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The Past — Our Story

Pioneers and hardy people settled the wild territory of Alaska. Alaska is still wild and beautiful but also part of the 21st century commerce. Alaska Air Forwarding has played its part since 1965; six years after Alaska became a state. We trace our origins to Wayne Hendricks, the founder who journeyed to the area to promote a buying service to Alaska fishermen.

The buying service was a success – yet, Hendricks saw more potential in an air freight forwarder operation. In 1969 he created Arctic Air Freight. Based in Seattle with an office in Anchorage, AAF (Arctic Air Freight) flew machinery items to the state of Alaska from all over the lower 48 states.

Freight forwarding received a substantial boost during the building of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the 1970’s and 1980’s. With the ebb and flow on the price of oil, AAF changed ownership in1988 and became known as Alaska Air Forwarding.

The new owners, Bill Ferrari and his business partner both with extensive airfreight forwarder backgrounds, had the foresight to seek year-round business opportunities along with the seasonal businesses they handled.

Today their leadership carries down to the people they hire – people who are just as committed and knowledgeable – people who stay on year after year and continue to look for new fields to offer their services. This legacy of longevity and ingenuity ensures that customers receive the best of care.

Moving Forward

Although Alaska Air Forwarding began expediting for the fishing industry, the owners knew from the beginning that staying in business meant to diversify and to move forward. They immediately began looking for other industries that needed freight forwarding:

  •    Construction
  •    Manufacturing
  •    Oil and Gas Exploration
  •    Mining

AAF has added more diversity to their services since then and they continue to do so. To find out more about some of their Specialties, click here.

Alaska Air Forwarding’s experience and expertise will find a way to get the most difficult shipment forwarded. If you’re on the East Coast, Southeast or Midwest and need to get equipment to Alaska quickly, call us. AAF will get it done! Consider Alaska Air Forwarding for your air freight connection to Alaska. 800.426.0004 Or request a rate quote, Click here.

4443 S. 134th Place, Tukwila, WA 98168

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