Ski weeks, summer and the holidays, with all-in quotes from Part 135 operators and a plan B for the weather chosen before you fly.
Why travelers book with Private Jet to Aspen
Part 135 operators only
Every option comes from an FAA Part 135 operator, or the foreign equivalent, named before you book.
All-in quotes
Federal excise tax, segment fees and airport costs are in the price. Weather items such as de-icing are flagged up front.
One advisor, start to finish
The same advisor handles your quote, the operator, the weather calls and the plan B, through to landing.
Nothing to join
No membership, deposit or sign-up to request a quote. Decide once you have seen the aircraft and the price.
Flying into Aspen
Aspen is a mountain airport. We plan it like one.
Aspen/Pitkin County sits about three miles from town at 7,820 feet, with mountains close on three sides. When it works, nothing in the valley is more convenient. That is why the plan B belongs in the quote, not in the moment.
Elevation
Thin air lengthens takeoff runs and slows the climb, more so on warm days. It can limit passengers, bags or fuel on the way out.
Terrain
A steep, demanding approach. Many operators require specific crew training for Aspen, and some only land there in daylight.
Seasonal congestion
Christmas, Presidents' Day and spring break fill the sky and the ramp. Parking has needed reservations in peak weeks.
Rules that change
Limits on aircraft size, parking and late operations have shifted over the years. We check the current ones for your dates.
Same runway, different problems. We plan the aircraft and the timing around the season you are flying in.
Winter · December to April
Ski season
Short days, snow and de-icing, and the busiest weeks of the year. Land early in the day, book the holiday weeks well ahead, and fly with the alternate already chosen.
Festival weeks and Maroon Bells season. Warm afternoons at 7,820 feet cut aircraft performance, so morning departures and the right aircraft matter more than most travelers expect.
Short-field ability for regional hops into the mountains; slower on longer legs.
Light jet
Phenom 300E, Citation CJ4, Learjet 75
Seats
6–8
Range
2,000–2,150 nm
Est. per hour
$3,500–5,500
Efficient from Texas, California and the Midwest; limited room for skis.
Midsize jet
Citation XLS+
Seats
7–9
Range
~2,100 nm
Est. per hour
$4,500–7,000
A common choice from Dallas, Houston and Chicago, with more headroom and bag space.
Super-midsize jet
Challenger 350, Citation Longitude, Praetor 600
Seats
8–10
Range
3,200–4,000 nm
Est. per hour
$6,500–9,500
Coast to Aspen nonstop in most conditions, with a stand-up cabin and room for ski bags.
Large-cabin jet
G450, Challenger 650, Falcon 2000LXS
Seats
10–16
Range
4,000–4,300 nm
Est. per hour
$8,500–13,000
Space for families and groups with gear; we check Aspen's current size limits for each type.
Ultra-long-range jet
G650ER, Global 7500
Seats
13–19
Range
7,500–7,700 nm
Est. per hour
$12,000–20,000+
Aspen's size limits have often excluded the largest types, so plans usually use Eagle County or Grand Junction.
Estimates only. Hourly ranges exclude the 7.5% federal excise tax, segment fees, repositioning, crew overnights and de-icing. Every quote we send is all-in.
Popular routes
Flight times to Aspen.
Approximate nonstop times in a midsize or super-midsize jet. Winds, season and aircraft move the numbers; your quote shows the real schedule.
We arrange flights; licensed operators fly them. This is what stands behind every option we send.
FAA Part 135
Charter flights in the US must be operated by a Part 135 certificate holder in operational control of the aircraft. Your agreement names the operator before you book.
ARGUS
An aviation auditing firm that rates charter operators Gold, Gold+ or Platinum after reviewing safety history, crews and management.
Wyvern
Audits operators on site against its own standard. Operators that meet it are listed as Wyvern Wingman.
IS-BAO
A code of practice for business aviation, recognized internationally. Operators move through stages 1 to 3 as their safety management matures.
Duty and rest
Crews fly within legal duty and rest limits. Early starts, long days and same-day returns are planned around them.
Aspen requirements
Operators set their own rules for Aspen, often specific crew training and daylight-only arrivals. We confirm them for your trip.
Not every good operator holds every rating. Ask which audits apply to the operator on your quote and we will tell you before you book. The charter rules themselves are in 14 CFR Part 135.
Questions
Before you fly to Aspen.
Straight answers on cost, weather, aircraft limits and the holidays.
It depends on the aircraft, the distance, the season and whether the aircraft has to reposition. As a rough guide, a super-midsize jet costs about $6,500 to $9,500 per flight hour before tax and fees, and New York to Aspen takes about four and a half hours westbound. A one-way trip may also carry the cost of the aircraft flying home empty. Every quote we send is all-in: it includes the 7.5% federal excise tax, segment fees and the operator's fees, with weather-dependent costs such as de-icing flagged up front.
What happens if Aspen is closed by weather?
Every trip is planned with an alternate before departure, usually Eagle County (about 1 hour 30 minutes by road) or Rifle (about 1 hour 20 minutes). If the crew cannot land at Aspen, they divert to the planned alternate, and your advisor plans the rest of the day with you: the drive into town, the bags and how the aircraft will meet you for the return. Drive times are approximate and depend on winter roads.
Can any private jet land in Aspen?
No. Aspen limits the size and weight of aircraft it accepts, and those limits have changed over the years. Operators also set their own rules for Aspen, often including specific crew training and daylight-only arrivals. At 7,820 feet, thin air also reduces what an aircraft can carry on warm days. We check all of this for your dates and say so when Eagle County or Grand Junction is the better plan.
How far ahead should I book Christmas, New Year's or Presidents' Day?
As early as you can. Those weeks are the tightest of the year at Aspen: aircraft, crews and ramp space all run short, and peak-day pricing applies on many aircraft. Asking early costs nothing and gives you the widest choice. If your dates can move by a day, tell us; it often opens better options.
Can I bring skis, snowboards and golf clubs?
Usually, yes. Baggage space varies a great deal between aircraft, so tell us how many skis, boards, golf bags or large cases you are bringing. We size the aircraft so everything travels with you.
Who operates my flight?
An FAA Part 135 operator, or the foreign equivalent for international trips, in operational control of the aircraft. Private Jet to Aspen is an air charter broker: we find and compare options for you. Your charter agreement names the operating carrier before you book.
Do I need a membership, jet card or deposit?
No. There is nothing to join and nothing to pay to request a quote. Payment terms are set out in the charter agreement for the trip you choose, and you sign only when the aircraft, the operator and the price are right.
Are there empty legs to or from Aspen?
Sometimes, especially around the start and end of holiday weeks when aircraft reposition. Empty legs are one-way repositioning flights sold at a discount, often 25 to 75% off, on a fixed route and time. They can be cancelled if the original trip changes, so they suit travelers with flexible plans. Tick the offers box on the quote form if you would like to hear about them.
Share the route, dates and passengers. A charter advisor will email you aircraft options and an all-in price, with the Aspen alternate already planned.
Quotes from FAA Part 135 operators, named before you book
All-in pricing with federal excise tax and fees included
One-way, round-trip and multi-city, worldwide
Pets welcome on many aircraft with operator approval
