Taos Air

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}{{Infobox airline

| airline = Taos Air

| image = Taos_Air_Logo.png

| image_size = 150

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| IATA = various

| ICAO = various

| callsign = see Operators

| fleet_size = 4

| destinations = 5

| founded = {{start date|2018}}
Taos, New Mexico, United States

| commenced = {{start date|2018|12|20}}

| ceased = {{end date|2024|04|01}}

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| bases =

| hubs = Taos Regional Airport

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| parent = Taos Ski Valley, Inc.

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}}Taos Air was an American virtual airline that operated seasonal scheduled public air charter service between Taos Regional Airport in Taos, New Mexico, and several airports in California and Texas. The airline was owned by Taos Ski Valley, Inc. Service to Texas began in the 2018–2019 winter season while the 2019–2020 winter season saw the introduction of California routes. The carrier operated Fairchild Dornier 328JETs with its own livery from 2018 through summer 2022, then switched to Embraer 135 regional jets operated by JSX beginning with the 2022–2023 winter ski season. Taos Air effectively ceased operations permanently in April 2024.

History

On 20 December 2018, Taos Air began service with scheduled flights from Taos Regional Airport to Dallas and Austin, Texas, using a 30-seat Dornier 328JET. The service was introduced to promote skiing in the Taos area, and free shuttle service to Taos Ski Valley was offered.{{cite web|last=Moya|first=Jesse|url=https://www.taosnews.com/stories/taos-air-takes-off,53999?|title=New charter flight service for Texas skiers generates buzz|website=taosnews.com |date=December 19, 2018 |publisher=The Taos News|location=Taos, New Mexico|accessdate=25 April 2019}} Taos Air was owned by Taos Ski Valley, Inc., which paid for operation and upkeep of the aircraft, with the Town of Taos providing terminal access, marketing, de-icing service, and a hangar.{{cite web|last=Moya|first=Jesse|url=https://www.taosnews.com/stories/taos-council-oks-liquor-license-property-transfer-and-revises-taos-air,54667|title=Taos Council OKs liquor license, property transfer and revises Taos Air|website=taosnews.com |date=January 24, 2019 |publisher=The Taos News|location=Taos, New Mexico|accessdate=25 April 2019}} The aircraft were operated on a charter basis by Ultimate Jetcharters,{{cite web|url=https://worldairlinenews.com/2019/01/16/ultimate-jetcharters-is-operating-a-dornier-328jet-in-full-taos-air-brand/|title=Ultimate JetCharters is operating a Dornier 328JET in full Taos Air brand

|website=worldairlinenews.com |accessdate=25 April 2019}} an FAR Part 135 air charter company that also operated scheduled charter flights under the Ultimate Air Shuttle brand name.

During its inaugural season, the carrier used a private terminal at Dallas Love Field; no Transportation Security Administration security checks were required.{{cite web|last=Shine|first=Conor|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/business/2018/10/13/new-dallas-taos-flight-will-make-hitting-ski-slopes-bit-easier-winter|title=New Dallas-to-Taos flights will make hitting the ski slopes easier this winter|website=Dallasnews.com|date=October 13, 2018 |accessdate=5 March 2019}}

In March 2019, the Taos County Board of Commissioners and the town of Taos voted to give Taos Air grants totaling $850,000 for summer service to promote tourism.{{cite web|last=Hooks|first=Cody|url=https://www.taosnews.com/stories/taos-air-picks-up-200k-from-county-coffers,55996? |title=Taos Air picks up $200K from county coffers|website=taosnews.com |date=March 27, 2019 |publisher=The Taos News|location=Taos, New Mexico|accessdate=25 April 2019}} On 9 April, Taos Air received final approval to operate summer flights.{{cite web|last=Moya|first=Jesse|url=https://taosnews.com/stories/town-finalizes-taos-air-flights,56315|title=Town finalizes Taos Air flights|website=taosnews.com |date=April 10, 2019 |publisher=The Taos News|location=Taos, New Mexico|accessdate=24 April 2019}} Despite this, the flights were canceled in June 2019 due to unavailability of aircraft and pilots from the charter company, and consequently the grant money was not disbursed.{{cite news |last=Moya|first=Jesse |date=7 June 2019 |title=Taos Air summer flights canceled |url=https://www.taosnews.com/stories/taos-air-summer-flights-canceled,57519 |work=The Taos News |location=Taos, New Mexico |access-date=3 July 2019 }}

Texas flights resumed on December 19, 2019, using a 328JET, operated by Advanced Air.{{cite news |last=Vitu |first=Teya |date=11 October 2019 |title=Taos Air to resume flights between Austin, Dallas on Dec. 19 |url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/business/taos-air-to-resume-flights-between-austin-dallas-on-dec/article_69273a5b-96ce-5ecd-955f-aeccb4a8b219.html |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican |location=Santa Fe, New Mexico |access-date=15 October 2019 }} In January 2020, service to Hawthorne Municipal Airport near Los Angeles, California, and McClellan-Palomar Airport near San Diego, California, was introduced as the airline acquired a second 328JET.{{cite news |author= |title=Taos Air launching round-trip flights to LA and Carlsbad, Calif. |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/1393742/latest-business-news-100.html |work=Albuquerque Journal |location=Albuquerque, New Mexico |date=20 November 2019 |access-date=21 November 2019 }} Service for the 2019–2020 ski season was intended to continue until March 29, 2020 but was terminated on March 15, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |url=https://www.skitaos.com/discover-taos/news-and-updates/coronavirus-update |title=Coronavirus Update |author= |date=15 March 2020 |website=skitaos.com |publisher=Ski Taos |access-date=20 March 2020}}

