Denver Air has announced two new domestic routes within Denver, Colorado, as part of expansion plans that have accelerated in recent years.
The new routes are also a part of the Essential Air Service programme, a U.S incentive enacted to ensure that small communities in the States continue to receive commercial air service. The programme makes it financially possible to maintain scheduled air service to these communities.
Continuous growth at home
Denver Air, also known as Denver Air Connection, is a subsidiary of Key Lime Air. Key Lime Air is also based in Colorado but operates scheduled air service, public and private charter, and United Parcel Service cargo feeder operations. Denver Air exclusively offers charter and scheduled passenger air service and has been keen to expand in recent years.
These new routes are to Colorado municipalities Alamosa and Cortez.
Denver Air picked up the route to Alamosa after SkyWest dumped it in March 2022. The decision was made official on 13 May when Denver Air took the contract from SkyWest. The U.S Department of Transportation has given Denver Air limited time to prepare as the scheduled launch date is as soon as 8 June.
The Alamosa route will be operated by a 30-seat Dornier 328Jet or a 50-seat Embraer 5145. The level of demand and traffic will dictate which aircraft will be used. The flight will take off from Denver International Airport to Alamosa’s San Luis Valley Regional Airport and will run on a schedule of 12 weekly flights.
The Cortez route will begin a couple of months later, on 1 October. The route will be operated by the 9-seat aircraft Fairchild Swearingen Metroiner between Denver International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to Cortez. The route will run on a schedule of 24 weekly flights.
Alamosa will be served until 30 June 2024 and Cortez will be served until 30 September 2024, but, of course, contract renewals are possible.
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