Where to Ski And Snowboard - Colorado ski resorts support local flights

Colorado ski resorts support local flights

16th November 2012, by Abi Butcher

Steamboat has just launched an airline sale encouraging skiers to fly from US cities into its local Yampa Valley airport

Ski resorts in Colorado are subsidising flights from major cities across the US in order to boost the numbers of skiers visiting the area this season.

According to the Denver Post, resorts including Steamboat, Crested Butte, Telluride and Vail are paying airlines to maintain a consistent service into regional airports this winter.

Although some skiers from the UK fly onwards to local airports from Denver, many choose to drive the 100 or so miles to Colorado’s ski resorts. But US skiers can fly directly from cities such as LA, Chicago, Atlanta and Houston to Yampa Valley airport for Steamboat, Eagle County Airport airport for Vail and Beaver Creek and Montrose for Telluride and Crested Bute.

While resorts have subsidised airlines that fly to mountain airports, this year the payouts are steeper than normal. Telluride and Crested Bute joined forces to pay a $650,000 revenue-guarantee deal with Allegiant Air.

And in an effort to attract more skiers, Steamboat this week announced an airfare sale offering discounted flights to Yampa Valley airport with American Airlines, United and Delta.

The 2011/2012 season was the worst for US ski resorts for 20 years, with 51 million skier visits compared to 60.5million the year before —caused by bad snow conditions as well as consumer belt-tightening.

Rob Perlman, vice president of marketing at Steamboat, said the resort has been subsiding airlines for some time, adding: “We understand there will be ebbs and flows. Last year was an ebb but we have confidence this year will be more successful.”