The Colfax County Angel Fire Airport. Courtesy/Angel Fire
The airport hangar at the Colfax County Angel Fire Airport. Courtesy/Angel Fire
Village of Angel Fire News:
ANGEL FIRE — The Village of Angel Fire (https://www.angelfirenm.gov), Colfax County (https://www.co.colfax.nm.us) and Angel Fire Resort (https://www.angelfireresort.com) in the Rocky Mountains of northern New Mexico, have announced the launch of new seasonal passenger air service between Angel Fire and Albuquerque, set to begin in early December 2024.
The service, which is being made possible by a $1.4 million Rural Air Service Enhancement grant via the New Mexico Aviation Department, is expected to boost tourism and provide better travel options for local residents, according to Colfax County Commission Chairman Si Trujillo.
“We’re looking forward to offering this new level of commercial air travel for people who live, work or come to vacation in the Moreno Valley,” Trujillo said.
Colfax County voted this morning to approve the partnership between Colfax County’s Angel Fire Airport and Advanced Air, with the vote passing unanimously. One-way tickets for the new route will cost around $79. The service will use a nine-passenger King Air 350 turboprop aircraft, operated by Advanced Air, which already connects smaller communities to major hubs across the western United States.
“This air service partnership with Advanced Air is a tremendous opportunity for the entire county. Not only will it enhance tourism during our peak seasons, such as summer and the ski season, but it will also provide our residents with improved access to Albuquerque International Sunport and, importantly, better access to healthcare,” Angel Fire Mayor BJ Lindsey said. “The County and the resort’s hard work is paying off, and the Village of Angel Fire is ready to help in any way we can.”
“Bringing commercial air service to Angel Fire Resort has been a long-standing goal, and we’ve worked closely with the Village and Colfax County to find the perfect air partner to make it a reality for our guests and second homeowners,” said Dan Rakes, executive general counsel, Angel Fire Resort. “This new service is a game-changer, offering convenient access at a reasonable price to elevate the overall experience for everyone who visits or lives in Angel Fire or surrounding communities.”
Sen. Pete Campos was instrumental in securing the grant for the air service. Colfax County, the Village of Angel Fire, and Angel Fire Resort collaborated for the past 2 years in obtaining the grant.
“This is a prime example of a successful private/public partnership that benefits the entire region,” Senator Campos said.
The Village has also been actively working on plans to make some improvements to the fourth-highest airport in the country as it has long been considered a potential hub in northern New Mexico because of its high quality and length of runway.
The Village of Angel Fire is working with Enterprise Rental Car in Taos to secure options for on-site car rental pickup at the Angel Fire based airport, additional long-term parking options, and a restaurant vendor to provide food and beverages for those flying in and out of the airport.
“This marks a new era of tourism for Angel Fire and the surrounding communities. While these daily flights may not directly profit the airport, we know they’ll boost tourism and drive economic growth. Making travel easier will attract more visitors to our beautiful valley, fueling business growth for both the Village of Angel Fire and the Resort,” Lindsay added.
Details for the new Advanced Air commercial flights are still being finalized, but the plan includes one daily round-trip service between Angel Fire and Albuquerque International Sunport during peak seasons, running from December to March and June to September.
Additionally, the County voted in favor on the resolutions that will allow Colfax County and the Village of Angel Fire to begin looking into what would be involved in transferring operational control of the Colfax County Angel Fire Airport to the Village of Angel Fire.
The Village of Angel Fire will now vote on similar resolutions today, Sept. 24. If approved this would be the first step in conveying operations of the airport from the County to the Village.