Public Announcements & Special Fares

EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 20th:

The IFA is authorized to issue PASSENGER & VEHICLE ticketing to qualifying Veterans in conjunction with their healthcare needs!  

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has renewed a transportation grant to the State of Alaska Department of Military & Veteran’s Affairs, and the State has advised the Inter-Island Ferry Authority that the IFA has been accepted into the Veteran Federal Transportation Grant Program again this year!

Present your current Alaska Driver License or ID Card with the VA endorsement, Armed Forces of the United States ID Card {Retiree}, 100% Disabled Veterans (DAV) or valid VA Healthcare Card to qualify for this no-cost to Veterans program.

Escorts will be required to get prior authorization to travel from Forrest Powell; he is the Grant Manager and Veterans can contact him at 907-334-0872 or [email protected].

Contact IFA General Manager Ronald Curtis for more information at 907-401-3564 or [email protected]

Travel with your vehicle January through March 2023 and Driver Goes Free!!

Driver Free is valid only for street legal, drivable vehicles powered under their own engine capacity, and must be at least 8′ long. Towed vehicles, AMCs and motorcycles, and travel on MTM Route do not receive driver free.

Thank you for traveling with us!!

The 21st Prince of Wales Island Marathon and the 9th Half Marathon brought participants, supporters and spectators from all over the United States. Click Here for the highlights of the event, and be sure to check out who took 3rd Place in the Women’s Half Marathon!!!  We are very proud of our Hollis Ticket Agent, Shianne Beer!!!

KETCHIKAN GATEWAY BOROUGH
PROCLAMATION 1/3/2022

• • click here to view signed proclamation
  • click here to view acceptance video

WHEREAS, the Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA) provides daily ferry service
between Ketchikan and Prince of Wales Island; and

WHEREAS, 22,400 passengers traveled to Ketchikan on the IFA in 2019; and

WHEREAS, the IFA impacts our community by supporting the seafood and
tourism industry and promoting spending in Ketchikan; and

WHEREAS, $9.2 million in Ketchikan health care spending were generated by
Prince of Wales residents utilizing the IFA in 2019; and

WHEREAS, since 2002 children and seniors have saved $19.3 million by utilizing
the IFA versus flying; and
WHEREAS, 508 jobs have been created by the IFA; and

THEREFORE, I, Rodney Dial, on behalf of the citizens of the Ketchikan Gateway
Borough, do hereby recognize January 13, 2022, as the 20th anniversary of the
Inter-Island Ferry Authority
and acknowledge its important service to the Community of Ketchikan.

Signed and sealed on behalf of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough this 3rd day of
January, 2022.

Inter-Island Ferry Generates Nearly $50 Million in Economic Activity 2019

The Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA)—a public ferry system providing daily service between Prince of Wales Island and Ketchikan—released a study today showing that the ferry system was responsible for $46.4 million in economic activity in southern Southeast Alaska last year. The 12-page publication, compiled by Rain Coast Data, shows that the IFA provides a high rate of return on investment. In 2019, the system generated $70 in economic activity for each dollar of State investment. Economic activity was measured in the five following areas: tourism, seafood, medical access, retail trade, and spending by the IFA – and includes direct and secondary impacts.

To view this publication, click here!

“We are both honored and humbled by the huge impacts that our reliable, daily ferry service has on our economy.  We wanted to be able to share and communicate the value of the role that we play.” explains Ron Curtis General Manager of the Inter-Island Ferry Authority. “This publication concisely describes and calculates the economic and social impacts of IFA ferry service between Prince of Wales Island and Ketchikan.”

Some other highlights of the study include the following:

• Cost Effective Operations: Compared to other public passenger-vehicle ferries, the IFA is run very cost effectively. On average for other systems, farebox revenue covers 59% of operational costs. The IFA has a farebox recovery rate of 79%.

• Tourism: Visitors coming to Prince of Wales Island on the ferry spend $11 million on the island annually.
• Seafood: In a typical year, IFA transports two million pounds of high value seafood, with an associated value of $10 million. The business model to move this product depends on the daily, reliable, affordable service the IFA provides.
• Medical Care: Prince of Wales residents rely on the IFA for affordable access to medical care. Medical trips accounted for at least 12% of all ferry trips last year. These “medical tourists” spend $9 million in Ketchikan hospitals and medical offices each year.
• Ketchikan Spending: Prince of Wales residents who ride the ferry spend millions of dollars in Ketchikan each year. IFA riders spent $8 million on goods and services in Ketchikan (not counting the millions spent in the health care sector). The IFA itself spent an additional $1 million.
• Jobs and Earnings: 508 jobs – in tourism, seafood, health care, and transportation – and $19 million in associated workforce earnings on Prince of Wales Island and Ketchikan are dependent on the IFA, when the multiple effect is included.
• Students: In 2019 students from 12 Alaska school districts made 3,100 trips on the IFA. Being able to participate in school activities and sports travel is especially important for rural Alaska students. The system saves school districts approximately $337,000 per year in travel costs.
• Children and Senior Citizens: By using the ferry, students, senior citizens, and younger children have saved a combined $19.3 million over the price of flying since ferry operations began in 2002.

For questions, contact Ron Curtis General Manager Inter-Island Ferry Authority at (907) 401-3564 or [email protected]

The Inter-Island Ferry Authority sails 7 days a week!! 

Depart Hollis at 8:00am

Arrive Ketchikan at 11:00am

Depart Ketchikan at 3:30pm

Arrive Hollis at 6:30pm

The IFA does not sail on the following holidays:

New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day

Beginning April 1, 2022, OPEN CREDITS must be used within 30 days of purchase date.  Credits created before April 1, 2022 retain their current expiration date.  If your credit isn’t used within 30 days, a refund is issued to original form of payment except for cash payments which will be refunded by check. 

To use your open credit, you must provide your name and booking number where the credit is located and the name of who paid. If you do not have your booking number, you must contact an IFA agent at least two business days prior to travel and request a search for the open credit.

Thank you for traveling with us!!