Patriot Express contract, route changes Oct. 1

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  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Effective Oct. 1, Kadena's Patriot Express will have a new contracted airline, aircraft and flight route.

According to 733rd Air Mobility Squadron officials, North American Airlines will take over responsibility of the contracted flight, flying a Boeing 757 with 190 seats. While the total number of seats on the aircraft decreased from the previous carrier, the new contract allocates 10 more seats for Kadena personnel than before.

"The biggest change under the new carrier will be the route," said Master Sgt. Richard Malik, 733rd AMC passenger services superintendent. "The previous mission flew to Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station and Yokota Air Base. The new route stops only at Yokota to pick up and drop off passengers and then refuels in Anchorage, Alaska."

The new Patriot Express mission starts in Seattle on Thursdays with a three-hour layover at Yokota on Fridays before arriving at Kadena around noon on Fridays. There will be a three-hour layover at Kadena before departing for Yokota at 3:30 p.m. the same day. The mission will have another three hour layover at Yokota before arriving back in Seattle at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Fridays.

To avoid long lines on Fridays, AMC terminal still offers early check-in from noon to 9 p.m. on Thursdays for passengers with transportation management office reservations. Just as before, unused seats are made available for space-available passengers wanting to travel.

"TMO is the first stop for personnel that are PCSing or going TDY to reserve their seat," explained Sergeant Malik. "For personnel going on leave, they need to visit the passenger terminal to sign up for space-available seats."

Personnel can also sign up by sending their information to the 733rd AMS via fax, mail, or e-mail space.available@kadena.af.mil. Space-available passengers can get more information by calling 634-0153 or visiting Air Mobility Command's Web site at http://www.kadena.af.mil/amc.asp.