Taos Air takes off
New charter flight service for Texas skiers generates buzz
The town of Taos, and several other entities around the area will celebrate the inaugural flight of Taos Air today (Dec. 20), an air service designed to bring guests from Austin and Dallas into the Taos Valley and the surrounding recreation areas. Taos Air will fly passengers nonstop flight into the Taos Regional Airport.
“Guests have always stated that they were looking for an easier route to the Rockies, particularly to Taos,” said Taos Ski Valley CEO David Norden in an email. “We are simply answering that request.”
The first flight of Taos Air will land at 9:30 a.m. today (Dec. 20) at the Taos Regional Airport and will take off from Taos at 11:30 a.m. marking it’s first flight out of Taos.
The 30-seat Dornier 328 jet from Ohio-based Ultimate Jetcharters will benefit from $24 million in airport improvements the town of Taos has invested in the last couple of decades. Town officials have said the flight service will benefit the town bringing in more gross receipts tax into the area and will increase tourism dollars spent in Taos, Taos Ski Valley and other towns in the county.
“We certainly hope it shows one more way for folks
to get into the area, which we are very grateful for,” said Krysty Ronchetti, public relations director for Angel Fire Resort. “Any remote ski destination always appreciates additional transportation services.”
Taos Air will shuttle customers for a $399 round trip from Taos to Dallas’ Love Field Airport and from Taos to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport from December to March of 2019. Seats are limited, so those interested in catching a flight should contact Taos Air soon.
Currently, the airline is running a “192” special for a round-trip flight in honor of Taos Ski Valley founder Ernie Blake’s plane. The flights will leave Taos Thursday and return Sunday for only $192 round trip. In addition, Taos Air is also offering a $96 one-way ticket for passengers who book flights by Jan. 7, 2019.
It is too soon to know what kind of economic benefit the charter flight service will bring to Taos. Taos town manager Rick Bellis said he believes the new service will boost sales tax receipts for the town. Gross receipt taxes collected on Taos Air ticket sales, however, do not go to Taos, although Mayor Dan Barrone said he plans to work on that for the future.
The town is not contributing to the operation costs of the air service, but has recently spent thousands on an airport upgrade by adding a new de-icer and providing a hanger for the plane.
According to town officials, the primary benefit from Taos Air will be an increase in tourism in Taos.
“While we depend on tourism for 40 percent of our economy and have been identified as one of the top three winter destinations in the world, the lack of accessibility to Taos has always been a drawback in our ability to compete nationally and internationally,” Bellis said in an email.
Bellis also said the service will create few local jobs. He said that the real benefit would be in the influx of people traveling here to visit, invest and live. Bellis inferred that the sales tax benefits will be seen in the increased number of overnight stays and visits to Taos hotels and shops from passengers aboard the three days per week charter flights.
Guests landing at Taos will have shuttle opportunities to Taos Ski Valley and the service will take them to The Blake at Taos Ski Valley. Shuttle service via the North Central Regional Transportation District “Chile Line” has been extended to include night routes to and from the ski valley, should guests choose to grab a free ride into Taos for the evening.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will welcome the new plane to the Taos Regional Airport at 10 a.m. where it will unload and be readied to collect passengers for the first flight out of Taos. A public open house will be held with more information about the flight.
“We’re thrilled to have Taos Air be able to offer this service to our guests,” said Ronchetti.
According to Ronchetti, Angel Fire could also benefit from this service as it provides travelers with an easier route to the Taos area and could bring visitors to their resort as well.
Angel Fire also is looking forward to the March flights as the ski area is a year-round attraction and focuses on spring and summer activities as well.
Currently, Norden said the service will end in March; however, this is a test run for the flights, and Taos Air could possibly see services continued throughout the year.
“We have received much enthusiasm for extending the schedule for summer, but a lot of work still needs to be done in order to fund the operation,” said town director of marketing and tourism Karina Armijo. “This will be a priority for the winter months ahead.”