Glamorous Getaways

Affordable new jet charter service adds nonstop flight from Austin to swanky ski town

Cozy up in Taos this winter.

Ski bunnies and art lovers now have a glamorous new way to get to Taos, New Mexico. Taos Air, a new airplane charter service, recently announced it's taking off with brand-new nonstop service to Austin.

The new charter flight takes off beginning December 20 from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Taos Regional Airport, and runs through the ski season before ending in March.

Round trip flights on the 30-passenger jet take off each week on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday plus holiday Mondays. In addition to ABIA, the charter service will also service Dallas Love Field.

Taos Air is designed to compete with traditional airlines. Currently, flights are priced between $400-$700 round trip, and land directly in the town of Taos. (Though about 90 miles away, Santa Fe Regional Airport is the more common entry point to the Rocky Mountain ski town.)

The charter service is the result of a partnership between the Town of Taos and Taos Ski Valley, Inc., which purchased the jet. "We're supportive of the town's vision for the airport as a regional economic driver and premier tourist destination," said David Norden, CEO of Taos Ski Valley, Inc., in a release "Taos Air will now offer the closest, fastest, and easiest route to the Rockies from Texas."

Once on the ground, visitors have free shuttle access to The Blake at Taos Ski Valley, which is also owned by Taos Ski Valley, Inc., as well as car rental services.

In the future, visitors may have even more ways to access the area. In a release, Taos' mayor, Daniel Barrone, hinted that the town is looking to provide the charter's nonstop service year-round.

"Improved accessibility to the area will provide opportunities to diversify the local and regional economy," he said. "Initiating seasonal air service with Taos Air is the first exciting step on that journey."

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Holiday News

TSA predicts record-breaking numbers for Thanksgiving travel in 2024

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Photo by Arno Senoner on Unsplash

TSA says 2024 is a big year for travel.

A new forecast by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) predicts that 2044 will be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record.

According to a release, the agency is projected to screen 18.3 million people from Tuesday, November 26, through Monday, December 2 — representing a volume increase of approximately 6 percent from 2023.

Passenger volumes have reached record highs in 2024, with an increase of 17 percent since 2022.

TSA projects the three busiest travel days with their expected volumes as follows:

Tuesday, November 26: more than 2.8 million people
Wednesday, November 27: more than 2.9 million people
Sunday, December 1: more than 3 million people

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas says the TSA team is standing by with metal detection wands in hand.

“Many members of the TSA workforce will be on duty throughout Thanksgiving Day and week, and I am immensely grateful for their selfless dedication and professionalism," Mayorkas says in a statement. "I encourage travelers to plan ahead, follow TSA’s travel tips, and take advantage of programs like TSA PreCheck – simple steps that will make everyone’s journey smoother, our skies safer, and TSA’s job easier.”

TSA has screened more than 2.9 million passengers on multiple days in 2024. The record for the heaviest passenger volume in TSA history was Sunday, July 7, when Transportation Security Officers screened more than 3 million people at airport security checkpoints nationwide.

“The 10 busiest travel days in TSA’s history have all occurred in 2024, and we anticipate that trend to continue," TSA Administrator David Pekoske says.

TSA's Travel Tips

TSA advises passengers to pack smart and start with an empty bag. Passengers who do so are less likely to bring prohibited items through the checkpoint.
For carry-on bags, all liquids, gels, and aerosols must be 3.4 ounces or less.
Foods such as gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam, and preserves – considered liquids or gels – must be packed in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces.
Passengers can bring solid foods such as cakes and other baked goods through the checkpoint.

The TSA PreCheck Trusted Traveler Program offers faster checkpoint screening with wait times that are almost always 10 minutes or less. Passengers enrolled in TSA PreCheck do not need to remove shoes; belts; 3-1-1 liquids, aerosols and gels; laptops; food items, or light jackets during security screening. TSA PreCheck members are reminded to make sure their Known Traveler Number (KTN) is in their airline reservation so it appears on their boarding pass.

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