Northwest Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy last month, may not keep flying into Aspen through the winter.
“While our current plans are to serve Aspen through the 2005-2006 winter ski season, our schedule for January and beyond – and the size and makeup of the fleet that will be needed to support it – are still under review,” the Minneapolis-based airline said in a statement.
Northwest serves the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport through a partnership with Mesaba Airlines, which also has declared bankruptcy.
The Roaring Fork Valley sees 80 percent of its winter traffic arrive by air. United Express flies about 90,000 passengers in and out of Aspen during the ski season, Northwest carries about 18,000, and America West carries about 3,000.
To date, about 7,500 people have booked tickets into Aspen this winter on Northwest.
“It’s something we’re following very carefully. It’s of great concern,” said Bill Tomcich, president of lodging reservation agency Stay Aspen/Snowmass and the Aspen business community’s airline liaison.
Tomcich and airport director Jim Elwood met with officials from both Northwest and Mesaba in Minneapolis last month.
“We got their assurances that … as far as this winter’s flights are concerned, there is absolutely nothing to be worried about,” said Tomcich. “That said, both airlines are in bankruptcy. And whenever you’re in bankruptcy, all bets are off.”
Aspen’s future with United, which plans to emerge from bankruptcy next year, is also uncertain. Earlier this year, United announced it was ending its contract with regional air carrier Air Wisconsin Airline Corps, which flies its Aspen route. But United plans to announce a new aircraft type and a new operator in the next few months.
“The bigger concern is that we have three airline partners in bankruptcy,” Tomcich said. “We are approaching a period of change that is going to be significant. Come next spring and next summer, it could be a bumpy road.”
Separately, Northwest said it will discontinue daily flights between Denver and Milwaukee and between Denver and Indianapolis, as well as reduce daily Denver-to-Detroit flights from four to three. The cuts are effective Oct. 31 and will bring Northwest down to 12 daily flights out of Denver, going to Memphis, Minneapolis and Detroit.
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-820-1592 or at jdunn@denverpost.com.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-820-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com.