On November 6, 2020, citing "the uncertainty of current and future travel restrictions to New Mexico" due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Taos Ski Valley canceled Taos Air service for the 2020–2021 winter season.{{cite web|last=Hooper|first=Will |date=6 November 2020 |url=https://www.taosnews.com/announcements/taos-air-takes-a-season-hiatus/article_c3209fde-2077-11eb-9ea2-5f4bf0296ba6.html |title=Taos Air takes a season hiatus |website=taosnews.com |publisher=The Taos News|location=Taos, New Mexico|accessdate=9 November 2020 |quote=The statement went on to say that because of the ski valley's B Corp ethos – which involves partaking in the local community – it has acknowledged the reality that “the uncertainty of current and future travel restrictions to New Mexico made it impossible to deliver a reliable Taos Air service this year.”}} In early 2021, Taos Ski Valley announced that the resort would reopen on 26 November 2021 and Taos Air service would restart around that time.{{Cite web|title=Taos Air (suspended) {{!}} Taos Ski Valley|url=https://www.skitaos.com/taos-air|access-date=4 January 2021|website=www.skitaos.com}} In May 2021, the airline announced summer service from July 1 to September 27 2021.{{cite web|last=Clark |first=Carol A. |date=6 May 2021 |url=https://ladailypost.com/taos-air-restarts-service-to-texas-and-california/ |title=Taos Air Restarts Service To Texas And California |work=Los Alamos Daily Post |location=Los Alamos, New Mexico |accessdate=1 December 2021}} Summer and winter service continued through 2022 under Advanced Air. For the summer of 2022, service to Austin, Texas, was switched from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to the Austin Executive Airport.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

Beginning with the 2022–2023 ski season, Taos Air switched operators to JSX using 30-seat Embraer 135 regional jets rather than the Dorniers. The new service began on 15 December 2022. The Texas flights operated from Love Field and Bergstrom International Airport as before, but the Los Angeles flights moved from Hawthorne to Hollywood Burbank Airport, and the San Diego flights moved from McClellan-Palomar to San Diego International Airport.{{cite web |url=https://businesstravelerusa.com/news/taos-air-partners-with-jsx-to-offer-premium-flights-to-ski-resorts/ |date=20 December 2022 |last=Cole |first=Fergus |title=Taos Air Partners with JSX to Offer Premium Flights to Ski Resorts |website=businesstravelerusa.com |publisher=Business Traveler |access-date=13 July 2024}} With the change to JSX, Taos Air ceased using its own brand identity, but it remained contractually responsible for providing airline service at Taos Regional Airport.

Taos Air effectively terminated operations permanently on 1 April 2024 when Taos Ski Valley allowed its airline service contract with the town of Taos to expire.{{cite news |last=Plant |first=Geoffrey |url=https://www.taosnews.com/news/local-news/taos-ski-valley-passes-baton-on-air-service/article_a08714ec-60bf-518f-951a-09e1da0e0e33.html |title=Taos Ski Valley passes baton on air service |publisher=The Taos News |location=Taos, New Mexico |date=7 February 2024 |access-date=13 July 2024}} On 23 April 2024, the town of Taos approved a new airline service contract directly with JSX.{{cite news |last=Plant |first=Geoffrey |url=https://www.taosnews.com/news/local-news/taos-denver-flights-to-start-in-june/article_adff4d5d-d77f-53b2-809f-b316673ad075.html |title=Taos-Denver flights to start in June |publisher=The Taos News |location=Taos, New Mexico |date=24 April 2024 |access-date=13 July 2024}}

Operators

Taos Air flights were operated by Ultimate Jetcharters for the 2018–2019 season. Advanced Air operated flights for the 2019–2020 season, 2021 summer, 2021–2022 winter, and 2022 summer seasons.{{cite web |url=https://www.skitaos.com/taos-air/faqs-tcs |title=Taos Air FAQ's / Terms & Conditions |author= |date= |website=skitaos.com |publisher=Ski Taos |access-date=26 May 2022}} JSX operated flights beginning with the 2022–2023 winter season.{{Cite web |title=F.A.Q. |url=https://taosair.com/frequently-asked-questions/ |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=Taos Air |language=en-US}}

Fleet

File:Taos Air N192TS 2019-12-27.jpg on approach to Dallas Love Field]]

The Taos Air fleet consisted of the following aircraft:{{Cite web|url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2019/12/12/dornier-disappearing-the-remaining-j328-operators/|title=Dornier Disappearing: Tracking The Remaining Dornier 328 Commercial Operators|last=McMurtry|first=Ian|date=13 December 2019|website=AirlineGeeks.com|language=en-US|access-date=20 December 2019}}