PenAir - Saab 2000 - Bethel (BET) to Anchorage (ANC) | TRIP REPORT

Peninsula Airways (operating as PenAir) is a regional airline based in Anchorage, Alaska. They operate a fleet of 5 Sweedish-built Saab 2000s. I had an incredible onboard experience, which greatly surprised me due to the small number of good propeller flights I've been on.
PenAir was bought out by RavnAir Group in 2018 but continues to operate under their separate identity, even though they are codeshared. Ravn filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the end of April 2020 due to a loss in revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic. If you'd like to help save Ravn, please consider signing this link: www.change.org/p/donald-j-tru...
Follow @quintinsoloviev on Instagram & @qfsaviation on Twitter to keep up with my travels!
FLIGHT INFORMATION
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Airline: Peninsula Airways (operating as PenAir)
Aircraft: Saab 2000 (N681PA)
Seat: 16A (Economy)
Flight Number: 7H2033
Route: Bethel Airport (BET) to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
Flight Time: 1 hour, 11 minutes
Date of Travel: February 19, 2020
PRICING
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Total Price: $460
Total Routing: ANC-BET-ANC
Booking Location: alaskaair.com
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MERCHANDISE: teespring.com/stores/qfs-avia...
WEBSITE: www.qfsaviation.com/
SECOND CHANNEL: / @quintinsoloviev
EQUIPMENT: Panasonic GH5, Sony A7Riii, GoPro Hero8, iPhone 11 Pro
MUSIC: Epidemic
INSTAGRAM: @quintinsoloviev, @qfsaviation
TWITTER: @qfsaviation
Let me know in the comments if you have any future video ideas!
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© 2020 QFS Aviation

[@QFSAviation]

Ravn filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the end of April 2020 due to a loss in revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic. If you'd like to help save Ravn, please consider signing this link: www.change.org/p/donald-j-trump-save-ravnair-alaska

[@michaelsharp3615]

are you going live on instagram in the future if so i want to join you live

[@avationgeek.1217]

Amazing video Quinton. My plane windows really enjoyed it as well.

[@Archduke17]

Signed the petition. I shared on my Facebook page, complete with a personal message.

[@Aircraft_collection]

You like plane ?

[@avationgeek.1217]

@@Aircraft_collection of course I do.

[@thebucketbus9370]

PennAir has returned all their Saab 2000's to the leasing company. Only 60 or so were ever built and about 22 still fly. Of the the remaining 38, maybe 20 could be made airworthy again. PennAir was the only North American operator of the Saab 2000 as an airline. Several NASCAR and Indy Car teams operated them until about 10 years ago. The cabin is so quiet because it has active noise cancelling. The first commerical airliner to incorporate such technology (along with the Saab 340B+). The 2000 was a victim of timing, it launched around the same time as the first ERJs and CRJs, the general public believed that turbofans were safer than turboprops. The 2000 has heated pilots seats. It's a nice touch.

[@77Danny]

That flight attendant tho..............ooooh :)

[@TheCriminalViolin]

I guess we're the only two who thought to make note of that haha. She's stunning for sure.

[@norwegianairspotter8686]

Nope ur not alone oufff ❤️

[@MrFlorisfly]

Very nice indeed

[@mindy729]

Whats wrong white her

[@TheCriminalViolin]

@@mindy729 Nothing at all haha

[@supa_hot_ice5449]

That Saab 2000 looks so beautiful.

[@aviationwithjeff]

I love seeing these flights out to these small towns in Alaska.

[@mindy729]

l like it too

[@johnnysmith9155]

I flew on Saab 2000 to Berlin and back years ago. We were served nice lunch on board and complimentary wine, beer in economy. There was even business class.

[@QFSAviation]

It's a pleasure to fly on those 2000's. Only a few left now unfortunately!

[@dwmzmm]

Nice! I flew on a Saab 340 (Comair) back in February/March 1994 between IAH - DFW (round trip) as my first and last leg of my trip from Houston to Manila. I sat at a window seat right next to the left wing and had a great view of the propeller just humming along. The ride was quite comfortable but a bit noisy. Hope ya'll can save PenAir, it's a shame that some are willing to see some businesses and lives go under over a "pandemic" that's not any worse than the typical "flu seasons" we've had over the years.

[@jonnyka9319]

Thank you for always sharing your flight reports with us, and if you’re flying in this time, stay healthy!

