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Airlines Wrap Up Winter Season in Telluride

imagesWhile it wasn’t the busiest winter season for air traffic in Telluride’s history, airlines were able to keep flights relatively full during the 2012-13 ski season.  Winter got off to a slow start thanks to a lack of snow early on, and some airlines felt the hit with fewer people booking flights to the region. However, by February the snow began to pile up and so did flight bookings. Overall, local officials are saying the season ended with strong flight loads.  Now that the ski resort has closed, the focus has shifted to summer. The region’s major airline carriers will return this summer with their usual routes, but the low-cost Allegiant Air — the region’s newest carrier — will not be landing planes at the Montrose Regional Airport.

Allegiant’s contract ended on April 3, but the Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization is in talks to bring the carrier back next winter. “Allegiant got off to a slow start, but they were very strong in February and March and overall had a solid season,” said TMRAO COO Matt Skinner. “We also had very strong load factors on the legacy flights for winter.”

Most air service to the region ended April 3, including direct flights to cities such as Oakland, Calif., Phoenix, Ariz., Houston and Dallas, Texas. Two airlines, Great Lakes and United, will continue through off-season.   Skinner said TMRAO hopes Allegiant will return for next winter season, and talks are taking place to try and get a deal together.

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In Aspen, Aspen Access, Crested Butte, Crested Butte Access, Telluride, Telluride Access, resources, Vail and Beaver Creek, Vail and Beaver Creek Access

Airports Near Aspen, Colorado

jet_slopesWhile Denver International Airport is Colorado’s largest airport and is generally the easiest and cheapest to fly into, it is a four-hour mountain drive to Aspen, and even farther from the western ski resorts of Telluride and Durango. Colorado High Country has a variety of airports that are closer to its world-class ski resorts, allowing for more direct, quicker travel.

The Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (aspenairport.com) is Aspen’s regional airport, just five minutes from the resort area. Take a morning flight and be skiing by afternoon. Two airlines service the airport: United Express, operated by SkyWest, and Republic, operated by Frontier. Direct flights are available from cities including Denver, Los Angeles and Chicago.

While Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is the most convenient airport to Aspen travel, there are other airports in the surrounding ski country that are much closer to Aspen than Denver. Further, so long as you don’t mind car travel, these airports will allow you to piece together trips with other famous Colorado ski resorts. Eagle County Regional Airport (eaglecounty.us/airport) is about an hour and a half north of Aspen and is located conveniently to Vail and Beaver Creek. To the south, Gunnison airport (gunnisoncounty.org/airport.html) is not much closer than Denver, but would allow you to combine a trip to Crested Butte, one of Colorado’s most challenging ski areas, with a trip to Aspen.

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In Telluride, Telluride Access, resources

Winter Flight Service to Increase Slightly

indexTelluride Daily Planet recently published this article on recently introduced flights into Telluride and Montrose.

Flights in and out of Telluride and Montrose this winter will include new low-cost service to and from Los Angeles as well as additional flights to Chicago.

The Colorado Flights Alliance announced the winter flight schedule late last week. All five regular airlines are returning to the area, with flights from all over the country heading toward Telluride and Montrose and air service to several major cities.

According to a release from the CFA, Montrose will offer flights directly to and from cities such as Denver, Los Angeles, Calif., Phoenix, Ariz., Chicago, Ill., Houston, Texas and others.

Meanwhile, Great Lakes will continue to offer daily service to and from Denver in Telluride. In all, five carriers will be operating flights at the Telluride and Montrose airports. The seasonal flights start between Dec. 14 and 21 and last until late March or early April, depending on the airline.

Click here to read the entire  article.

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In Crested Butte, Crested Butte Access, Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Springs Access, Telluride, Telluride Access, resources, Vail and Beaver Creek, Vail and Beaver Creek Access

Colorado Ski Resorts Subsidize Airline Costs

Colorado ski resorts are paying more to airlines for consistent flights into regional mountain airports.

Airlines say they need the subsidies because of rising fuel prices and financially strapped vacationers.

The Telluride Tourism Board is helping Crested Butte Mountain Resort with a $650,000 revenue-guarantee deal with Allegiant Air to bring twice-weekly flights from Oakland and Phoenix to Montrose all winter.

