Summer Air Additions Announced on the Heels of a Record Winter

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Media Contact:
Tom Watkinson
Tom@visittelluride.com
970-369-2106

Summer Air Additions Announced on the Heels of a Record Winter
Daily Service from Chicago, DFW, Others Boosts Telluride Access

TELLURIDE, Colorado (March 31, 2016) – On the heels of a record setting winter, with flight traffic at new levels and Telluride Ski Resort set to break previous skier visit marks, the 2016 summer air schedule into Telluride/Montrose (MTJ) is increasing again with daily direct flights from Chicago (ORD), along with extended daily service from Dallas (DFW) and Houston (IAH), and 2x a week Los Angeles (LAX) flights. Multiple daily Denver (DEN) flights will continue to make accessibility to airport and region easier than ever.

This winter, overall passenger traffic has seen an approximate 8% increase, topping last year’s previous record, with a 26% increase over the last two seasons. Flights negotiated and supported by Colorado Flights have seen a 19% increase in passenger traffic this winter, and 41% increase over the past two seasons. Colorado Flights’ efforts have pushed air traffic to new levels for the region with aggressive winter and summer growth, also resulting in record enplanements (passengers getting on a plane) at MTJ for the 2015 calendar year, and although early, pacing well to match or surpass that number in 2016.

Colorado Flights, in partnership with the Telluride Tourism Board, also supports air service with significant marketing investment, with the larger goal of regional economic growth.

“We’re thrilled to be able to continue pushing the ball forward for air service to our region,” said Matt Skinner, Chief Operating Officer for Colorado Flights. ”We’ve seen visitation, tax revenues and overall economic health continue to improve, and we are dedicated to doing our part in driving the area’s economy forward.”

“With the strength and collaboration of our flights program, the entire region enjoys the economic advantages of consistent, reliable air service,” said Michael Martelon, President and CEO of the Telluride Tourism Board.  “Telluride has posted numbers over the past three years that seemed unattainable only five years ago.  We are grateful for our air program and our ability to offer our guests direct flights from multiple metropolitan areas.”

After a strong weekly debut last summer, United will increase ORD-MTJ service for the heart of the summer, running daily from July 1 – August 15, with Wednesday and Saturday service June 11-29 and August 17-September 3.

American will upsize aircraft and extend daily DFW operations to MTJ from June 2 through October 5. The added fall flight will allow easy access into Telluride and the region for the later season festivals and incredible fall colors of the San Juan Mountains.

This summer United flights IAH have extended daily service from June 11 through September 4, filling in daily in June and August/September where it had previously been twice-weekly.

In an airline service change, American will replace Allegiant Air for summer flights to the L.A. market, flying twice-weekly LAX-MTJ on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

United’s DEN-MTJ flights will again be running up to five times daily throughout the summer, now on 100% jet service.

“We are pleased to offer continually expanding flight options into and out of Colorado’s western slope,” said Skinner. “The increase in service from hub markets continues to create an ease of access for both our guests across the country and our regional residents.”

For detailed schedule information, please see the attached route map and go to www.united.com and www.aa.com.

For area resort and reservations information, please visit www.visittelluride.com, www.tellurideskiresort.com and www.visitmontrose.com.

*United flights operated by United or United Express

*American flights operated by American or Envoy

-www.coloradoflights.org-