Lynden Air Cargo, LLC
A U.S. cargo airline based in Anchorage, operating Lockheed Hercules aircraft on scheduled Alaska services and specialized missions worldwide.
About Lynden Air Cargo, LLC
Lynden Air Cargo was established in Anchorage in 1996 and operates as the air-freight division of the diversified Lynden family of transportation and logistics companies. The U.S. carrier uses the IATA code L2 and ICAO code LYC. Its identity is firmly cargo-focused: it transports freight rather than passengers and specializes in serving communities, industries and projects that require dependable access to remote or operationally challenging locations.
Anchorage is the airline’s principal base and the center of its scheduled network. Published year-round services link Anchorage with Bethel, Emmonak, Kotzebue, Nome and St. Mary’s in western Alaska. Beyond these routes, Lynden Air Cargo undertakes charter and contract missions across Alaska and internationally, including work in regions where conventional road, sea or scheduled-air connections are limited, seasonal or unavailable.
The fleet consists of nine Lockheed L-382G Hercules aircraft, the civilian counterpart of the military C-130. The type is valued for its large cargo compartment, rear loading ramp and ability to operate from relatively short or unimproved runways. As a dedicated freighter, Lynden Air Cargo has no passenger cabins or travel classes; capacity is configured for general freight, oversized loads, relief supplies and specialized cargo assignments.
Lynden Air Cargo does not belong to Star Alliance, SkyTeam or Oneworld, whose networks and benefits are designed primarily around passenger travel. It also does not offer a conventional frequent-flyer programme, passenger mileage currency or elite-status scheme. Bookings are handled as cargo shipments or charter arrangements, with rates and operating requirements determined through the airline’s freight sales and customer-service channels rather than passenger reservation systems.
A genuine strength is the Hercules fleet’s ability to carry demanding loads into places that many conventional freighters cannot readily serve. The trade-off is that Lynden Air Cargo is not an alternative for ordinary passenger travel, and its wider international activity is mission-driven rather than a fixed global timetable. Customers should confirm schedules, cargo acceptance requirements and connection arrangements directly, particularly for remote Alaska shipments or time-sensitive charter work.
Good to know
Flying with Lynden Air Cargo, LLC — what to expect
Cargo Service Only
Lynden Air Cargo is a dedicated freight operator and does not sell passenger seats. Travellers cannot book personal transportation or carry-on baggage on its scheduled services.
Anchorage Gateway
Anchorage is the main operating base for scheduled western Alaska flights. Cargo moving beyond the published network may require coordination with another Lynden service or a regional carrier.
Specialist Hercules Fleet
The Lockheed L-382G Hercules can handle bulky freight and operate at remote or less-developed airfields. Every shipment remains subject to aircraft limits, loading requirements and local operating conditions.
Confirm Cargo Acceptance
Shippers should contact the airline before tendering hazardous, oversized, temperature-sensitive or unusually heavy cargo. Documentation, packaging and advance-notice requirements vary by commodity and destination.
Schedules May Change
Remote Alaska operations can be affected by weather, runway conditions and operational priorities. Build flexibility into collection plans and reconfirm timing for urgent shipments.
Route network
Popular routes operated by Lynden Air Cargo, LLC
Notable destinations on Lynden Air Cargo, LLC's network.
L2AnchoragedirectL2BetheldirectL2EmmonakdirectL2KotzebuedirectL2NomedirectL2St. Mary'sdirectDestination list is indicative of Lynden Air Cargo, LLC's network; see the airline's official route map for its complete, current schedule.
More from United States
Other airlines based in United States
FAQ
Lynden Air Cargo, LLC — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
8 common questions
- Lynden Air Cargo’s principal base and scheduled-service gateway is Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska.
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is the airline’s main departure point. Bethel, Emmonak, Kotzebue, Nome and St. Mary’s are the principal outstations on its published scheduled network.
- Originfacts compares live fares from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies via its partner Travelpayouts and never adds a fee. Lynden Air Cargo is a freight-only airline, however, so cargo rates and charter quotations generally need to be obtained directly from the carrier.
- Anchorage to Kotzebue is the longest of the airline’s published year-round Alaska routes. Worldwide charter missions can travel farther, but they vary by contract and are not part of a fixed scheduled network.
- Its published year-round Alaska schedule links Anchorage with Bethel, Emmonak, Kotzebue, Nome and St. Mary’s. The airline also operates charter and contract cargo missions elsewhere in Alaska and around the world.
- Lynden Air Cargo does not carry ticketed passengers, so it has no passenger carry-on allowance. Freight must comply with the airline’s cargo acceptance, packaging, weight and loading requirements.
- The airline does not sell passenger plane tickets. Cargo customers should request a freight or charter quote directly, as pricing depends on the shipment, route, timing and handling needs.
- The published scheduled network serves five western Alaska communities from Anchorage. Its total operating footprint is not a fixed destination count because charter and project flights vary with customer requirements.