Aspen Airways
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1952 |
| Founder | Walter Paepcke |
| Defunct | 1991 |
| Fate | Acquired by Mesa Airlines and Air Wisconsin Services, Inc.; merged into Air Wisconsin |
| Successor | Air Wisconsin (as merged entity) |
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado , United States |
Area served | Western United States, including Colorado, California, Texas, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Iowa, Illinois, and North Dakota |
Key people | J.W. "Bill" Ringsby (owner from 1963) |
| Products | Regional airline passenger services; United Express feeder carrier |
| Owner | Air Wisconsin (final parent company) |
| Parent | Air Wisconsin (final parent company) |
Aspen Airways functioned as a regional carrier and United Express partner, operating out of Hangar 5 at Denver's Stapleton International Airport in Colorado. The airline discontinued its services on April 1, 1990, following the acquisition of its assets by Mesa Airlines and Air Wisconsin Services, Inc..
History
Established in 1952 by Walter Paepcke as the flight division of the Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies, Aspen Airways began by flying surplus Douglas DC-3 aircraft on routes between Aspen and Denver. Initially headquartered in Aspen, the airline later relocated its main offices to Stapleton Airport in Denver.
Prior to 1967, Aspen operated under an “air taxi” designation with fewer regulatory constraints. After obtaining certification from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) in 1967, it became the first domestic airline to receive such certification since the late 1940s. This certification subjected Aspen to regulatory oversight comparable to that of major airlines until deregulation occurred in 1978.
In 1963, entrepreneur J.W. "Bill" Ringsby purchased Aspen Airways. Under his ownership, the fleet evolved from leased Convair 240 aircraft to owned Convair 340 and Convair 440 piston planes, later incorporating the twin-engine Convair 580 turboprop, which ultimately formed the core of their fleet. Although Aspen operated various turboprop and piston aircraft types, it faced competition on significant routes such as Aspen-Denver from Rocky Mountain Airways.
During the early 1980s, Aspen broadened its reach into California markets including Lake Tahoe, providing Convair 580 service to cities such as Burbank, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, and Bakersfield. The airline also served Essential Air Service routes connecting San Francisco with smaller Californian communities.
| Year | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating revenue | 2,329 | 2,733 | 3,901 | 5,103 | 6,436 | 7,767 |
| Operating profit (loss) | 327 | 212 | 607 | 489 | 222 | (698) |
| Net profit (loss) | 291 | 45 | 269 | 171 | 11 | (21) |
| Operating margin | 14.0% | 7.8% | 15.6% | 9.6% | 3.4% | -9.0% |
| Net margin | 12.5% | 1.6% | 6.9% | 3.4% | 0.2% | -0.3% |
In 1985, the airline introduced the British Aerospace BAe 146-100 jets equipped with quiet engines and short-field performance capabilities—marking the arrival of commercial jet service into Aspen for the first time. These jets expanded Aspen’s offerings from Denver to destinations including Amarillo, Lubbock, Farmington, Durango, Gillette, and Sheridan.
By September of 1986, Aspen had joined United Express as a feeder carrier for United Airlines’ Denver hub. Seasonal BAe 146 jet flights provided nonstop connections between Aspen and major metropolitan areas such as Dallas/Ft Worth, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, and Long Beach. Additionally, Aspen operated an extensive network of regional flights from Denver to various Colorado cities and neighboring states.
Facing financial difficulties in 1989, Aspen pursued acquisition options. Employee-led buyout efforts faltered due to lack of sufficient funding; a proposed acquisition by the Giant Group also failed to materialize. Ultimately, Mesa Airlines purchased most of Aspen’s Denver hub routes except for the Denver-Aspen link; meanwhile Air Wisconsin acquired Aspen’s stock holdings along with its routes and aircraft.
Air Wisconsin maintained Aspen Airways as a fully owned subsidiary until April 1991 when it was merged into Air Wisconsin itself—bringing to a close nearly forty years of pioneering air service to Aspen and surrounding Rocky Mountain regional markets.
Final Fleet and Replacement Air Service at Aspen
When Aspen Airways was sold and merged, its fleet consisted of four BAe 146 jets alongside ten Convair 580 turboprop aircraft. The turboprops were subsequently divested, whereas Air Wisconsin maintained operation of the BAe 146 jets, incorporating them into their existing aircraft lineup.
Destinations
Throughout its tenure as an independent carrier and later as a United Express affiliate, Aspen Airways operated flights to a wide array of destinations. These service points shifted over time to align with the airline’s strategic emphasis on primary markets and United Airlines’ hub locations.
- Albuquerque, NM (ABQ)
- Amarillo, TX (AMA)
- Aspen, CO (ASE) – primary destination mainly served under United Express
- Bakersfield, CA (BFL)
- Billings, MT (BIL)
- Burbank, CA (BUR)
- Casper, WY (CPR)
- Cheyenne, WY (CYS)
- Cody, WY (COD)
- Colorado Springs, CO (COS)
- Denver, CO (DEN) – hub and former corporate headquarters
- Durango, CO (DRO)
- Farmington, NM (FMN)
- Gillette, WY (GCC)
- Grand Forks, ND (GFK)
- Grand Junction, CO (GJT)
- Gunnison, CO (GUC)
- Hayden, CO (HDN)
- Jackson Hole, WY (JAC)
- Lake Tahoe, CA (TVL)
- Laramie, WY (LAR)
- Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
- Lubbock, TX (LBB)
- Midland/Odessa, TX (MAF)
- Modesto, CA (MOD)
- Montrose, CO (MTJ)
- Rapid City, SD (RAP)
- Rifle, CO (RIL)
- Salt Lake City, UT (SLC)
- San Francisco, CA (SFO)
- San Jose, CA (SJC)
- Sheridan, WY (SHR)
- Sioux City, IA (SUX)
- Stockton, CA (SCK)
- Waterloo, IA (ALO)
- West Yellowstone, MT (WYS)
Aspen Airways also operated BAe 146 jet services under the United Express brand through code-sharing agreements with United Airlines. These routes connected Aspen to significant hubs and important markets such as:
- Chicago, IL (ORD)
- Denver, CO (DEN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
- Houston, TX (IAH)
- Long Beach, CA (LGB)
- Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
- San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Fleet
The aircraft types that comprised Aspen Airways’ fleet included:
- Aero Commander 500B
- British Aerospace BAe 146-100 (the sole jet model operated by the airline)
- Convair 240, Convair 340, Convair 440, Convair 580 turboprops
- de Havilland Heron
- Douglas DC-3 piston aircraft
- Fairchild F-27 turboprop airliners
- Piper Navajo
At the point of acquisition, the airline's active fleet featured both BAe 146 jets and Convair 580 turboprops.
See also
- Articles with short description
- Defunct airlines of the United States
- Airlines established in 1952
- Airlines disestablished in 1991
- Defunct companies based in Denver
- American companies established in 1952
- 1952 establishments in Colorado
- 1991 disestablishments in Colorado
- American companies disestablished in 1991
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment