Ellis Airlines - Alaska - Backpack

In 1936 Pioneer Aviator Robert Ellis established Ellis Air transport with a single Waco float plane. Ellis was one of the few airlines in the world to operate from the water exclusively. Ellis Air Transport was incorperated in 1940.

After the war in 1945, They became Ellis Air Lines, purchasing their first three Grumman "Gooses" in November 1945 from the war assets surplus dept. By 1956, Ellis Air Lines had 100 employees on their payroll and became one of Ketchikan's largest employers. For Ketchikan, long range air service to Seattle and north was serviced only at the Annette Island Airport, 16 miles from Ketchikan. Water service was only available in Ketchikan, so Ellis was the shuttle between them.

On April 1, 1962, Alaska Coastal Airlines merged with Ellis Air Lines trading for a while as Alaska Coastal-Ellis Airlines. Alaska Coastal Airlines was taken over by Alaska Airlines in April 1968.