Speculation: CLT / Charlotte to Aspen / ASE possible with regional service?
Oct 21, 2016, 12:30 pm
#1
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Speculation: CLT / Charlotte to Aspen / ASE possible with regional service?
Would it be possible for AA to fly a CRJ700 into ASE from Charlotte? The route would be 1450 miles. Currently (in season), AA flies into ASE from DFW, ORD, and LAX. DL flies into ASE out of ATL.
Oct 21, 2016, 12:45 pm
#2
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The max range for a CR700 is about 1600 miles. With CLT-ASE being 1450 miles, it doesn't leave much buffer to divert back to DEN (125 miles) in cases of bad weather, etc.
Oct 21, 2016, 12:51 pm
#4
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Does AA (and its express partners) have the base, ER, or LR model?. As said above, the base model probably doesn't have the legs to do the flight, but the ER model could probably handle it. Not sure how the altitude might impact operations though.
That being said, just because CRJ 700 could make the route doesn't mean it would be an economical route. I could see Saturday only service maybe working.
That being said, just because CRJ 700 could make the route doesn't mean it would be an economical route. I could see Saturday only service maybe working.
Oct 21, 2016, 12:54 pm
#5
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United express used to run CRJ700's between MSP and LAX, which is 1,535...so it is possible, but you don't have to worry about Altitude and Weight Restrictions at those airports like you do ASE. I'd say its doubtful AA would have any 1400+ mile CRJ700 flight
Oct 21, 2016, 1:15 pm
#7
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What other AA hubs do is irrelevant: different hubs have different markets.
Oct 21, 2016, 1:23 pm
#8
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I didn't suggest "more" profitable - just perhaps equally profitable. I think there are some special rules regarding pilots allowed to fly into ASE. Perhaps extra training?
Oct 21, 2016, 1:33 pm
#9
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Uh huh. Which of those cities served by AA at CLT - and not served by AA distance-efficiently from LAX, DFW, or ORD - has flyers wanting to pay good money to fly to Aspen?
Oct 21, 2016, 2:00 pm
#11
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I think historically, downhill skiing was a sport more common to the North, Midwest and Inter-mountain West - along with most other wintertime sports. But with population migration patterns today, there are less regional differences. AA operates a MIA to Vail flight seasonally right now.
Oct 21, 2016, 2:38 pm
#12
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Back in the day, US flew CLT-EGE, with a 757 IIRC, but I would think they'd prefer to funnel traffic through the Midwest hubs in today's merged AA network rather than put a large RJ on a long route like ASE out of CLT.
Oct 21, 2016, 3:05 pm
#13
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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"
