Crested Butte Strikes Deal With Telluride and Montrose to Secure Allegiant Air Service as New Partner

Telluride, Colorado from the Imogene PassCrested Butte Mountain Resort and the Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization recently signed a letter of intent, giving CBMR support of the Allegiant Air direct flights to the Montrose Regional Airport from the San Francisco and Phoenix beginning in December from Oakland International Airport and Phoenix-Mesa airport.

“The Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization has been researching and pursuing a low-cost carrier for more than a year,” said Scott Stewart, TMRAO Executive Director. “These new flights add an additional 10,000 seats to this winter’s air service and will have a very positive economic impact on the region’s economy.”

After making a pitch earlier this year to the Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority, Crested Butte Mountain Resort and the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association, Stewart and the Telluride Tourism Board’s President and CEO, Michael Martelon continued discussions with the resort. The RTA, with the advice of its consultant Kent Meyers, decided to pass on the opportunity, as did the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association.

“From our perspective, we would be missing an opportunity by not finding a way to participate in the Allegiant air service,” said Jeff Moffett, Director of Crested Butte Vacations. “After seeing the potential, the Elevation Hotel and Spa pitched in as well, which we certainly appreciate. We have been looking for ways to collaborate on shared Crested Butte – Telluride passes and ticket products, which we feel will only enhance regional efforts and the destination of Southwest Colorado as a whole. Our hope is that we are creating a great foundation for future regional destination efforts with Gunnison, Crested Butte, Montrose and Telluride.”

This winter, Allegiant will offer an introductory round-trip fare from Oakland for as low as $129 and from Phoenix starting as low as $130 round-trip.

Visit www.flytelluride-montrose.com, www.skicb.com, and www.visittelluride.com.