The Salmon Have Landed

Every year thousands of pounds of the flavorful fish are brought into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (KSEA) aboard an Alaska Airlines jet dubbed the “Salmon Thirty Salmon.” Courtesy: Alaska Airlines]

A sure sign of spring in Washington is the arrival of the first Alaskan Copper River salmon.

[Courtesy: Alaska Airlines]

Every year thousands of pounds of the flavorful fish are brought into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (KSEA) aboard an Alaska Airlines jet dubbed the "Salmon Thirty Salmon."

The flight from Cordova, Alaska, terminates with a red carpet celebration at Sea-Tac. The captain of the airliner steps out and hoists a fish like it is the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup trophy. The fish are then given a police escort as they are transported to grocery stores, fish markets, and restaurants.

The run of Copper River salmon is brief, and combined with the rich flavor, drives up the price to around $70 per pound.

Alaska Airlines Alaska Copper River salmon ksea Salmon Thirty Salmon sea-tac Stanley Cup Washington

Meg GodlewskiAuthor

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

The Salmon Have Landed

Alaska Airlines flies in a Copper River delicacy.

Meg Godlewski

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