Frontier Airlines has done an about-face, announcing Tuesday it would continue service to Aspen-Pitkin County Airport this winter.
In July, Frontier officials said service from Denver to Aspen would end Sept. 30. The company has decided to keep three of its Lynx Aviation Bombardier Q400 turboprops for flights into Aspen and routes such as Colorado Springs and Durango.
“The versatility of the Q400 aircraft makes it an ideal and cost-effective aircraft to fly into Aspen,” said Daniel Shurz, vice president of strategy and planning for Frontier’s parent company, Republic Airways.
“This is fantastic news for us,” said Jim Elwood, aviation director at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport. The continued service is for this ski season only.
Frontier officials did not offer a further explanation for the change of plans.
“This has been a wild couple of weeks,” said Bill Tomcich, president of Stay Aspen Snowmass.
United Airlines also announced Tuesday it will add a fourth nonstop to the resort from Chicago and a second nonstop from San Francisco this winter.
Tomcich said the increased United service will replace seats lost when Delta said in July it would not service Aspen this winter.
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