[@deltonbaileyt.v.3774]

I've been waiting on this trip report for some time. I love the Saab 2000 aircraft.

[@tominjoburg]

I love your trip reports - little talking, informative text, and great music that echoes the magic of flight. 👍🏻

[@Willmorrison99]

I’m really enjoying this series. Thanks for making it.

[@DanielTrue16]

Gorgeous views of my hometown on landing. Another superb video as always!

[@manuelgorgulho2209]

Super report. Thanks for taking us along.

[@spider23000]

This is by far my favourite flight report channel on KZbin ❤

[@1moredayof]

Awesome! Thanks for posting!

[@TheNextFlight]

Awesome review as usual! I really love those TR about those less-known small or regional AL. You did a great job!

[@jamani1086]

you make such nice videos, love watching them. thanks for sharing. be safe.

[@unconventionalgaming1621]

I love small towns like Bethel. I live in a massive city, so it's fun to see what's out there when I travel!

[@craigwillis3372]

Looks bloody cold Quinton !! Regional Express Airlines or Rex as they are known are still flying a fleet of Saab A 340's here in Australia and they are a great aircraft to fly in !! They are talking of expansion but only when travel in Australia returns to "normal" So who knows when !! Stunning scenery en route mate...and nice pour on the 7 Up as well !! Thanks again Q...love these obscure airline trips and I hope they come out the other side of the pandemic !! Well done !!

[@TodosLados]

Nice report! Amazing job! The saab views are amazing!!!

[@TripReportaviation]

Awesome trip report. It's cool to fly on such an unique aircraft. Their service looks very good

[@jamani1086]

this Q re-view is made possible by 7Up with ice and a homemade cookie. 10F is few degrees too cold for me but qman is right in the middle of it cranking out another super video. great report, great scenery, and well done Quebec Foxtrot Sierra. thanks for sharing!!

[@ryanleclaire3948]

Your FA was quite the beauty. Great video!

[@davidsaviation3253]

Amazing video Quintin! Love the Saab aircraft, love from Atlanta! - David

[@nickhingle5534]

It’s really cool to see the view of Alaska. There in Anchorage, that’s a little like the winter weather in Rochester, MN. It can get to a temperature of -18 zero in that part of MN. That’s why they have this under ground walkway called the subway, but it’s nothing like the subway in NYC.

[@jamani1086]

Thanks QFS !!

[@Farmhand2k]

Came across your channel, love the travel videos! Awesome content!

[@johandeklerk3401]

fantastic video

[@fexcelix]

I love your reviews. Home cookies. Amazing.

[@vinaviation9726]

Very nice and interesting trip report❄✈❄ I like it very much!

[@dlbrittain1976]

thanks for the cool (cold) trip report Q

[@logansaviationadventures]

Always wanted to try penn since I’m from Alaska sucks they had a crash love your videos

[@lookinup22]

One plane I have wanted to fly on now for sometime. Nice vid.

[@derrick021]

your choice of music is amazing, as always

[@onye0]

Great vid!

[@scottfarmer1805]

Best trip reports on youtube

[@jasonmoors1191]

While I will never fly within Alaska,much less PenAir,I have never flown a Saab 2000.I have flown its smaller brother,the 340--DL Connection MSP-CWA some years ago. LIke you,I was in the 'back of the bus',last seat on the 'single' side,enjoyed the short flight. $460 RT is not a bad price for all that flying--going from a large city to a small,podunk town in the frozen wasteland and back in a single day,you must've been looking forward to going to a hotel afterwards to defrost! Must be a really devoted avgeek to make a journey like this. At this point,you're a VERY long way from the NYC area,mileage-wise,seemingly you're halfway around the world! Closer to the North Pole than not!

[@inayathkhan100]

Awesome 👍

[@seanpeters3690]

Pen Air Saab 2000s are the planes I have been taking from Anchorage to Dutch Harbor for years, but in October we had one slide off the end of the runway and they wouldn't fly them out after that. They started flying Dash-8s. I hope that changes and we can fly the Saabs again because they are much nicer and the aircraft type was irrelevant for this situation.

[@redcomusic]

Awesome fly-along! Pen Air is on my to-do list of micro-airlines...along with Kenmore Air, Ravn and Cape Air. - Red

[@michaelsharp3615]

im getting qfs aviation and a bunch of other av geeks such as itripreport, thejazzguy13aviation, and theplanesguy to fly to omaha sometime

[@508_aviation7]

I wish you could have flown Pen before Ravn took it over. It's unfortunate to see such a fantastic airline ruined by one of the worst airlines in the US

[@nestorgalhardo3882]

Very good. congratulation. I am in Brazil, I live in Natal City. I always watch your videos.

