Quantcast

United Airlines plans larger jets for Aspen amid regulatory uncertainty

Airport Workers Save the Day After Woman Loses Diamond from Her Engagement Ring in Baggage Carousel
I never talk to strangers on the plane. After my dad died, a passenger helped me talk about my grief.
American Airlines reveals new summer route: Miami → Rome
Budget UK airline launches huge sale with £29 flights to 475 holiday hotspots – but you’ll have to be quick
Delta Passengers Can Book a ‘Last Mile’ Private Jet Charter to Europe This Summer
Honeywell Runway Safety Technology Selected by Southwest Airlines for Fleetwide Installation
Southwest Airlines Adds Cockpit Alerts to Boost Runway Safety
This Airline Is Going to Start Handing Out $675 Fines to 'Unruly' Passengers: 'It Is Unacceptable'
Summer of savings? New analysis shows airfare has dropped significantly - The Points Guy
Travelers are taking extreme measures and using hacks to avoid airline baggage fees
Pigeons Cause Chaos on Delta Flight
United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter
United Continues to Face Catering Chaos at San Francisco
Passenger Stows Away on Delta Flight from New York to Paris
Wizz Air becomes first airline to operate P&W-powered Airbus A321XLR jet
Hawaiian Airlines’ new ‘no show’ policy may make travel more expensive
BLIMP-SE OF THE FUTURE Luxury zeppelins of the future from ‘flying bum’ world’s largest aircraft to Google billionaire’s ‘impossible’ airship
Swiss Startup SmartFlyer Develops Hybrid-Electric Trainer
San Francisco-based entrepreneur takes a trip on India's worst-rated airline, his reaction will surprise you
First-Time Flyer at 81: A Grandmother's Memorable Journey
Ryanair forecasts fare rebound as consumers recover from interest-rate hit
Alaska Airlines' “Aviation Day” inspires future aviators
Global Airlines Launches Inaugural Flight, Aiming to Revive 'Golden Age of Travel'
Winning routes: American Airlines adds more than 22,000 seats for football fans following release of 2025–2026 pro schedule
Boeing scores Middle East plane deal during Trump visit
Air travel will be ‘worse’ this summer, lawmakers warn — as FAA gives infuriating update on system fixes, staffing issues
Qatar Airways places record $96 billion Boeing order amid Trump visit
United Airlines CEO Reassures Passengers About Newark Airport Safety
American Testing Tech to Help Passengers Make Connecting Flights
British Airways to use AI in efforts to improve operations
United Airlines plans larger jets for Aspen amid regulatory uncertainty
Research
Webp p18pueyozwbyaegyt1fzg7i1qaau
View from the Wing | View from the Wing

Word broke yesterday that United Airlines was putting bigger regional jets – Embraer 175s – on its Aspen routes. This was surprising since the airport doesn’t support these planes and has blocked attempts to require that they make very modest changes in order to do so. How did United make this happen?

United Airlines plans to begin flying its E175 from Aspen (ASE) to several cities:

• Denver (DEN) starting Dec. 3

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

• Los Angeles (LAX) starting Dec. 19

• San Francisco (SFO) starting Jan. 7

• Houston (IAH) Dec. 3 to 18

This made no sense because the airport has been fighting the FAA to keep out bigger planes, and no word of any progress forcing them to make changes to support Embraer E-175s had come out.

Precisely because of that battle, United scheduling these regional jets with twice as many first-class seats and an overall better passenger experience was big news. They’d somehow gotten permission!

Except they hadn’t! United says that the new flights are "subject to FAA approval." Normally what aircraft you fly on a domestic route isn’t subject to FAA approval. This means "subject to the FAA prevailing and making the airport accept these planes."

Put another way, announcing the bigger planes is just a way to signal that United wants to fly them – meant as ammunition in the ongoing fight over whether the airport has to be an airport at all (much like Santa Monica; Naples; Westchester; Boulder et al – local NIMBYs in wealthy neighborhoods who don’t want the noise or the outside people).

And once approval finally comes there will be a lag in starting the service because special pilot training is required for Aspen airport operations.

Aspen may eventually get larger regional jets with more first-class seats but United’s announcement was likely both premature and strategic.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

For Canada Day, the Royal Canadian Air Force's "Snowbirds" aerial demonstration team performed a special flyover in Ottawa.

Jul 3, 2025

A cybercriminal group known as Scattered Spider has targeted the airline industry in North America.

Jul 3, 2025

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has opened applications for a scholarship-funded master's program in aeronautical engineering.

Jul 3, 2025

The A-10 Warthog, officially known as the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, remains a significant component of the United States Air Force's fleet.

Jul 3, 2025

When comparing Rolls-Royce's Trent XWB and Trent 1000 engines, the question of power is central.

Jul 3, 2025

Boeing is reportedly planning to acquire Spirit AeroSystems' facilities in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Jul 3, 2025