Vail/Eagle County Regional Airport on EasyLiving Front Range Colorado

Travel-savvy locals and frequent visitors to Colorado’s central Rocky Mountains know exactly what makes the Vail/Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) so wonderfully appealing: its ultra-convenient location, thoughtful amenities, frequent flights and ongoing improvements. “It’s a big-time airport in a small shell,” says airport manager Chris Anderson.

Indeed, EGE (its official abbreviation) may be small in size compared to major metro airports, but it’s huge when it comes to its proximity to Eagle County’s resort towns, as well as those farther afield along the Western Slope. Instead of flying into Denver and driving for two hours or more to your mountain destination, arriving and departing out of EGE adds valuable time to your Colorado vacation.

And you won’t necessarily fly into EGE on a small prop plane. The length of the airport’s runway allows large jets to land all year round. “A lot of folks aren’t aware that the Boeing 757 is our primary aircraft, and that they fly in and out of here regularly,” says Anderson.

Ongoing service improvements
While winter brings the most nonstop flights from 12 different hub cities to EGE, even more flights from more markets have potential to arrive in the coming months. That’s because a runway expansion project will extend the runway 1,000 feet in 2008, to a total length of 9,000 feet. This will allow air carriers to take off with more passengers and fuel needed to fly greater distances. Ultimately, the $30 million, three-phase runway expansion means that EGE will be able to accommodate summertime nonstop flights from as far away as New York. More distant locations can now only be reached in the winter, when lower temperatures provide additional lift.

Also, new high-tech radar at the airport has nearly doubled airline capacity, which means twice as many planes can now arrive and depart every hour. More good news: the airport’s new instrument landing system, which allows pilots to use a precision navigational approach, makes arriving at the airport much more reliable, especially in inclement weather.

Airport amenities galore
When’s the last time you parked for free at an airport, just steps from the main entrance, to board a large commercial jet? For the ultimate in cost-conscious convenience, Eagle County Regional Airport offers free parking, both long- and short-term, in its spacious parking lots. No shuttle service necessary—all the spots are within easy walking
distance to the terminal.

Be sure to heed the time limits posted on the lots’ signs. Some spots are available for a half hour at a time, for picking up or dropping off passengers. Others are for parking up to seven days (closest to the terminal) up to ten days (east of the terminal), or up to 30 days (farthest from the terminal, east of the Vail Valley Jet Center).
Inside, you’ll find a free wireless Internet connection throughout the terminal, and a recently remodeled coffee shop and deli, offering gourmet coffee, smoothies, sandwiches, bagels and more. During the peak winter season, an additional “grab-and-go” concession area is available to handle higher traffic levels through the airport. Video games, the Eagle Saloon and a newly remodeled and expanded, fully stocked gift shop and newsstand are other ways to pass time before flights arrive.

Ground transportation options
Once you arrive at EGE, there are a handful of ways to get to your ultimate destination. Sign up for a shuttle-van service with Colorado Mountain Express (CME) (cmex.com; 970-926-9800). The scheduled departures conveniently coincide with flight arrivals, and prices start at $47 per passenger, one way. Other options with CME are chauffeured executive vans, four-wheel-drive SUVs and Cadillac sedans with DVD players and complimentary movies. Chartered transportation is available for large groups.
High Mountain Taxi (hmtaxi.com; 970-524-5555) is another option for quick service to and from you destination. Just stop by the booth in the baggage claim area.
Seven major car rental agencies provide vehicles from EGE, and also have booths near the baggage claim area. See the box at right for a listing.

Vail Valley Jet Center
If you have your own light plane or jet you can fly into the adjacent Vail Valley Jet Center (970-524-7700) and find the same great convenience and comfort that EGE is known for. Take advantage of the complimentary business center with free high-speed wireless Internet, three computer work stations, as well as fax, scanner and printer availability. Two spacious and well-appointed lobbies offer a gift shop and complimentary coffee, cookies and popcorn to enjoy while you wait to board your flight.

The bottom line
Why spend hours fighting traffic, mountain passes and unpredictable weather on the interstate when you can land minutes away from your destination in a comfortable, friendly, full-service airport?

The Vail/Eagle County Regional Airport is the only real choice for travel to Eagle County and beyond.

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