Aspen’s new airport director has been on the job for nearly two months. Since mid-December, John Kinney has had a chance to settle in—and experience the most consistently busy time in the upper Roaring Fork Valley. Lodging and air travel set records in Aspen during this winter’s Christmas through New Year’s week. Kinney was previously at LAX in Los Angeles and Denver International Airport. In Aspen, he’s taking the reigns as Pitkin County starts nailing down if how to revamp the airport to meet new federal regulations. Elise Thatcher talks with Kinney, and asked him what it’s been like on the job so far.
There were some travel woes for airline passengers during the busy Christmas through New Year’s week. Wintry weather forced lots flights to get canceled or diverted. Kinney got complaints that private planes might have been getting priority over commercial flights. Kinney maintains favoritism did not happen.The Upper Valley’s next busy stretch is expected to be this coming weekend. That’s for the President’s Day Holiday.
