Speculation: CLT / Charlotte to Aspen / ASE possible with regional service?
#16
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
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If anything, I'm surprised that AA hasn't added an ASE-PHX service. HP used to do it with a Dash-8-200. I'd think they'd add this before ASE-CLT. Of course, I'm still holding out hope for an ASE-LAS nonstop
#17
Join Date: Jan 2010
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AFAIK, ASE has tricky conditions and airlines require pilots to have additional experience and training to fly there. This has been true since Aspen / Pitkin County airport installed MLS in the 1970s. Such might not be of interest to AA, given the extra risk ASE provides.
Link to Denver Post article "Winds complicate landing at Aspen airport, flight experts say"
Link to Denver Post article "Winds complicate landing at Aspen airport, flight experts say"
#20
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Join Date: Mar 2004
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AA would be much better off to launch EGE which is Vail/eagle. That would be much easier and between vail and aspen a much more reliable airport.
The problem would be eastbound out of ase. The CR7 could cruise west easily to ase no issue with grand junction as the emergency airport when you can't land in Aspen which is often do to wind.
The problem is east out of Aspen. Deltas cr7 is heavily weight restricted another 150 miles would be a no go. You could maybe sell 50% of the seats to take off out of Aspen not gonna be profitable. Skis are also very heavy. The problem is taking off out of Aspen the plane would be too heavy for takeoff to go another 150 miles needs even more fuel.
The problem would be eastbound out of ase. The CR7 could cruise west easily to ase no issue with grand junction as the emergency airport when you can't land in Aspen which is often do to wind.
The problem is east out of Aspen. Deltas cr7 is heavily weight restricted another 150 miles would be a no go. You could maybe sell 50% of the seats to take off out of Aspen not gonna be profitable. Skis are also very heavy. The problem is taking off out of Aspen the plane would be too heavy for takeoff to go another 150 miles needs even more fuel.
#21
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,302
i think the post really ought to be "why not CLT to all the Rocky Mtn Ski Resorts?" but certainly Aspen would be pretty far down the list if they only pick one
#22
Join Date: Feb 1999
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Could an E-175 be flown into ASE?
If so, an E-175 flying CLT-ASE would be a much more comfortable ride than an CR7.
Or would flying an E-175 CLT-EGE be better, assuming EGE would have more demand than ASE?
Looking back at service into EGE in January, Feburary, and March 2016 [the past ski season], for MIA-EGE and JFK-EGE nonstops, First Class was sold out well in advance almost every weekend during ski season. But I assume this may have been a result, in part, because of some connecting international traffic. With fewer non-stop international flights/destinations at CLT vs MIA or JFK, this could have some impact. However, weekend only CLT-EGE during ski season on an E-175 could have some surprisingly very profitable yields.
If so, an E-175 flying CLT-ASE would be a much more comfortable ride than an CR7.
Or would flying an E-175 CLT-EGE be better, assuming EGE would have more demand than ASE?
Looking back at service into EGE in January, Feburary, and March 2016 [the past ski season], for MIA-EGE and JFK-EGE nonstops, First Class was sold out well in advance almost every weekend during ski season. But I assume this may have been a result, in part, because of some connecting international traffic. With fewer non-stop international flights/destinations at CLT vs MIA or JFK, this could have some impact. However, weekend only CLT-EGE during ski season on an E-175 could have some surprisingly very profitable yields.
#23
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Winston Salem, NC USA
Posts: 1,074
I just saw that AA has announced nonstops to Phoenix seasonally starting Dec. 15. Now it's even more irritating to not have a flight from CLT.
Last edited by trvlr70; Apr 6, 2017 at 12:58 pm
#24
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,302
AA tends to fly to multiple CO ski towns from their hubs, not just to one. The exceptions I'm aware of are Miami and JFK to Vail. I think they'd only start ski flights from CLT if they did Vail, Steamboat, Telluride, AND Aspen, plus maybe Jackson Hole. Not sure they have the equipment to add those flights. But if they add just one from CLT, the history, probably based on where they can make money and sell enough seats, seems likely to be Vail more than Aspen.
#25
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#26
Join Date: Apr 2003
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PHX is the airport from which AA serves smaller airports in the West. For example, if you're going to Spokane, you'll go through Phoenix. I suppose AA could run flights CLT-GEG but ....
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Winston Salem, NC USA
Posts: 1,074
you can connect from GSO in ORD or DfW to the Colorado ski towns like ASE. Does it really matter that much if you connect in ORD or DFW vs in CLT? If you are saying you'd drive to CLT to fly West, that's a different matter.
AA tends to fly to multiple CO ski towns from their hubs, not just to one. The exceptions I'm aware of are Miami and JFK to Vail. I think they'd only start ski flights from CLT if they did Vail, Steamboat, Telluride, AND Aspen, plus maybe Jackson Hole. Not sure they have the equipment to add those flights. But if they add just one from CLT, the history, probably based on where they can make money and sell enough seats, seems likely to be Vail more than Aspen.
AA tends to fly to multiple CO ski towns from their hubs, not just to one. The exceptions I'm aware of are Miami and JFK to Vail. I think they'd only start ski flights from CLT if they did Vail, Steamboat, Telluride, AND Aspen, plus maybe Jackson Hole. Not sure they have the equipment to add those flights. But if they add just one from CLT, the history, probably based on where they can make money and sell enough seats, seems likely to be Vail more than Aspen.