Experience a summer on the edge of - and above - Denali National Park!
We are a small, family-owned flightseeing operation in Denali National Park. During the summer months, we fly guests into the vast wilderness of Denali and right up to the highest mountain in North America.
Mile 229.5 George Parks Highway, Denali National Park Alaska
About Denali Air
We are the original flightseeing company in the Denali area with a history spanning almost 50 years! Our private airstrip is on 30 acres, eight miles south of the road entrance into Denali National Park. Our location is remote yet accessible with six million acres of Denali National Park at our doorstep. We fly from mid-May through mid-September every year.
The Employee Experience
We are a small company operating as a very close community during the summer months. We offer a unique opportunity to be part of the legendary Alaska aviation experience. The season at Denali Air is spent showing guests some of the most majestic scenery in the world and it's an amazing feeling to be part of our passengers' bucket-list experience.
We are a family-run business and our two young kids and our golden retriever are part of the scenery here! We place a priority on personal connections with all of our employees and work hard to welcome and integrate new staff into our community. We understand the value each staff member brings to our collective summer experience and foster a warm community that embraces hard work, respect, adventure and humor!
We all work hard but our employee schedule of 3 days on-3 days off allows our staff to have the time and energy to explore Alaska. We have an employee vehicle that is available on a sign-up basis for trips in the local area for hikes or other adventures. Our housing is tucked in the trees alongside the airstrip and we offer PRIVATE accommodations in stand-alone dry cabins and a cozy communal cookshack where you'll enjoy home-cooked meals. Our campus is set up to give our staff the privacy they need but also opportunities to socialize by hanging out near the fire pit, enjoying yard games, or spending time in the outdoor covered pavilion. There are hiking trails right off the airstrip for trail running or hiking for those looking for some easy access to the outdoors.
Ideal Candidate
Our employees are part of a small, tight-knit group of hard-working people who are professional, energetic, upbeat, excited to be in Denali, and highly motivated to help our guests experience one of the highlights of their Alaskan vacations.
Prospective applicants should have outstanding customer service skills, be able to multitask in demanding situations, take direction well and be self-motivated to familiarize themselves with local knowledge to serve our guests better. In addition, a professional manner, friendly and outgoing demeanor, and positive attitude are essential.
Although our employees are diverse, each with unique backgrounds and skill sets, they are all typically adventurous and interested in exploring the outdoors. We want employees to have amazing experiences in their free time; therefore, we provide a schedule of three days on and three days off in a row whenever possible. As a result, employees the three working days are long days, with early mornings and late evenings.
Employees work, live, eat and socialize with each other daily for 4 months and so must have strong interpersonal skills and thrive in a relatively remote setting. In addition, employees must be able to commit to the entire summer season (mid-May until September 20th).
Room and Board
Individual accommodations for staff are located in a wooded area on the same property as the office/hangar and airstrip. The housing consists of modest small (single for individuals or double for couples) stand-alone cabins with a shared bath house.
Denali Air employs a cook who operates out of the "cook shack" on campus and serves family-style meals for lunch and dinner. The cook shack, a log cabin centrally located on the property, is also a social hub, with a large-screen satellite TV, some outdoor games, and a fire pit on the lawn.
Wi-fi is available in the cookshack, the hangar, and on a limited basis in the cabins.
Denali Air is located 8 miles south of the National Park entrance and we have quick and easy access to other local businesses but we are also in a peaceful setting, a bit removed from the hectic summer Denali crowds! Our location really provides the best of both worlds: you can be at a local bar or restaurant in less then 5 minutes or choose from a myriad of hiking options either right out your door or within a couple of miles.
Housing costs cover room and board and are partially subsidized by Denali Air and are deducted from each paycheck.
Employee Perks
Our employees fly with us through Denali National Park on a regular basis to get the ultimate views of the Alaska Range, including the tallest mountain in North America. The opportunity to fly with experienced Alaska bush pilots is a definite perk our staff enjoy! Most tour operators in Denali also offer complimentary or discounted tours to area employees, so there are opportunities to go on whitewater rafting trips, helicopter rides, guided hikes, etc. We are happy to help coordinate these trips and also give recommendations on highlights in the Denali area!
We appreciate hard work and team efforts, and we offer incentives throughout the summer season. We offer some of the best housing in Denali at a very reasonable cost, and we also have an employee vehicle that staff can use for local trips.
Getting Here and Getting Around
We are located 8 miles south of the road entrance to Denali National Park, which is approximately 4 hours north of Anchorage and 2.5 hours south of Fairbanks. Most of our employees fly into Anchorage and we attempt to coordinate transportation from Anchorage to Denali via our airplanes or company vehicles.
There is limited public transportation available in the Denali area, although you can almost always catch a Denali Air shuttle to the Park entrance area since the shuttles depart from the airstrip throughout the day. We also have an employee car that can be signed out for local trips. We do have plenty of parking if you drive your own vehicle.
For Fun
Denali Air is in the middle of one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the country. Although it is a popular tourist destination, the area is so vast that it is remarkably easy to get off the beaten track and go hiking, biking, camping, rafting, fishing, canoeing, or exploring the wilds of Interior Alaska. In addition, there are running and hiking trails adjacent to the airstrip and other maintained trails within a 5-10 minute drive.
The Denali area is a bustling seasonal community. There are multiple restaurants, bars, and coffee shops in the “Canyon” area, where most hotels are clustered near the Park entrance. Within walking distance of Denali Air is a restaurant featuring a pub and a small coffee shop. In addition, a small lakeside bakery/café can be reached via the trail system behind the airstrip or by car (1 mile away), and there a few other fantastic restaurants/bars within a 5-mile radius.
Besides the endless outdoor activities available, there are also multiple community and educational programs within a short drive (for example, check out the Denali National Park NPS site and the Denali Education Center site). In addition, there is often live music at local bars, and there’s a lively social scene in the area.
How to Apply
Please email megan@denaliair.com and sharon@denaliair.com with your resume and cover letter to tell us why you'd be a good fit for our summer crew! Preference will be given to applicants with a cover letter/email.
Thanks for your interest in Denali Air, and we look forward to hearing from you!
Please note: Due to the academic calendar, most college students will not be able to commit to the entire season (mid-May through mid-September) and will not be eligible for hire. We require all employees to commit to the entire season. Have fun in college, and if you're looking for a summer job when you've graduated, get in touch!