[@valenpieri]

Love the saab 2000

[@BrodieMeeres]

Awesome video!!

[@LucaAviation]

I love your channel, greetings from italy

[@MileHigh_Aviation]

Such a neat aircraft!

[@UJJWAAALL]

In love with this plane ❤❤

[@flyguy905]

Im a big dash-8 guy, signed!

[@albertusdrostable]

It is my dream to fly on one of those aircraft! An old Fokker would do nicely as well! I hope everything will turn out right for these people.

[@Miftahjaya96]

Awesome Trip Report....

[@jayo_z]

At 13:46 you pull up next to N884EA... formerly N824EX of Piedmont Airlines (for American Eagle and before that US Airways Express), formerly of Allegheny Airlines. Those Dash 8s flew all over the northeastern US for years before heading up to Alaska! I flew that particular one from LGA to Rochester, NY in 2009.

[@thereal84]

I've been waiting for you to do PenAir for a while!!!! Please do Cape Air soon! Great Video!

[@frankkpowersjr8357]

Cape AIR is in the process retiring thire fleet of Cessna 402s with a new Italian 11 passenger high wing fixed replacement. Cape AIR had on order 100 of this type.

[@thereal84]

Yeah, I know... :(

[@markjensen7091]

PenAir used to offer service in the lower 48. They had hubs in Boston, Portland, and Denver. Unfortunately, due to the pilot shortage they kept losing pilots, but had government EAS service routes and were not doing well. Bigger airlines like Alaska, Delta, United, etc.. kept stealing PenAir's pilots away. However, I do miss seeing their saab 340b's. Those are neat little aircraft.

[@Altenholz]

Always was a fan of the Saab2000!

[@JL-lg8tk]

Enjoyed your vid. The Saab 2000 was a very reliable airplane. Too bad it never really caught on with North American airlines. I flew on it a few times while touring Europe.

[@mandofett2645]

I've always had a thing for those huge and stream lined turboprop engines on the Saab 2000

[@airman329]

Nice video. Love Alaska and flying up there! No Lavatory Tour this flight?

[@TheCriminalViolin]

This is such a nifty idea to travel like this between place almost nobody would think to go. And these small airlines operating EAS services, using these little prop and turbo prop planes just add to the uniqueness and fun of the experience for sure. At some point, I'd love to do this, especially in Alaska. And off topic, I have to admit, the attendant on this flight was stunning to me. Completely useless information, but hey, why not toss it in anyway! haha.

[@eduardomelenez1078]

Excelent report Greetings from Perú 😀

[@Spudeaux]

I drive a Saab car, and while I knew there were Saab airplanes (different company, but with the same name and origin), I only knew about the fighter jets. Didn't know they made any airliners until fairly recently. From what I can tell, the Saab 2000 was probably the best plane money could buy at the time it came out, but it just happened at the wrong time when people were starting to associate props with danger and fuel prices were low enough to make regional jets profitable, so it was a bit of a sales flop. If it had come out a few years earlier or a few years later, it might have become as ubiquitous as the Dash-8.

[@bobsmith7615]

Hey what's the name of the first song in your JFK-SVO Aeroflot video?

[@drsysop]

Very nice, Alaska beautiful except in Winter 21 hours of darkness & Summer 21 hours of daylight & then never gets dark. But nice place to visit :)

[@lukemelton2966]

Great video, was the beginning of the video from your last video?

[@frankkpowersjr8357]

Pen AIR operated a Essential Contract here in MAINE. They flew from Boston to BarHarbor using the Saab 340. Once the summer season the 340 was over the airplane flew basically empty. SAABS are great airplanes if you have the traffic to support them. RAVEN has to many different types in service. The 340 failed missably in MAINE.

[@carolann8286]

It’s funny to see a flight attendant wearing a coat. I understand why, just funny to see.

[@brodyadhipratama9320]

Nice Video

[@martin-uz5ki]

like this chanel very much !

[@cybergames7164]

what a beauty

[@timgerard262]

Isn't that the old Era Alaska Airlines, from the TV show Flying Wild Alaska. I know they were bought and sold a couple of times, but I do remember that sweet Ariel Tweto!

