*Includes fuel, landing fees & FET. One-way pricing. De-icing extra in winter.
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The Aspen to San Francisco corridor connects Colorado's premier ski destination with the Bay Area tech hub. This route serves Silicon Valley executives and venture capitalists heading home after ski weekends and holidays. Peak westbound demand occurs late December through March as ski season winds down, with excellent empty leg opportunities when planes reposition back to West Coast bases after dropping off skiers.
Commercial options from Aspen are extremely limited—most routes connect through Denver or Los Angeles, turning a 2.5-hour flight into a 6+ hour journey. Flying private from Aspen-Pitkin (ASE) puts you in Oakland or San Francisco in under 3 hours, door to door. Most savvy Bay Area travelers choose Oakland (OAK) over SFO to avoid notorious fog delays and enjoy lower landing fees.
Aspen's high altitude (7,820 ft) and mountainous terrain make aircraft selection critical. Super Midsize jets like the Challenger 300 are the only "sure thing"—they have the thrust-to-weight ratio to climb out of Aspen's valley with full passengers and luggage, flying nonstop to SF. Midsize jets like the Learjet 60 work well for smaller groups. Light Jets may require a fuel stop in Grand Junction if fully loaded.
Westbound demand peaks during ski season, particularly Christmas week (Dec 20-Jan 5), Presidents' Day weekend, and spring break. During these periods, landing slots at ASE are scarce—book weeks in advance. The best pricing and availability is found in late spring and fall shoulder seasons.
Click any section below for insider tips on flying this route
Located just 3 miles from downtown Aspen, ASE is one of the most operationally challenging airports in North America due to its high altitude (7,820 ft) and mountainous terrain. Pilots require special training and certification to operate here.
FBO at ASE:
Critical: ASE Curfew
Aspen has a strict curfew enforced for safety. No departures after 10:30 PM and no landings after 11:00 PM (or 30 mins after sunset for Stage 3 aircraft). Plan your departure accordingly.
Most private flyers headed to the Bay Area prefer Oakland International (OAK) over SFO. Here's why:
Oakland (OAK) - Recommended:
San Francisco (SFO):
This is unique to Aspen departures. Taking off from 7,820 feet elevation in thin mountain air requires massive engine power. This affects aircraft selection and pricing significantly:
In winter, de-icing is almost always required. If it's snowing or there's frost on the wings, you cannot take off without de-icing treatment.
This is billed separately and rarely included in initial quotes.
During peak ski weeks (Dec 20 – Jan 5, Presidents' Day), landing and departure slots at ASE are extremely scarce. You must book weeks in advance. If you miss your slot, you'll divert to Rifle (RIL) and face a 60-90 minute drive.
Flights from Aspen to San Francisco fight prevailing headwinds, especially in winter. Expect flight times closer to 2.5 hours vs 2 hours 15 minutes eastbound. This adds slightly to billable flight time.
Aspen's high altitude (7,820 ft) makes aircraft selection critical. Not all jets can perform well departing from thin mountain air with full loads.
Challenger 300/350 or Citation X: The only "sure thing" for this route. These jets have the thrust-to-weight ratio to rocket out of Aspen's valley and fly nonstop to SF with 8 passengers and skis.
Learjet 60 or Citation Excel: The Learjet 60 is a "hot rod" that handles altitude well. Great option for smaller groups who don't need the cabin width of a Challenger.
Phenom 300: One of the few light jets with the performance to handle Aspen reasonably well. The most economical option if you can accept potential limitations.
Empty legs occur when planes fly EMPTY after dropping off passengers. For Aspen→San Francisco, you find deals when planes need to reposition back to their West Coast bases after delivering skiers to Aspen.
Peak Empty Leg Season: December 26-31
This is the golden window. Planes drop off Christmas skiers in Aspen and immediately need to return to their Bay Area bases. West Coast operators flying empty back home will sell these repositioning flights at 40-50% discounts.
Secondary Opportunities:
Sundays in January/February: This is when Bay Area skiers are heading HOME from Aspen. Planes are flying west FULL of passengers—that's peak demand, not empty legs. Expect full retail pricing.
Friday/Saturday arrivals: Everyone wants to arrive for the weekend. Westbound planes are full.
When you find a true empty leg in late December:
Reliability. SFO suffers from fog delays that OAK often avoids due to its position on the East Bay. Plus, OAK is just as close to downtown San Francisco via the Bay Bridge and has significantly cheaper landing fees. It's the savvy local's choice for private aviation.
No. Aspen has a strict curfew enforced for safety due to mountainous terrain. No departures after 10:30 PM and no landings after 11:00 PM. If you're delayed, you'll need to overnight in Aspen or drive to an alternate airport.
The departure from Aspen can be bumpy as you climb over the Rockies—mountain wave turbulence is common. Once you clear the mountains (about 15 minutes), the flight across Nevada and California is usually smooth until descent into the Bay Area.
In winter, almost certainly yes. If it's snowing or there's frost on the wings at ASE, you cannot take off without de-icing treatment. Budget $2,000-$4,000 for this cost, which is billed separately.
It depends on passenger and luggage load. The Phenom 300 can handle it with a lighter load (4 passengers, moderate bags), but if you have 6 adults with ski gear, you'll likely need a fuel stop in Grand Junction. Super Midsize jets are recommended for guaranteed nonstop service.
Diversions to Rifle (RIL) or Grand Junction (GJT) happen during peak season slot crunches or bad weather. Your charter broker will arrange a luxury SUV (Suburban/Escalade) to meet you at the alternate airport. The drive to Aspen takes 60-90 minutes depending on road conditions.
Understanding private jet charter costs helps you budget accurately and avoid surprises. Here's exactly what you're paying for on this route:
Light Jet (Phenom 300): $6,500/hour
Midsize Jet (Learjet 60, Citation Excel): $9,000/hour
Super Midsize (Challenger 300): $12,000/hour
Our estimates include a 15% markup that covers:
Ski season demand: Christmas week and Presidents' Day = 20-30% premium
Slot scarcity: Peak weeks require advance booking; last-minute = limited aircraft options
Aircraft availability: Super Midsize jets book up fast in ski season
Empty legs: Dec 26-31 westbound = 40-50% discount when available
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