U.S. border services reverses Alaska-Yukon flight decision

U.S. border services will hire three new staff in Fairbanks, Alaska, to process tourists flying between the Alaska community and Dawson City, Yukon.

The announcement made Friday reverses a previous decision by the agency to reject a proposal by tour company Holland America.

Holland America wants to begin flying tourists between Fairbanks and Dawson City instead of busing them. That would mean nine flights a week between the two communities during the summer.

Yukon's Air North will use its Boeing 737 airplanes on the route.

"It's a big aircraft for both airports actually," said Allan Moore, Air North's director of commercial development. "Fairbanks not so much, but for Dawson it's a big aircraft. Instead of driving the Top of the World Highway, they're going to be flying."

Holland America has said the change will mean its tour groups can travel between the cities in about an hour, instead of a two-day bus ride.