end of October.

If brought to fruition, the statue will feature three life size bears outside of the airport’s departure gate entrance.

Starting June 6, the company will offer two daily round-trip flights between Kenai and Anchorage.

Kenai Municipal Airport is on the hunt for a new business to operate out of its restaurant space. Request for proposal applications from interested vendors are currently being accepted.

City council members approved a contract with Moore’s Landscaping for the project this summer.

Acceptance of the grant comes as Kenai works to expand service at the airport.

That study, conducted by Volaire Aviation, found nearly all people flying from Kenai to Anchorage travel to a second destination. For most travelers, that destination is Seattle.