United announces that starting January 4th, 2011 there will be direct flights into Aspen from Houston, TX. Aspenites had seen some of the best airfares out of Aspen in recent years due to competition between United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Delta Airlines. However, this past summer news that both Frontier and Delta were getting out of the Aspen market created fear that United would have the air service monopoly and prices would rise.
This is not the case though. After announcing that service on Frontier would end into the Aspen market September 30th, 2010, the company decided to do an about face. Frontier decided to keep 3 of their Lynx Aviation Bombardier Q400 turboprops aircrafts for service into Aspen, Colorado Springs, and Durango markets. Frontier originally made the decision to end air service into Aspen since they were getting rid of their Bombardier Q400 fleet to reduce costs. Their reversal on this decision is welcome news to residents in the Roaring Fork Valley that want competition to keep prices lower. However, the service on Frontier will be for the winter ski season only.
As a result, of Delta’s decision to opt out of the Aspen market and Frontier’s original decision to end service, United decided to ramp up its air service. United added a once-daily non-stop service from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. In addition to this new service, United has four daily non-stops from Chicago, three from Los Angeles, two from San Francisco, and 11 daily trips between Aspen and Denver. That is a total of 21 daily flights into and out of Aspen for the 2010-2011 winter ski season.
Having two air service providers will help continue to keep fares lower in the Aspen market. “In addition to making it easier than ever to fly between Houston and Aspen/Snowmass, this new route is also going to offer superb connections from Florida and across Latin America.” said Bill Tomcich, President of Stay Aspen/Snowmass. "Travelers flying the global route network of the Star Alliance will now have more connecting options into Aspen/Snowmass than ever before," Tomcich added. The hope is that there will be more guests with United's added air service to the Aspen market.
To take advantage of the lower airfares book your vacation now on Frontier’s or United’s Web sites.
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