Penair (KS, Anchorage Ted Stevens International (ANC)) has announced plans to phase out its two remaining Grumman Goose seaplanes and to end its essential air service routes from Dutch Harbor (DUT) to Akutan Sea Plane Base (KQA) and Nikolski (IKO). A new airport on uninhabited Akun Island is expected to open on September 1 that will replace the seaplane base at Akutan but Penair will not be able to operate its Saab 340B fleet to the new airport as it does not meet minimum requirements to allow the Saab 340s to land there. It will continue to use the Goose seaplanes to the new airport until a new operator can be found willing to take over these essential air service routes allowing it to retire the aircraft.