By Rob Stapleton
Alaska Journal of Commerce

Perhaps the brightest star in the Fairbanks winter economy is the city's continual ability to attract Asian tourists with a yen to see the aurora borealis at sub-zero temperatures, a time when tourism in the Interior generally slows to a crawl.

This tourism niche for Fairbanks got a recent boost from state officials who convinced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to reverse its decision to screen Japan Airlines passengers arriving at Fairbanks International Airport.

At the state's request, the U.S. Customs commissioner revisited the issue and agreed with state's position, said Gov. Sarah Palin. “The Fairbanks visitor industry, the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau, state officials, and Japan Airlines have worked far too hard in developing this tourism niche to see it lost due to a lack of federal customs personnel,” Palin said.

Interest by Japanese tourists who fly to the Golden Heart City in the dead of winter to experience the aurora borealis at the Chena Hot Springs resort continues to expand, according to Colin Lawrence, tourism director of the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“The number of tourist coming here doubles every year,” Lawrence said. “The Japan Airlines charter business has grown from just three flights in 2004 and now brings millions of dollars to Fairbanks in the winter season,”

This year JAL plans to bring 18-charter flights from Japan to Fairbanks. That charter experience has been so popular that the airline now lands in other cities in Japan to pick up passengers from Taiwan and Korea.

On Dec.27, a JAL 747-400 jumbo jet was scheduled to arrive at Fairbanks International Airport, after an overnight non-stop flight from Tokyo, with 370 Japanese tourists on board. The flight marks the beginning of a winter service that Anchorage area hotel owners are envious of.

“The state needs to step up and advertise our winter tourism aspects,” said Wally Hickel, Jr., an executive with the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage. “Why just look at what Bernie Karl has done with Chena Hot Springs. We could have our hotels completely filled in the winter if people only knew what we have to offer.”

Tourism growth being fueled by the JAL flights is a boom for Fairbanks in the winter. The loss of these flights would have had a detrimental effect on business according to Lawrence. The air service to Fairbanks has delivered approximately 20,000 international visitors and has had an economic impact of about $18 million since service began.

“We were very disappointed in the decision by DHS a month ago, he said. “The problem was that TSA did not have the staffing budget to handle flights of this size in Fairbanks.”

According to Lawrence, JAL nearly had their landing rights revoked over the decision, when Christine Klein, deputy commission of aviation, stepped in.

“I'm delighted that everything has worked out — from the commercial, operational, and regulatory perspectives — for Japan Airlines to begin yet another successful series of Fairbanks winter charters — a real mid-winter tourism and economic boon for the Fairbanks airport and community,” Klein said.

Rob Stapleton can be reached at rob.stapleton@alaskajournal.com">rob.stapleton@alaskajournal.com.