GETTING HERE
TOUCH DOWN IN TELLURIDE
Air options that make it easy to hit the slopes
Tony Demin
T
his winter there are numerous air options that put the Telluride Ski Resort within easy reach via the two airports that serve the destination: Telluride/Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ), a scenic 75 minutes away, and Telluride Regional Airport (TEX), just 10 minutes from the slopes. New this season and building off the success of its Denver (DEN)-Telluride jet service, Denver Air Connection will begin operating flights between TEX and Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) on Dec. 16. The service, on a 30-seat, Dornier 328 jet, will run daily through April 5. The news is notable on a few fronts: It’s the return of a route that ran from 1993 to 2011, then-served by turbo-props, and it’s the first-ever jet service between Telluride and Phoenix. In addition, Denver Air Connection’s rela-
tionship with United Airlines enables travelers to book connecting flights through the global United network. For DEN-TEX and PHX-TEX flights, travelers need to book directly through the Denver Air Connection website. Given Denver Air’s reputation for excellent customer service, a flight time of just 70 minutes and TEX’s proximity to the slopes, this is good news indeed. Arizonans will also continue to have the option of flying to MTJ on American Airlines, with regular service to Phoenix throughout the season. Other American routes this winter include flights from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), New York/La Guardia Airport (LGA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), all to Montrose.
Meanwhile, Delta will be making its return to several Colorado mountain airports this winter after suspending flights last year. An important and popular returnee is service to Montrose from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Flights will run an average of three to four times weekly through the season, starting on Dec.18. United Airlines’ routes will continue to serve Montrose with daily flights from Denver, Houston/Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Chicago/O’Hare; and flights two to five times weekly from Newark International Airport (EWR), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and LAX. And, Southwest returns for the season too, with service to Montrose from Denver and Dallas/Love Field (DAL). telluride.com | 855.421.4360
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