[@lottomoto1]

What happened to an Era Alaska. Did they go bust or have they changed names?

[@brayansarmiento100]

I love ur Videos :D:)

[@dlbrittain1976]

the saab 2000 was a well built aircraft, it used Rolls-Royce AE 2100 engines (C130J)...great performance...the ERJ145 replaced it .....how would you compare it to the Q400....thanks again✈👍

[@lawrenceforman6999]

I feel like to fly to Alaska for enjoyable trip to any cities in Alaska!!!! I’m surprised that Alaska Airlines will not fly back to Anchorage from Bethel. Very cool voyage during winter time!!!! Forget about pandemic!!!! Think 🤔 positive....

[@akseanol]

Alaska Airlines has several round trips flights per day to Bethel. My guess is he used this as an opportunity to fly a different carrier.

[@misterman5553]

I thought this aviation since february cauz the cookie says "Happy Valentines"😅

[@everything_matthew1227]

What editing software do you use?

[@timgrisham9051]

Air transport is critical to Alaska. Hopefully the airline gets its situation straightened out.

[@ojaaviation]

Hi qfs do they have independent living program over there

[@michaelsharp3615]

you should go live more often on instagram quintin either quintinsoloviev or qfs aviation which one do you usually go live with

[@timothydewa9096]

How many cabin attendant crew on Saab 2000?

[@infiniteflyer8136]

Hey, what’s your phone case? I like it, where can I get it?

[@yohank_aviation9518]

I wonder what it’s like to live in Alaska... COLD

[@cyriluebbing22]

Nice

[@chris.weather]

Very jealous you got the opportunity to fly on a Saab!

[@TCookk]

Do they fly to Pen Island?

[@davegeisler7802]

If its Alaska , I am flying on the Dash 8 , period ! 👍

[@OHAREAVIATION]

😎👍

[@cokecansandwinglets5783]

Interesting little airline, could you earn AS miles on these flights?

[@mebeingU2]

I see they provide a cookie and beverage free….well, they’ve got Spirit Airlines beat right there!

[@niconiconi_neo]

I also experienced a hard cross landing while flying a China Eastern A321 from Shanghai Pudong to Beijing Daxing in 2021😅

[@james73322]

They’ve been struggling for years way before COVID. That’s what my friend told me when they worked for the airline.

[@james73322]

I love your camera! What type of gear do you use?

[@gregj7916]

i'm surprised some regional airlines here in australia never took on the Saab 2000...

[@QFSAviation]

If I’m not mistakes REX had some

[@nenblom]

Only 10 degrees? As they say in Alaska, “ there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. “ That Saab 2000 is a great looking airplane. BTW, I’m a native Swede!!

[@vincentthorzell8664]

It said 10 fahrenheit that’s a lot colder than 10c

[@mikesheppy1579]

Really interesting and informative. I will never visit there nor fly on a Saab 2000, so it was a great experience. But the 'musac' is dreadful! I had to mute the sound to enjoy this. Why not just record the ambient sounds? Keep them coming! P.S. Sweden was spelt incorrectly.

[@airfreak75]

They obviously didn't need the full capability of the airplane as the 2000 was designed as a 50 PAX aircraft. But I'm sure with 2 less rows that meant for great seat pitch. Its strange though that an aircraft that size does not have overhead bins. Even the 340s have bins on the 2 seat side.

[@akseanol]

PenAir had their Saab 2000 fleet reconfigured for 45 seats as it required only one flight attendant per FAA regulations. The previous owner of that particular 2000 had the bins removed and PenAir never bothered to replace them. Their other Saab 2000 aircraft had overhead bins.

[@aviationstation8822]

You don’t get enough views, likes, and subscribers for what you do!

[@zam1803]

Cute flight attendant

[@av24]

Here’s my small input... Great footage Too much speeding up of your vids We as aviation enthusiasts like to hear the takeoffs and the overall sounds during flights Please stop with all the music and speeding up of the footage Otherwise keep the good footage coming bro

[@flag4070]

Agreed. I like to listen to airplanes, not music :)

[@ilovegoatsecks]

brooooo that flight attendant cute AF.

[@AR-yb4tz]

A classy Swedish plane...

[@jamesbartlett5640]

Watching in 2024, did the airline make it ok? Or did they sell any aircraft? That’s if they own them of course.

[@Tyler-ol2zt]

it’s an honor to be first my guy

[@QFSAviation]

🤘🤘👏👏