THE MILE-HIGH GUIDE: TAKE A BUSINESS JET TO ASPEN & OTHER SKI SEASON HOTSPOTS
JANUARY 3, 2024
With ski season officially kicked off, you are probably getting ready to plan your annual winter trip to hit the slopes. However, traveling into the Rockies can often be a challenge due to limited commercial aviation options. That’s where private jet travel enters the conversation as the most convenient and quickest solution to reach the ski villages of Colorado.
Flexjet knows these mission parameters well and recommends choosing a Challenger 350/3500 or Praetor 600 for their unique profile qualities. The super-midsize aircraft within the Flexjet fractional fleet are preferred for these types of mission for their reliability, runway agility and impressive versatility. They offer enough space for up to nine passengers, plus ski equipment – more than enough room for it all, making them the most sought-after business jets in their class.
Aspen, Telluride and Vail are all popular destinations for skiing and offer unmatched natural beauty, arts and entertainment scenes and every recreational activity you can imagine. But to reach these locations, careful planning is required, especially during winter when weather plays a significant role in the success of any trip planning. The high-altitude nature of these destinations creates a challenge, but with Flexjet’s expertise, you can enjoy a seamless and hassle-free experience.
Learn about some of the nuances of private jet travel into three popular Colorado ski destinations, what you can expect when planning a trip and what ski spots to enjoy when you arrive.
› ASPEN, COLORADO
Elevation:
In Town: 8,000 ft. ( 2,438 m. )
Snowmass Villiage: 8,104 ft. ( 2,470 m. )
Here, managing your expectations is everything. If you plan a trip to Aspen, remember that it can be harder to reach than other portions of the Colorado Rockies. The closest airport is Pitkin County Airport (ASE) ( 7,820 ELE ), a civilian airport 15 minutes away. With Aspen’s geographic location within the mountainous terrain, the airfield is subject to extreme weather fluctuations, unpredictable wind shears off nearby cliffs and stalling snow fronts.
At Flexjet, we strictly adhere to safety clearances that can lead to flight delays, cancellations and diversions to other, more approachable airfields like Eagle, CO (EGE) and Rifle, CO (RIL). Furthermore, (ASE) is only accessible during daylight hours. For example, if sunrise in Aspen is at 7:00 a.m., the earliest Flexjet can schedule a departure is 8:00 a.m. If sunset is at 4:30 p.m., our operations have to prepare the arrival 1 hour before sunset, which would be 3:30 p.m.
Due to the proximity of the runway to the taxiway, the airport is subject to a unique aircraft wingspan limit of just 95 feet. This can limit the number of large commercial airliners operating in the airport. However, most private jets are unaffected and can operate in the airport.
Aspen offers a delightful mix of fun and adventure for everyone. Its landscape, while challenging, is a paradise for advanced skiers. Four stunning mountains are spread across an 8.5-mile radius, offering a combined 5,300 acres of diverse terrain. However, Aspen is not just about skiing and snowboarding. It boasts a top-tier dining scene, a vibrant music and culture scene, luxurious accommodations, and top-notch ski and snowboarding instruction – making it an ideal destination for families as well.
Snowmass, the largest of the mountains with over 3,000 acres, caters to families and intermediate skiers alike. In an exciting development, for the first time since 1986, Snowmass is set to expand its territory on the main mountain. Aspen Mountain’s upcoming Hero’s terrain will add 153 acres of skiing and riding opportunities. Accessible by a complimentary quad, this new terrain is set to open for the 2024 season, promising more thrilling adventures for visitors.
- Travel time from Teterboro: 4 Hours, 13 Minutes
- Travel time from West Palm Beach: 4 Hours, 5 Minutes
- Travel time from Van Nuys: 1 Hour, 43 Minutes
- Best alternative airport in Colorado: Garfield County Regional Airport (RIL) @ 5,538 ft. ELE ( 1,688 m. )
› TELLURIDE, COLORADO
Elevation:
In Town: 8,750 ft. ( 2,667 m. )
Moutain Villiage: 9,545 ft. ( 2,909 m. )
Telluride is a hidden gem perched at 9,000 feet, offering year-round adventure, culture and relaxation. It boasts world-class alpine skiing and fine dining and cultural events. The frequent and accumulating annual snowfall, which challenged the town historically, is now a significant source of its tourism and overall income.
