Frontier Airlines’ four remaining turboprop planes — considered by the company’s top management as less desirable than sleek, small jets — are just the ticket for flying into Aspen.
That’s especially true for three days in September and three more days in October when the mountain town revamps its airport.
On Sept. 13-16 and Oct. 4-7, the runway at Aspen/Pitkin County Airport will be temporarily shortened during construction of a long planned extension from 7,000 feet to 8,000 feet. The runway will close at 7 a.m. Sept. 13 and Oct. 4 and reopen at 7 a.m. Sept. 16 and Oct. 7.
United/SkyWest — the only other airline currently servicing Aspen — won’t be able to land its small jets during those days.
The $17.5 million project will wrap up by the end of October. The longer runway is one reason Aspen just landed American Eagle, which will fly to Dallas/Fort Worth and Los Angeles beginning Dec. 15.
Another reason is that Aspen officials are concerned about Frontier’s longevity and worked to attract American Eagle.
Frontier’s situation is “tenuous,” said Bill Tomcich, the airline liaison in his role as president of reservations agency Stay Aspen Snowmass.
Despite adaptability to the tight terrain of the high-altitude airport, the Frontier turboprops are for sale or lease.
Company officials say they have no other aircraft that can fly into Aspen. Since there are no plans to replace them, Frontier’s service could vanish.
Frontier spokesman Peter Kowalchuk said he wouldn’t “speculate on if/when scenarios.”
Soon after Republic Airways won the bid to buy Frontier in 2009, chief executive Bryan Bedford told Frontier employees that he didn’t care for turboprops and that travelers would rather fly on small jets.
The turboprops were flown by former Frontier subsidiary Lynx Aviation, which was disbanded last year and its aircraft placed on the block.
A year ago, Frontier announced it was pulling out of Aspen after Lynx’s disposal but did an about-face and continued service when lease arrangements on the turboprops fell through.
Since then, “we’ve seen steady improvement of Frontier’s performance here,” Tomcich said, adding that Frontier outperformed United/SkyWest last winter in filling planes.
Tomcich said that if Frontier officials “are forced to abandon Aspen, it’s not a decision they would make lightly.”
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com
