Alaska carriers with less than ______ seats are exempt from federal certification.

The correct answer is 30. In the context of aviation regulations, specifically concerning small community airlines operating in Alaska, carriers that operate aircraft with a seating capacity of fewer than 30 seats are exempt from certain federal certification requirements.

This exemption is aimed at promoting accessibility to air travel in remote and underserved areas, where smaller carriers may provide essential transportation services. The regulation is designed to encourage service in regions where accommodating larger passenger volumes may not be economically viable or feasible due to lower demand.

The thresholds of 20, 40, and 50 seats signify different regulatory frameworks and operational thresholds for airlines, but for Alaska carriers, the specific exemption applies at the 30-seat mark, enabling smaller operators to function without the more stringent compliance requirements that larger carriers must follow. This helps ensure that even small operators can maintain their operations and meet the transportation needs of Alaskans.