Frontier Airlines will continue flying to the Colorado ski resort of Aspen this winter. The Associated Press notes "Frontier originally said it wouldn't fly the route after September as it phased out its Q400 turboprop planes. On Tuesday, the Republic Airways Holdings subsidiary said it decided to keep three Q400s so it can serve Aspen and other Colorado destinations, including Durango and Colorado Springs."

 

Bill Tomcich of Stay Aspen Snowmass tells The Aspen Times that "what precipitated this most unusual about-face was a bizarre combination of circumstances" at Frontier parent company Republic.

The Times writes Republic "had announced plans to phase out the fleet of Bombardier Q400s that Frontier's Lynx Aviation subsidiary flies into regional markets, including Aspen. However, a lease arrangement for some of the Q400s apparently fell through, making three of the planes available to serve Aspen, as well as Colorado Springs and Durango."

In more good news for Aspen, The Denver Post reports United "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."