Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is slated to receive new Embraer 175 service starting later this year. The airport — which sits at a nearly 8,000-foot elevation in mountainous terrain — has been confined to regular service with CRJ-700 and turboprop aircraft in the past.
As first reported by Ishrion Aviation on Twitter/X and validated with Cirium Diio schedule data, SkyWest plans to operate the E175 into Aspen beginning on Dec. 3, 2024. Flights will operate under the United Express brand.
In a statement, United confirmed the planned aircraft change. “Pending FAA certification, United Express flights into Aspen (ASE) are expected to start transitioning to the Embraer E175, operated by SkyWest, this winter. These 70-seat aircraft will offer travelers twice the number of both First Class and Economy Plus seats and more storage for roll-aboard bags,” a spokesperson from the airline said.
The E175 will initially fly from Aspen to a handful of United’s hubs, including Denver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Service to San Francisco will begin on Jan. 7, 2025, while the other routes start in December.
The CRJ-700 will continue to be used on some of these routes in addition to the E175.
Currently, SkyWest is the only Part 121 air carrier serving the Colorado airport on behalf of American, Delta, and United. The airport is one of a handful in the U.S. that requires pilots to hold a special qualification due to the complex terrain.
The airport’s single runway is slightly over 8,000 feet long and 100 feet wide. In recent years, Aspen community members have debated on whether to expand the airport’s infrastructure to accommodate larger aircraft.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated on July 31, 2024 at 5:33 p.m. ET to add a statement from United.
