Aspen, CO – New daily non-stop flights on United Airlines between Aspen/Pitkin County Airport and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport are now on sale for the upcoming ski season.nUnited’s newest flights into Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley will be operated as United Express service, from Jan. 4, 2011 through Apr. 2, 2011. United is also scheduled to operate four daily non-stops from Chicago, three from Los Angeles, two from San Francisco, and 11 daily trips between Aspen and Denver, for a total of 21 flights daily into and out of Aspen/Snowmass for this upcoming winter season.

The news is welcome for Aspen Skiing Co. and businesses in the Roaring Fork Valley, as Delta Air Lines earlier this summer announced that it was abandoning its routes into Aspen/Pitkin County Airport. Frontier Airlines made a similar announcement this summer before reversing course in August, promising flights into Aspen for one more ski season.

All of United’s new flights into Aspen/Snowmass from Houston will be operated by SkyWest Airlines with CRJ700 aircraft, featuring a United First cabin and United Economy Plus seating.

“We greatly appreciate United Airlines stepping up once again with even more new flights into Aspen/Snowmass and believe this new service from Texas will be mutually beneficial,” said David Perry, Senior Vice President – Mountain Division for Aspen Skiing Company.

“The addition of Houston as a destination will open numerous connections for locals and visitors alike that have been challenging in the past,” added Aspen/Pitkin County Airport Director, Jim Elwood.

United’s new service departs Houston daily at 9:18 a.m., arriving in Aspen at 11:08 a.m. The planes turn around and depart Aspen at 2:35 p.m., arriving back in Houston at 6:05 p.m.

“In addition to making it easier than ever to fly between Houston and Aspen/Snowmass, this new route is also going to offer superb connections from Florida and across Latin America,” said Bill Tomcich, President of Stay Aspen/Snowmass. “Travelers flying the global route network of the Star Alliance will now have more connecting options into Aspen/Snowmass than ever before.”