In Telluride, you will discover a diverse range of experiences. The city itself is a delightful blend of history, due to its days as a gold and silver mining hub during the 19th century, mixed with a strong blend of arts and leisure charm. Its year-round pleasant weather, snowy winters and unique landscape make it an attractive destination for all types of visitors.
Don’t forget to experience Mountain Village – a charming alpine-inspired enclave featuring luxury hotels, fine dining and stylish boutiques.
Telluride Ski Resort itself has one of the best mogul runs in the nation, as well as a wide array of runs for all levels of skiers.
If Flexjet is planning and executing your trip to Telluride (TEX) ( 9,078 ELE ) airport, one of many benefits of our fractional ownership model, every eventuality is considered. When landing at an airport nearly 10,000 feet above sea level, the experience and skill of your crew are paramount. Weather can again be a significant factor for accessibility, an eventuality your expert Owner Services Specialist will plan for ahead of time.
- Travel time from Teterboro: 4 Hours, 19 Minutes
- Travel time from West Palm Beach: 4 Hours, 5 Minutes
- Travel time from Van Nuys: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes
- Best alternative airport in Colorado: Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) @ 5,759 ft. ELE ( 1,755 m. )
Ideal aircraft: Telluride airport is positioned on a mountainside at over 9,000 feet in elevation, making a light or midsize aircraft like Flexjet’s Challenger 350/3500 or the Praetor 500 an agile and ideal choice.
› VAIL, COLORADO
Elevation:
In Town: 8,150 ft. ( 2,484 m. )
Vail Mountain: 8,120 ft. ( 2,482 m. )
Vail Mountain is the most visited ski resort in the U.S. and one of the largest. To get there, private flyers will take a similar approach as Aspen; however, Vail is still just 130 miles west of Denver and situated conveniently along I-70 for those who commute into town via car.
Vail’s altitude and positioning are still subject to the same weather and wind variables as Aspen or Telluride. Your expert team at Flexjet will always be ready with a contingency for any weather events to help offset more significant delays.
During the winter ski months, Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) ( 6,540 ELE ), which provides the best access to Vail, can become the second busiest airport in Colorado. During a given year, it’s common for Eagle to see over 300,000 travelers, with a little more than half being private jet flyers.
Vail Mountain has 193 trails that suit beginners and intermediates. Still, their Legendary Back Bowls – seven open expanses of mostly black diamond-rated slopes – make this ski resort so popular. Vail is additionally known for having some of the best instructors in North America.
Pro tip – If your preferred dates for ski lifts are already sold out, book a private lesson with a ski instructor. That way, you’ll be able to spend the morning learning new skills, and then you can ski the mountain on your preferred day even if no reservations are available.
- Travel time from Teterboro: 4 hours, 12 minutes
- Travel time from West Palm Beach: 4 Hours, 7 Minutes
- Travel time from Van Nuys: 1 hour, 44 Minutes
- Best alternative airport in Colorado: Garfield County Regional Airport (RIL) @ 5,538 ft. ELE ( 1,688 m. )
Ideal aircraft: When traveling with the whole family plus skis and luggage, a large cabin aircraft like Flexjet’s Gulfstream G450 (with seating for up to 16) is ideal. However, the ever-capable Challenger 350 or Praetor 600 have more than enough endurance and agility to make a stop in Vail.
UPGRADE OR DOWNSIZE WITHIN OUR ENTIRE FLEET OF BUSINESS JETS
We know your flight requirements may vary from trip to trip. Within our fractional jet and lease programs, our aircraft Owners enjoy the ability to exchange hours into any different aircraft in Flexjet’s fleet. Our attractive interchange experiences may help to best cater to your unique trip requirements.
Contact our team via our websiteor call us at (866) 309-2214 to discover more about our fractional, lease or jet card programs and our exclusive services.
