# Northern Air Cargo (IATA NC · ICAO NAC · AWB 345)

> Northern Air Cargo, LLC (IATA NC, AWB prefix 345) is Alaska's largest all-cargo airline, hubbed at Ted Stevens Anchorage International. The company has belonged to Saltchuk Resources, Inc. since March 2006 and flies its own freighters only; since leaving the long-haul business in 2025 the fleet consists solely of Boeing 737 freighters. For forwarders NAC is the feeder into Alaska's largely roadless communities: eleven-digit air waybills under prefix 345, dangerous goods under the IATA DGR, live animals and oversized pieces, and through service to the village via partner carriers.

## Quick facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Legal | Northern Air Cargo, LLC |
| IATA | `NC` |
| ICAO | `NAC` |
| AWB prefix | `345` |
| Country | US |
| Group | Saltchuk Resources, Inc., Seattle |
| Tracking | https://www.nac.aero/shipment-tracking |

## Overview

Northern Air Cargo, LLC (NAC) is Alaska's largest all-cargo airline and has belonged to Seattle-based Saltchuk Resources, Inc. since March 2006. It was founded in 1956 as a partnership between Robert "Bobby" Sholton and Maurice Carlton, initially operating two Fairchild C-82 "Flying Boxcars" on charter freight services to radar stations, mines and settlements. Its base and hub is Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC), with the cargo facility at 3900 Old International Airport Road. The U.S. Department of Transportation lists the company in its certificated air carriers list of 13 July 2026 with authority for "Interstate scheduled cargo / Foreign scheduled cargo" and operational status "Yes"; the Chief Executive Officer is Michael Thompson.

NAC operates its own freighters only, on scheduled and charter services; there is no belly capacity. Following its withdrawal from long-haul business in 2025 — four Boeing 767-300Fs were returned to group company NAS Aircraft Leasing and the Caribbean, Latin American and long-haul Hawaii markets were given up — the fleet consists solely of Boeing 737 freighters. Since 4 September 2026 two Boeing 737-800SFs have been in service, supplemented by older 737-300Fs and 737-400Fs.

The network is focused on Alaska. The schedule effective 16 May 2026 links Anchorage by air with Aniak, Utqiagvik (Barrow), Bethel, Deadhorse, Dillingham, King Salmon, Kotzebue, Nome and Unalakleet; Fairbanks is served by an overnight road feeder service with Carlile. Through partner carriers NAC reaches further villages beyond its own stations on a through-service basis.

For forwarders: the AWB prefix is 345 and the air waybill has eleven digits. NAC has handled dangerous goods under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations since 1 May 2023 and additionally accepts certain 49 CFR shipments with prior arrangement. Live animals, game and seafood shipments, vehicles and oversized pieces are part of its standard business.

## Hubs

- ANC

## Fleet

- Boeing 737-800SF × 2

- Boeing 737-400F × 0

- Boeing 737-300F × 0

## Sources

- [Northern Air Cargo - Shipment Tracking (AWB-Prefix 345, elfstelliger Luftfrachtbrief)](https://www.nac.aero/shipment-tracking)

- [Northern Air Cargo - About NAC (Unternehmensgeschichte, Rechtsname, Eigentuemer)](https://www.nac.aero/about-nac/)

- [Northern Air Cargo - Service Schedule (Flugplan, Gueltigkeit ab 16.05.2026)](https://www.nac.aero/service-schedule/)

- [US DOT - Certificated Air Carriers List, Stand 13.07.2026 (Rechtsname, Genehmigung, Betriebsstatus, CEO)](https://www.transportation.gov/policy/aviation-policy/certificated-air-carriers-list)

- [FAA Order JO 7340.2P CHG 3 vom 09.07.2026 - Contractions (ICAO-Kennung NAC, Rufzeichen YUKON)](https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/cnt_html/chap3_section_3.html)

- [FAA - Cargo Carriers and Codes for CY 2025 All-Cargo Reporting, 08.01.2026 (IATA-Kennung NC)](https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/reporting/all_cargo_carriers_codes)

- [WFS Cargo Customers List, Stand 05.07.2025 (Zweitbeleg IATA NC und AWB-Prefix 345)](https://www.wfs.aero/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Overview-Airlines-handled-3.pdf)

- [FreightWaves, 23.07.2025 und 15.09.2025 (Ausflottung Boeing 767, Netzumbau, Strecke Seattle-Anchorage)](https://www.freightwaves.com/news/northern-air-cargo-abandons-big-freighter-aircraft-cuts-staff)

- [Airways Magazine, 05.09.2026 (zweite Boeing 737-800SF N3160G, 70-Jahr-Jubilaeum)](https://www.airwaysmag.com/new-post/northern-air-cargo-second-boeing-737-800sf-retro-livery)

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