According to the Denver Post, Steamboat, Crested Butte and Vail are also paying more to airlines for consistent flights.

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In Crested Butte, Crested Butte Access, Crested Butte Ski Resorts, Telluride, Telluride Access, Telluride Ski Resort, resources

New Joint Ski Pass Between Crested Butte, Telluride

Winter is on its way and so are some new ticket deals that offer days in both Telluride and Crested Butte — with no blackout dates.

A new pass called the Ultimate 6 Pass offers up to three days in Telluride and three in Crested Butte. The pass has been put together as a promotional effort between Telluride Ski & Golf and the Crested Butte Mountain Resort. The pass is only available in limited numbers, and though the exact number of passes has not been released, they are available now for $399 at Liftopia.

“Basically it’s stemming from Crested Butte participating with the Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization,” said Telski Communications Director Tom Watkinson. “It’s helping to bring people to both resorts, and this is a great way to do that.”

The Crested Butte Mountain Resort announced in late October that it will be a private supporter of the TMRAO, namely the organization’s newest airline, Allegiant. As part of the deal, marketing efforts would be aimed at air passengers focusing on Telluride as well as Crested Butte.

Watkinson said the pass also offers a 20 percent discount on tickets at either resort if someone wants to go over the three days offered.

Telluride and Crested Butte are roughly 158 miles apart by road, with Montrose between them.

While the Ultimate 6 Pass is a good deal to hit up both resorts, Telski and Crested Butte are also offering their season pass holders a half-price deal for single-day tickets. If a Crested Butte or Telski season pass holder wants to buy a day ticket at the other resort, they are eligible to get it at half price. However, Watkinson said the half price deal does include some blackout dates, notably around the holidays.

Telski will be selling discount season passes and other passes at the KOTO Ski Swap Saturday at the Wilkinson Public Library.

This year, Telski is also selling a special three-day pass option for those with passes to Powderhorn Mountain Resort near Grand Junction.

“We figure Junction is such a big market for regional skiers, that we’re offering a three-day pass at $169 with the purchase of a Powderhorn pass season,” Watkinson said. “There’s no blackout dates and it’s available immediately.”

Telski plans to open on Thanksgiving.

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In Telluride, Telluride Access, Telluride Ski Resort, resources

Allegiant Air Adds Flights to Telluride Ski Resort Area

Allegiant Air, which abruptly announced earlier this month it was halting service from Colorado’s Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport, announced Tuesday it is adding nonstop service from Oakland International Airport and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport to Montrose Regional Airport this winter.

The Montrose airport, about 65 miles from Telluride, is one of the primary commercial aviation gateways for the ski resort area.

Flights will be available on Wednesdays and Saturdays from Dec. 15 to April 3. The Telluride Montrose Regional Airport Organization is providing some revenue guarantees to Allegiant to fly into the Telluride area. Without the guarantees to mitigate risk, most commercial airlines would not fly into the region at the level necessary to sustain the region’s tourism-driven economy, the airport organization said in a statement.

“There has never been a more affordable, or more accessible way for people in Phoenix and the Bay Area to discover what makes Telluride one of the world’s premier winter vacation destinations,” Telluride Tourism Board President and CEO Michael Martelon said in a statement.

Click here to read the entire article.

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Two for One Tickets with Allegiant

Flying to and from Montrose became more affordable this winter with the arrival of the region’s newest airline, Allegiant Air, and this month local tourism organizations are sweetening the pot with a special deal.

The Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization, Telluride Ski & Golf and the Crested Butte Mountain Resort have teamed up to offer a two for one ticket deal. Travelers can purchase two tickets for the price of one to fly with Allegiant to and from Montrose and either Phoenix, Ariz. or Oakland, Calif. The deal expires Jan. 31.

According to Michael Martelon, president of the Telluride Tourism Board, the deal is aimed at filling flights into the area.

“To my knowledge, there is no program in the industry where travelers can get two for one airline tickets and skiing opportunities at two of the country’s top resorts,” said Martelon. “It’s unheard of to have this kind of option, and we’re excited to be able to offer it.”

According to a release, this winter, Allegiant is offering fare from Phoenix starting at $46.99 one-way or $93.98 round-trip. Flights from Oakland are priced the same as the Phoenix ones, and the two for one offer is based on availability. Tickets must be purchased by Jan 31.

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