For over 50 years, discussions in Steamboat Springs have touched on many facets of community life —but one essential piece often gets overlooked or misunderstood: the Airline Program and the Local Marketing District (LMD) that supports it.

Since its early days, the airline program has played a critical role in connecting our valley to the outside world. When the airport was rebuilt in 1985, it set the stage for PSA to offer initial service between San Diego, Hayden, and Dallas/Fort Worth.

A year later, American Airlines took over, marking the program’s official launch in the 1986–1987 winter season. What began as a seasonal convenience has since grown into a vital part of our regional infrastructure. In recent seasons, the program has supported nonstop flights from up to 16 cities across the country.

But these flights didn’t appear on their own — each route exists because our community via the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation (SSRC), the LMD, city of Steamboat Springs, the Steamboat Springs Chamber, Routt County, local lodging companies, and other entities have come together to support them.

This collective effort was strengthened in 2004 with formation of the LMD.

Funded by a 2% lodging tax within the district boundaries, the LMD, with partner SSRC, is responsible for managing the financial guarantees that keep air service to the Yampa Valley Regional Airport (YVRA) in Hayden viable.

This structure ensures accountability, stability, and continuity in the administration of air access to our valley. The LMD, along with SSRC, works to ensure these services are secured and sustained — not just for visitors, but for locals as well.

All lodging facilities contained within the boundaries of the LMD contribute to the airline program.

Why does this matter to everyday residents?

The numbers tell a compelling story. In the 2023–2024 winter season alone, 167,000 passengers arrived via YVRA. Another 57,392 arrived during the summer months. The SSRC commissioned a study at YVRA in 2021, and found that each winter visitor spends an average of $1,565 in our community.

I will leave the math to the curious, but I suspect one will discover that the results are staggering. These flights don’t just move people — they support livelihoods, businesses and essential services.

The ripple effects reach across all sectors: retail, restaurants, schools, housing, recreational facilities (skate board parks, hiking and bike paths, Howelsen Hill, playing fields, parks) and public services, which all benefit from the stability and spending that accompany strong air access.

Local jobs are supported — many of them year-round and offering competitive wages as well as providing the potential for more businesses/careers. And for residents, the benefits are tangible.

In addition to the aforementioned, the ability to fly in and out of Hayden means skipping the 175-mile drive to Denver, especially during winter when road conditions can be hazardous. It saves time, reduces wear on vehicles, and eliminates the stress of navigating busy highways.

Parking is easier, much more affordable, and flights are direct — no long layovers or complicated travel plans. Whether for business, family emergencies, or personal travel, this convenience is significant.

Hazie Werner once rebuked a guest who complained about an increase in visitors: “We made room for you, didn’t we?”

That spirit of inclusion and foresight lives on in programs like these. The Airline Program and LMD aren’t just mechanisms for travel — they’re foundational components of life in our valley.

If you want to understand the real impact, not just the surface-level assumptions, the 2024 LMD Annual Report is essential reading. It provides a clear, detailed look at how the program works, how funds are used, and what it all means for those of us who call Steamboat home.

Jack McEncroe is a Local Marketing District board member, a USMC Fighter and Attack Pilot (1962-1969) and retired Delta Air Lines International Captain (1970-2002)